Cartoons are an endless source of entertainment that has brought joy to the lives of millions throughout the decades. There is something for everyone ranging from classic cartoons, to Saturday morning cartoons, and something a bit edgier. Saturday morning cartoons in particular are often remembered with great fondness and were something that many children looked forward to after a tiring week at school.
Cartoons are often accompanied by catchy theme tunes which once heard are then never forgotten. There have been plenty of video games based on cartoons, but unfortunately, a lot of them are either cheap cash-ins or don’t capture the essence of what makes the cartoon so special. This list will feature 10 of the best video games based on some of the most beloved cartoons.
10 DuckTales
The adventures of Scrooge McDuck and his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie proved to be a massive hit for Disney, entertaining fans around the world. The theme tune was a large part of the success of the show and remains as catchy today as it did when it was first heard in 1987. Say DuckTales to people of a certain age, and “woo-hoo” won't be far behind. The show was rebooted in 2017, giving new generations of fans a chance to experience tales of "derring-do, bad and good luck tales."
A video game was inevitable, and with Capcom at the helm, it was almost guaranteed to be good. Released in 1989 for the NES, DuckTales was a huge hit for Nintendo and Capcom, with players and critics praising the graphics, gameplay, and excellent music. DuckTales: Remastered was released in 2013 and featured updated visuals and gameplay. The original DuckTales is available now as part of the Disney Afternoon Collection, along with Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, DuckTales 2, and Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers 2.
9 Transformers
Since the release of the original cartoon in 1984, the “Robots In Disguise” has become a license to print money. They were the must-have toy in the 80s, and the franchise has gone on to make billions of dollars from comics, movies, and video games. There have been plenty of video games based on Transformers, and unfortunately, a lot of them have been poor quality and cashing in on the license.
One of the best games in the series is Transformers: Devastation released in 2015. Developed by Bayonetta creator PlatinumGames, Transformers: Devastation featured similar hack and slash gameplay which made Bayonetta a hit with players. Transformers: Devastation received praise from nostalgic fans partly due to the excellent graphics and return of some original cartoon voice cast from the original cartoon.
8 The Trap Door
Although not technically a cartoon, The Trap Door was an animated series that was much loved by children in the UK. The painstakingly detailed art style used in The Trap Door would become world renowned by Aardman Animations with Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run.
The Trap Door was first shown in 1986 and revolves around Berk who must keep his unseen master happy, whilst dealing with the terrors which lurk beneath The Trap Door. Fans loved the animation and dark humor, and it has since become a cult hit. The Trap Door computer game was released in 1986 and followed the adventures of Berk. The game received praise for its graphics which were faithful to the show.
7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Much like Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have gone on to be a huge success spawning toys, and movies and making billions in the process. The cartoon released in 1987 became a global phenomenon and was watched by millions of children who would often debate who was their favorite “Hero in a Half shell.” There have been plenty of excellent Turtles games over the years and their popularity shows no signs of stopping.
2022 saw the release of not one, but two Turtles games with the first being Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge. Published by Dotemu, who also released the excellent Streets of Rage 4, Shredders Revenge is a love letter to the original TV show, as well as the arcade game. The second Turtles game released in 2022 is The Cowabunga Collection and is arguably the definitive compilation that showcases 13 Turtles games that were released on multiple systems over the years.
6 Tiny Toon Adventures
Set around Acme Looniversity, Tiny Toon Adventures used the idea of creating a younger generation of characters that would be recognizable from their traditional counterparts, but also have enough personality to stand out on their own. Some of these characters included Buster and Babs Bunny, Plucky Duck, and Hampton J. Pig.
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose was an excellent platform game that had superb graphics and gameplay. There was plenty of variety to keep the player entertained, including different mini-games to accompany the standard levels. Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose captured the wacky essence of the cartoons and was extremely well received by fans and critics.
5 Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is arguably one of the most famous and recognizable cartoon characters ever created! Disney and Mickey Mouse go hand in hand, and although his character has evolved, he remains as popular today as when he was first introduced to the world in 1928.
Mickey Mouse has appeared in a few video games over the years, but without doubt, his most well-known is Castle of Illusion released in 1990 for Sega Genesis. Castle of Illusion had incredible animation and graphics and helped to show off what the Sega Genesis was capable of before a certain speedy Hedgehog came along and became the mascot for Sega.
4 X-Men
Konami was undoubtedly one of the leading companies which made arcade games in the 80s and 90s, but it was their 4-player arcade cabinets that were extremely popular. With huge hits including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Simpsons, it wasn’t long before Konami created another money spinner with the release of the impressibility large 6-player X-Men arcade in 1992.
Although these games were all side-scrolling beat ’em ups, the key thing which set them apart was capturing the essence of each license. X-Men arcade felt like an extension of the cartoon with its graphical style. It allowed the player to take control of their favorite characters as they battled their way to a climatic showdown with Magneto.
3 Donald Duck
Not wanting to be upstaged by his fellow Disney character Mickey Mouse and the success of Castle of Illusion, Donald Duck also had his fair share of success on the Sega Genesis with QuackShot.
Released in 1991, QuackShot carried on with the high standards which were set with Castle of Illusion as it also had excellent graphics. The quality of the animation brought Donald Duck to life and made QuackShot another reason for Sega Genesis owners to be proud of their console.
2 Spider-Man
There have been plenty of Spider-Man cartoons over the years with the first animated appearance coming in 1967. This version is mostly remembered for the famous theme tune which still makes its way into modern movies. There have also been lots of Spider-Man games, most recently with Insomniac Games hugely successful take on the “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” and fan favorite Miles Morales.
However, the 1991 arcade game by Sega arguably best captured the tone and feel of the cartoons. This is a 4-player side-scrolling beat ‘em up with Spider-Man, Black Cat, Hawkeye, and Sub-Mariner being the playable characters. Naturally, there are a host of infamous Marvel bad guys to face off against including, Venom, Green Goblin, and Doctor Doom.
1 The Simpsons
The Simpsons have been entertaining audiences across the world for over 30 years, and although their best years may be behind them, their impact on the entertainment industry cannot be underestimated.
When it comes to games based on The Simpsons, Hit & Run is arguably one of the best released. Building on the open-world style gameplay from Grand Theft Auto led to The Simpsons: Hit & Run being a big hit with fans and critics alike.