Summary
Tim Burton returns to theaters withBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, taking audience members on a journey once again through his signature style of family-friendliness fused with the dark and strange that made him famous. Tim Burton’s style impacted many from the 80s to the present, resulting in filmmakers and video game developers taking inspiration from him.
As a result, there have been many games that take on similar concepts and visual styles as his films. Fans of Tim Burton and his long filmography looking to experience undead characters or fantastical worlds can enjoy them, even when he has no direct involvement with them.
Despite cutely designed characters,Hollow Knightis filled to the brim with the monochromatic visuals and Gothic atmosphere that Tim Burton famously uses in nearly every film.Hollow Knightis often praised forbeing a strong indie Metroidvania game, a genre that had been on a long hiatus before its release, and since then, other games of that style have risen in popularity.
Traversing through 2D levels, taking on bosses, and the visuals turnedHollow Knightinto a modern classic. It is regarded as a difficult but satisfying open-ended adventure that resulted in it becoming a major success. So much so, that it received a sequel in the form ofHollow Knight: Silksong.
Lost In Randomis about a young protagonist traveling to a wacky yet ominous realm ruled by an evil queen, and it is a similar concept toAlice In Wonderland. As the hero named Eventravels through the fairy tale world, she encounters many quirky characters as well as obstacles that result in a simple yet effective 3D adventure.
From the dark yet fantastical visuals to the colorful world,Lost In Randomfeels like a love letter to both the animated and live-action Disney versions of the C.S. Lewis tale. On top of it all, the art style ofLost In Randomresembles the stop-motion animation that Tim Burton has worked with in the past withCorpse BrideandThe Nightmare Before Christmas.
Pumpkin Jackdraws a lot fromThe Nightmare Before Christmas, even down to Jack himself resembling the pumpkin-head scarecrow that Jack Skellington was first seen as in the film. Tim Burton has always had an eye for Halloween esthetics and Pumpkin Jack emulates that throughout the 3D platforming adventure.
Fans of classic 3d platformers of the 90s and 2000s will get a sense of nostalgia from Pumpkin Jack. The cartoony visuals combined with the bouncy gameplay are reminiscent of games such asBanjo-Kazooiebut withplenty of spooky Halloween materialthat makes it perfect for that time of year.
Of all theBatman: Arkhamgames,Batman: Arkham Asylumcame the closest to resembling Tim Burton’s famous take on Batman. From the gloomy and Gothic aesthetic of Arkham Island to some ofthe more terrifying sequences of theArkhamgames, the game oozes a dark atmosphere. And there’s a reason why superhero games changed forever afterArkham Asylumwas released.
There is less focus on Batman trying to save the world and instead,Batman: Arkham Asylumis more about claustrophobic terror and trying to uncover what the Joker wants in the asylum. Combined with Kevin Conroy’s famous voice for Batman’s constant inner monologue, it mixes in classic noir with the wild and ambitious superhero journey that is most reminiscent of the Tim Burton films.
Mixing action and comedy with horror elements,MediEvilwas an exclusive for the PS1 that later got a remake. Both feature a failed skeleton who died before a battle began but has come back from the deadto fend off hordes of zombiesand other undead monsters plaguing the land.
MediEvilis weird and unconventional, yet it works all of these aspects expertly to create an adventure for children and adults alike, much like how Tim Burton does with his movies. The monsters that are typically depicted as horrifying are hilarious and charming, which is elevated by fun and addictive gameplay.
At first,Fran Bowlooks like a strange but mostly family-friendly adventure, but it is anything but that. The titular heroine goes on a creepy adventure that featuresthreats both physical and psychological. The concept ofFran Bowis meant to invoke familiarity with both Tim Burton’sAlice In Wonderlandand Henry Selick’sCoraline.
From a black cat companion to Fran struggling with her mental illness,Fran Bowfeels like a more adult Tim Burton story that keeps the player on edge with its eerie atmosphere and artwork. It’s difficult to tell what’s a real supernatural threat and what’s simply in Fran’s mind, making the adventure just as fantastical as it is disturbing.
In terms of gameplay,Don’t Starvedoesn’t bring much new to the table, as it is a crafting survival game in the same vein asMinecraftorSubnautica. However, it excels thanks to its 2D animation, which is undoubtedly inspired by Tim Burton films with gothic storybook art style and bizarre characters, scary monsters, mysterious lore, and quirky humor.
WhileDon’t Starveis enjoyable on its own, the Steam workshop page has allowed for a plethora of mods to experiment with, from new mechanics to characters. As a bonus, the spin-offDon’t Starve Togetherallows for plenty of multiplayer antics with friends.
Though it went under the radar at first,Alice: MadnessReturnsquickly became a cult classic due to its darker and quasi-horror take on theAlice In Wonderlandstory, featuring an older Alice returning to Wonderland years later. This idea is uncannily similar to Tim Burton’sAlice In Wonderlandmovie concept and people have wondered if the game somewhat inspired Burton.
Those who enjoyed Tim Burton’s film will likely enjoy the much darker video game, which features a far more twisted universe with bloody combat and puzzles. In many ways,Alice: Madness Returnsfeels the most authentic to C.S. Lewis' original book, which famously was darker than the Disney portrayals that most people are used to.
In the Land Of The Dead,Grim Fandangodepicts the Grim Reaper as an afterlife travel sales agent named Manny Calavera. That macabre yet quirky kind of world-building is exactly what Tim Burton is known for with his films, especiallyCorpse BrideandBeetlejuice, which featured his own depictions of the afterlife.
Made by LucasArts,Grim Fandangois often considered a pinnacle in thepoint-and-click adventure genre of games, featuring a complex story, hilarious characters, and visuals that still hold up over twenty years later. The story of Manny Calavera in an underworld full of delight, intrigue, crime, and corruption is considered so good that Tim Burton could probably adapt it to a movie or series.
Though games based on movies are rarely good,The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revengebreaks away from that curse to delivera worthy sequel to the beloved filmby Henry Selick and Tim Burton. The evil Oogie Boogie is resurrected and players must traverse the mystical holiday realms to stop him, mixing action and platforming together.
With Chris Sarandon voicing Jack Skellington and Ken Page as Oogie Boogie again,Oogie’s Revengesurprised many fans of the 1993 film by not only having good hack-and-slash gameplay and visuals straight out of the stop-motion film but maintaining its musical routes by including rhythm gameplay segments which include new and familiar songs.
