The gaming universe is not short of unique fantasy worlds that are steeped in lore and visual splendor. From The Legend of Zelda and Fable to Elder Scrolls and World of Warcraft, there are plenty of titles for all ages. As far as games based on fantasy novels go, The Witcher aside, it often takes a movie adaptation for them to register on the radar of game developers, and, just as often, these games do not live up to expectations.
Fantasy is a genre of undefined boundaries, and the potential for novel-to-game adaptation is nearly unlimited given the millions of stories published. There are plenty of epic fantasy book series out there that would lend themselves to gigantic MMOs and even more that would translate into tidy sandbox games. Some fantasy novels are perfect for video game adaptations and would make for some brilliant imagery, intriguing mystery, and mostly satisfying storylines.
5 The Dark is Rising Sequence (by Susan Cooper)
A five-part novel series that is an amalgamation of themes and inspirations from English folklore, Arthurian tales, and Celtic and Norse mythology, The Dark is Rising Sequence provides excellent imagery and fabulous narratives.
Over Sea Under Stone, The Dark Is Rising, Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree all offer takes on different areas of mythology that would translate into five deep narrative-based dungeon levels. Following the exploits of series protagonists, Simon, Jane, and Barny, there are plenty of artifacts worthy of being wielded in games; The Grail, The Harp of Gold, and The Crystal Sword just to name a few.
4 Annals of the Western Shore (by Ursula le Guin)
While fans of Ursula le Guin may prefer her classic high-fantasy novels set in Earthsea, it could be argued that these lesser-known works are better primed for a game adaptation. It's a pleasant and charming series aimed at teens and young adults that deserves to be brought alive from its pages.
Gifts, Voices, and Powers is a trilogy of novels set in a collection of cities in a place called the Western Shore. The story follows teenagers as they come to grips with their powers and the responsibilities that follow. Gamers would find themselves inheriting powers at their coming of age and attempting to live up to their roles while averting disaster.
3 The Dark Tower (by Stephen King)
The epicenter of all that is Stephen King-related and where all that exists in the author's multiverse is The Dark Tower. In terms of this brilliant series’ aesthetic, it is as far away from high fantasy as fantasy can get. Yet, in terms of motifs and tropes, these works seamlessly encompass the traditions of Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time into a modern-day fantasy classic ripe for a game adaptation.
Whether an MMO that sources all the works of King or a linear game that follows the exploits of Roland and his Ka-Tet, this material deserves the full gaming development treatment. In an effort to reach The Dark Tower, players would traverse worlds, sling guns, and palaver with the Man in Black before facing The Red King in the final showdown.
2 The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (by Alan Garner)
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and its sequel, The Moon of Gomrath, though perhaps not the more adult - yet still brilliant - third book, Bone Land, would arguably make for good, simple, and linear young adult fantasy games.
Just outside of Macclesfield, England in the ancient mining village called Alderley Edge, The Weirdstone follows the story of Colin and Susan as they unwittingly fall into a fantasy world. Tapping into themes from British mythology, this novel offers variations on witches, wizards, goblins, elves, and other classic tropes that would be a breath of fresh air for fantasy games.
1 The Rune Lords (by David Farland)
Another novel series that might also lend itself nicely to an MMO, The Rune Lords novels feel like they were written to be made into computer games. While it would be possible to tap into all corners of this series’ world-building material, character arcs, and all, the first five books offer a splendid linear story of Prince Gabon’s evolution into a Rune Lord and subsequently, the Earth King.
In his The Rune Lords series, the late and great David Farland has gifted gaming developers a cool and intriguing new system of magic that - if done well - would be a pleasure to negotiate throughout a game. To attain a greater skill set and enhance already existing attributes, characters, known as Rune Lords, hire the services of their people to willingly (or unwillingly) give up their own. Players would have to hire and protect those that enable their powers to grow in order to progress through the story.