After the success of The Last of Us and Fallout: which video game franchises could make their debut as series in 2026?

The resounding success of video game adaptations such as The Last of Us on HBO and Fallout on Prime Video has confirmed that the transition from joystick to screen appeals to a wide audience. These adaptations rely on several now well-identified strengths:

• A rich and immersive universe, conducive to extended storytelling.
• Complex characters whose human dilemmas are explored in depth.
• A structure allowing the integration of side quests as standalone episodes.
• A strong visual and sound identity, reflecting the game’s post-apocalyptic or fantastical world.

In 2026, the video game franchises behind these successes are paving the way for a whole wave of series adaptations. What is the future of these transpositions? Which universes should soon invade our screens? We will analyze what can be expected from the 2026 series, with a focus on the licenses promised a bright future on streaming platforms.

The importance of world-building in the success of video game franchise adaptations

Video game adaptations like The Last of Us and Fallout do not just simply transcribe the main story of the game; they immerse the viewer in a complete, coherent, and believable universe. This post-apocalyptic or dystopian universe plays a crucial role, serving as the foundation for interactive storytelling made fluid across several episodes.

This world-building brings several undeniable advantages:

1. A contextual richness that invites exploration: in Fallout, for example, the details of the ravaged world and hostile factions constitute real sources of side stories that feed the plot.
2. A framework that supports multiple narratives: The Last of Us uses its settings to develop various characters and subplots, thus creating a broader story than a simple clash between heroes and antagonists.
3. Enhanced immersion for viewers: when a universe is complete, every visual or sound element evokes more than a setting; it tells an invisible story, revealing rules and alliances unique to the fictional world.

This narrative richness, unprecedented in classic television, demonstrates why many studios now willingly tap into video game catalogs. The capacity to create standalone episodes within the same world, based on side quests or character stories, makes these adaptations perfectly suited to the streaming era, where each episode must bring its own strength.

Players know this universe well, but now the task is to bring it beyond the gaming sphere, attracting a wider audience. It is on this solid foundation that video game franchises that will make headlines in 2026 already rest. Titles like God of War, scheduled for early 2026, also exploit this complex architecture to tell an epic blending mythology and human dramas.

Iconic and human characters: the challenge of emotional depth in series adaptations

A successful adaptation does not just transpose scenes or scrupulously reproduce the storyline of a video game. The strength of series inspired by these franchises relies on deepening well-known characters by developing their shadow sides and psychological complexity.

For example, The Last of Us managed to move the audience by highlighting the vulnerabilities of Ellie and Joel, far from a simple action duo. Here one discovers a tangible humanity, with doubts, conflicts, and an evolution supported by the interactive narrative of the original medium.

The same treatment can be seen in future adaptations planned for 2026, such as Splinter Cell: Deathwatch season 2, where espionage becomes a perfect backdrop to explore the ongoing tension and weight of the decisions of the hero Sam Fisher. His recognizable silhouette, his sharp skills, are now enriched by introspective moments, hesitations, and sacrifices, breaking down the icon figure to reveal a complex human being.

Here are some key axes for developing characters in these adaptations:

• Psychological evolution: adapting the progression of characters over several seasons to show their transformation in the face of trials.
• The protagonists’ intimacy: offering calmer scenes where silence or hesitation convey more than dialogue.
• Secondary relationships: explored like in side quests, they bring new depth to the universe.
• A balance between action and emotions: the dramatic intensity is enhanced by staging that plays on human nuances rather than on brute action alone.

This approach enriches not only the fidelity to the video game license but also attracts an audience seeking a mature and nuanced story, ensuring both respect for fans and accessibility for video game newcomers.

Side quests, drivers of standalone episodes within the 2026 series

A remarkable specificity of successful adaptations relies on the ability to transform video game side quests into genuine standalone episodes that breathe. Rather than chaining linear missions, the televised narrative benefits from these narrative pauses to deepen characters or elements of the world.

In the Tomb Raider franchise, for example, arcs related to the Survivor period allow for the development of rich parallel stories without breaking the momentum of the main storyline. This approach emphasizes the fact that each episode can function as a complete mini-story, adding depth to the whole.

