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The best licensed games will not only please the fans who already have them, but they can also bring in new ones. Which licensed video games do the properties they are based on justice? So many Star Wars and Batman games are out there, but so few of them live up to what they promise. There’s a bad reputation in the video game business for games that are based on movies, comic books, TV shows, and so on.
Licensed video games are often just ways to make money by selling an incomplete game to fans of the property who will buy it no matter how bad it is. That’s why we’ve put together the most complete list of the best licensed games so you can choose what to play next based on good information.
Best Licensed Games Comparison Table
| Game Title | Genre | Mode | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghostbusters | Action-adventure | Single-player | $29.99 |
| Batman: Arkham Asylum | Action-adventure | Single-player | $19.99 |
| Evil Dead: The Game | Survival horror | Multiplayer | $39.99 |
| South Park: The Fractured but Whole | RPG | Single-player, Multiplayer | $49.99 |
| Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 | Action-adventure | Single-player, Co-op | $19.99 |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor | Action-adventure | Single-player | $19.99 |
| Batman: Arkham City | Action-adventure | Single-player | $19.99 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Action RPG | Single-player | $39.99 |
Ghostbusters
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-7500 | Intel Core i7-4770K |
| 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 970 |
| 15GB available space | 15GB available space |
| PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 |
| Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S |
There have been many attempts to make a good Ghostbusters game, but Ghostbusters: The Video Game, which came out in 2009, was the best one yet. It plays like a movie-themed Gears of War and is played from an over-the-shoulder perspective.
The player character is a new member of the Ghostbusters team, and the game tells a new story in the movie universe. It takes place two years after Ghostbusters II and tells a whole new story that could have easily been a new movie.
The Good
- As a Ghostbuster, you can play in a unique way by catching ghosts and using supernatural tools.
- Fans of the Ghostbusters franchise will recognize the story and characters.
- Cooperative multiplayer mode that lets you and your friends work together to get rid of ghosts.
The Bad
- The game can only be played once because it can be finished quickly.
- The graphics and gameplay may not be as good as what you’d find in a new AAA game.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
| Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 | Intel Core i5-750 |
| 2GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| GeForce 6600 | GeForce GTX 460 |
| 10GB available space | 10GB available space |
| PlayStation 3 | PlayStation 4 |
| Xbox 360 | Xbox One |
In Batman: Arkham Asylum, you can do just that and play a cat-and-mouse game with the Joker, Batman’s worst enemy. Control Batman as he punches and kicks his way through hordes of bad guys, uses the Batmobile to get around the city, and even uses his grapple gun to get the drop on bad guys.
It’s just like being Batman himself! And everyone knows that if you can be Batman, you should, even if it’s just in a game. Over the years, there have been a lot of Batman games, but the Arkham series is one that does everything right.
The Good
- A gripping Batman story told in a way that feels like a movie.
- Hand-to-hand combat, sneaking, and gadgets are all part of a new way to fight.
- Characters like the Joker, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy from the Batman universe.
The Bad
- Compared to later Arkham games, this one had less open-world exploration.
- Compared to newer games, the graphics and game mechanics are old.
Evil Dead: The Game
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-2500K | Intel Core i7-9700K |
| 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1070 |
| 30GB available space | 30GB available space |
| PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 |
| Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S |
Evil Dead: The Game is a bloody tribute to one of the most popular horror movies of all time. In the same way that the player controls the demon in Dead by Daylight and Friday the 13th, the player controls the demon in this horror game.
The game’s credibility is boosted by the use of Bruce Campbell’s voice and image, as well as parts from the first three movies and the great Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series. