Ever since Sonic the Hedgehog hit the big screen, video game adaptations have seen an increase in quality. These adaptations are no longer just successful as standalone productions; they also excel in representing their source material. Beyond Sonic, titles like The Last of Us, Arcane, and Fallout have succesfully adapted from games to screen. Similarly, movies such as Lucasfilm has expanded their universes into games with the Star Wars Jedi games and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Adaptations today not simply adapt, but also enrich the original universes.
Like all adaptations, creators have the liberty to reimagine the source material to varying degrees. For now, the focus will be on whether or not it keeps familiar elements and whether or not it keeps a familiar story. A familiar element is not just names taken from the source, but also what are often considered the essential elements like lore, characters traits and struggles. However, what is essential depends on what source material is taken. As such, what Joe Audience (the general audience member) prefers might be different from what Joe Critic or Joe Director takes as source.
Familiar elements
The first approach is a remake, which keeps the familiar elements and uses them in a familiar story. For example, The Last of Us largely mirrors the original game, following the same beats, settings, and emotional arcs. Similarly, Tomb Raider preserves much of its source material while tweaking some aspects for better cinematic pacing. Uncharted takes a slightly different route. It offers a new story, but every story beat, location, characters does feel familiar and as such it's all familiar. Other adaptations that follow this are Detective Pikachu, Mortal Kombat (1995), and Resident Evil (2021).
The second approach is a true adaptation (or reboot if it's in the same medium), as it uses familiar elements in a new story. For instance, Sonic the Hedgehog kees its central conflict between Sonic and Eggman, but relocates the action to Earth and reimagines the rings as teleportation devices. Similarly, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Halo and the Resident Evil movies starring Milla Jovovich adapt recognizable stories and characters, but in a new setting. Secret Level for the most parts follows this approach as well. It takes the essential elements, and uses them is a way that serves the short film format.
Unfamiliar elements
The third approach is the reimagining, by using new elements in an unfamiliar story. Arcane and Dota II: Dragon's Blood, for example, feel like new IPs. They use basic elements like names and lore, but tells it in a completely new way unfamiliar to players of the game. The same applies to Captain Laserhawk and the Resident Evil tv show. Twisted Metal and Mortal Kombat (2021) do this as well, but lead into what will eventually resemble the game. Lastly, Gran Turismo offers something new by not actually adapting the game, but a real life story unfamiliar to most gamers.
The fourth and last approach is the expansion, as it adds new elements to an existing story. Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Fallout, the Resident Evil animated movies and Halo: The Fall of Reach are set in the games' universes, but offer new perspectives. Games like Star Wars Jedi and Alien: Isolation do this as well, most prominently by putting Joe Audience in control. For example, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle becomes a point-and-click adventure, while maintaining elements like humor and globetrotting. The parts that make the whole are different, but the whole is still recognizable.
Conclusion
However, no single approach guarantees success. For instance, The Last of Us adheres closely to its source material and so it adds nothing, yet it is seen as one of the best video game adaptations. It shows that staying faithful can work out great if the original story is great to being with. On the other hand, Super Mario Bros (1993) does everything different, yet is considered one of the worst adaptations. Another adaptation, although not of a game, that fails at this is Avatar: The Last Airbender. It rushed through it's great story, and as such it didn't come together as well together as the original.
These four approaches extend beyond video game adaptations. Beyond Halo and Avatar, examples also include The Lego Movie and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the Batman Arkham games, most forms of expanded media and more. In the realm of Tolkien-inspired works, The Rings of Power diverges significantly from the author's vision, making it unrecognizable to some fans, while The Lord of the Rings films are celebrated for capturing the essence of the source material. Recognition might be important, but it's not everything. And that counts for comic book movies too.