These standalone episodes offer several benefits:

• Deepening secondary characters: by giving voice to less central figures, the series diversifies its viewpoints.
• World exploration: places or factions are highlighted, which broadens the overall perception of the post-apocalyptic or fantastic universe.
• Varied pacing: alternation between intense action and contemplative episodes, avoiding boredom.

Taking example from Fallout season 2, which promises sequences exploring New Vegas, one senses that this narrative approach fuels success, transforming a simple series into an immersive experience that works as well on the couch as for fans of interactive storytelling.

Here is a list to identify the strengths of standalone episodes derived from side quests:

Advantage	Description	Specific Example
Narrative depth	Allows exploration of details unknown from the main overarching plot	Faction exploration in Fallout season 2
Diversity of perspectives	Gives voice to secondary characters	Episodes dedicated to Lara Croft in Tomb Raider
Rhythmic pacing	Alternates between calm episodes and action sequences	Narrative pause in The Last of Us season 1

Sharp formats and tones, a major evolution axis for series based on video games

With the rise of productions such as Arcane or Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, it becomes evident that animation is no longer a fallback plan but a genuine expressive path for video game franchises. The animated series allows for adopting more radical styles, suited to the often adult and complex universes of video games.

Some adaptations also choose a very marked tone, whether it is palpable tension in espionage series like Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, or a lighter and more mainstream atmosphere as promised by Clash of Clans animation on Netflix.

Here are the key stakes for 2026 in terms of format and tone:

• Assuming a deliberate pace: trimming the superfluous to concentrate dramatic intensity or action fluidity.
• Choosing clear stances: either more contemplative and immersive, or spectacular and fast-paced.
• Serving fans without overwhelming: Easter eggs must remain bonuses, not a narrative burden.
• Adapting formats according to the platform: Netflix often favors longer formats, while Prime Video bets on more dynamic and shorter episodes.

2026 could mark a turning point in how these series differ between animation and live-action, but also in the variety of narrative approaches offered to audiences. The potential is immense and the richness of video game universes ensures a dynamic pool of stories.

Confirmed video game franchises and those to watch closely for 2026 series

On the 2026 calendar, several projects are already confirmed or strong thanks to their solid base. Notably:

• Fallout season 2, scheduled for release by the end of the year. It notably promises development around the city of New Vegas, offering a much-awaited extension of the post-apocalyptic universe for fans.
• Splinter Cell: Deathwatch season 2, eagerly awaited on a yet unknown platform, will highlight its legendary hero in a clear and tense espionage context, suitable for a gripping thriller.
• God of War also arrives on our screens, with strong expectations for an adaptation blending mythological epic and human dramas, although some broadcasting details remain to be specified.
• Assassin’s Creed in live-action, supported by the agreement with Ubisoft and expected on Netflix, benefits from the ideal ground to deploy intertwined plots in a complex historical and fantastical universe.
• Clash of Clans in animation, on the other hand, should bring a lighter and more accessible tone, appealing to a wider and family audience.

We should also keep an eye on more discreet but promising projects:

• Gears of War and Minecraft advancing in animation on Netflix, offering fairly recognizable universes to interest a wide audience.
• Tomb Raider in live-action, carried by Amazon and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, although its development remains uncertain.
• Licenses in limbo such as Beyond Good and Evil or Far Cry in animation, as well as Pokémon live-action projects, belong to this category of narrative adventures that could surprise.

Here is a summary table of these key franchises:

Franchise	Type of adaptation	Platform	Particularities
Fallout season 2	Live-action	Prime Video	Post-apocalyptic exploration, New Vegas
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch season 2	Adult animation	Undetermined	Espionage, tension and action
God of War	Live-action	Unspecified	Mythological epic
Assassin’s Creed	Live-action	Netflix	Interwoven historical plots
Clash of Clans	Animation	Netflix	Light tone and humor

To further explore these new horizons, you can consult the list of franchises and licenses expected in 2026 on Gamers Land, as well as an overview of essential consoles to best enjoy these universes in their original form on Gamers Land as well.