Sci-Fi Movies That Inspired Games


Science fiction is an all-encompassing genre, from future tech to aliens, subgenres like cyberpunk to intergalactic space travel. Many of the world’s most popular franchises, such as war of stars and star trek, are rooted in science fiction. Still, there are also iconic standalone films that captivate and delight audiences, like the groundbreaking classic 2001: A Space Odyssey.


Not surprisingly, many of these films inspired video games. Some games are influenced by a movie or a unique amalgamation of them. While not direct copies of the stories in these films, they certainly use similar aesthetics, locations, and futuristic technology to fit their own narrative and characters. This blending of the two media is exactly how science fiction is meant to be used, and interconnectivity is the focus.

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6 Blade Runner: Inspired by Cyberpunk 2077

Cityscapes in Blade Runner and Cyberpunk 2077

Blade Runners The influence can still be felt in the media after its release in 1982. Adapted from Philip K. Dick’s novel Do androids dream of electric sheep?, the book and Bladerunner are considered the core of the sci-fi subgenre cyberpunk. Described by author William Gibson in his novel as “a combination of low life and high tech”. Chrome is burningit was another novel of his neuromagethat took those tropes and made cyberpunk what it is today.

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Blade Runners The influence can be felt in all types of work, from film to television to cyberpunk sci-fi games. But players will definitely have noticed his influence Cyberpunk 2077. The futuristic world of Night City is filled with artificial intelligence and hackers, set in an artificial neon-lit landscape and filled with people enhanced with high-tech enhancements.

There are many Easter eggs that pay homage Bladerunner in Cyberpunk 2077. Players can also find a recreation of the Tears in the Rain scene on the rooftops, and the Misty character has the same aesthetic, hair, and makeup as Pris. In addition, there is an available skill in the skill tree called Bladerunner. Two other abilities have symbols related to the game, such as a picture of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) and an origami crane.

5 Logan’s Run: Inspired BioShock

Scenes from Logan's Run and BioShock

Based on the 1967 novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, Logan’s run is set in a future dystopian society where people are only allowed to live until the age of 30 in order to control overpopulation. When humans reach that age, they undergo the rite of the “carousel” and are killed by sandmen like Logan (Michael York).

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Logan’s run profoundly influenced many sci-fi fans, including BioShockCreator Ken Levine. “It was the first dystopian story I’ve ever seen, and obviously if you know my games it had a huge impact on me,” Levine told GameSpot. BioShocktakes place in an underwater city called Rapture – a fusion of dystopian and utopian ideas with a retro-futuristic art style. So basically there wouldn’t be BioShock without Logan’s run. As Levine says, it “inspired almost my entire career.”

4 The Matrix: Inspired by Fallout 4

The Matrix Morpheus and the Memory Loungers in Fallout 4

Like Bladerunner, The Matrix has had an unmistakable influence on the gaming world – especially in the cyberpunk genre. The Matrix left a clear impact on developers and players, so much so that the first matrix The film’s influence branched out into games not considered affiliated with the franchise.

Players may or may not have noticed, but The Matrix plays an important role in this failure 4. While the film doesn’t have the same impact as that crazy max universehad on the Fail Franchise, gamers can undoubtedly feel The Matrix Mood in the Memory Den. Located in Goodneighbor, the Lone Wanderer spends much of their time here during part of the year Fallout 4 History, with a memory lounger to access virtual reality and live the lives of others in a kind of simulation. The Memory Loungers resemble the chair Morpheus sits in when Neo first meets him The Matrix, and the idea of ​​”plugging” is used again here. These are similar to the Visiontrons used in Fallout 3that offer the opportunity to experience VR simulations.

3 Star Wars: Inspired Mass Effect

Star Wars posters and Commander Shepard in Mass Effect

the war of stars Franchise continues to captivate audiences with new content, stories, and characters. The world of war of stars left its mark on the generations that grew up with it, leading to the space opera unwittingly inspiring a wave of space shooter games and other adventures. One of the most famous game franchises war of stars as an influence is undeniable mass effect.

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The first mass effectIn the game, players take control of Commander Shepard, a human soldier tasked with defeating a machine race bent on taking control of the galaxy. Set in outer space, it features plenty of exploration and battles that are part of an immersive, interactive story. There is a direct connection between both franchises, such as BioWare, the developer of mass effectShe became a fan favorite Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicreleased in 2003. However, the limitations in the development of this game led to the development of BioWare mass effectas its co-founder Trent Oster told TechRadar.​​​​​​​

2 The Fifth Element: Inspired Mile High Taxi

Cityscapes in The Fifth Element and Mile High Taxi

Two years before the publication of The Matrixthere was The fifth Element. It may not seem like it, but the sci-fi classic had a huge impact on the cyberpunk genre. Audiences can see his aesthetic influences in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and cloudpunkwhich one are particularly prominent in the cityscapes and skylines of both games.

But a game that draws direct inspiration The fifth Element is Miles high taxi. Described as “The fifth Element meets crazy cab”players slip into the role of a taxi driver flying against the clock through a futuristic cityscape. Mixed with the arcade style gameplay of Crazy cabMile High Taxi sees players try to avoid colliding with other flying cars, towering skyscrapers and street signs while picking up and dropping off passengers, as is the case with Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis). The fifth Element.

1 2001: A Space Odyssey: Inspired Control (And Much More)

Scenes from 2001: A Space Odyssey and Control

​​​​​​​Director: Stanley Kubrick, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a seminal piece of science fiction cinema. Set on a spaceship called Discovery One, it follows a group of astronauts and scientists on a journey to Jupiter to investigate a strange alien monolith. Kubrick’s creation shaped countless films that have followed him, as well as TV shows and games.

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A game heavily inspired by the film is control. Game Director Mikael Kasurinen told GamingBolt that he and the team were inspired by Kubrick’s unique style of storytelling when developing the game control. “He doesn’t throw everything in front of you and say, ‘That’s exactly what’s happening.’ There’s a lot of room for interpretation,” he explained. “The ending was a really good twist when the human mind comes into contact with something that is incomprehensible.”

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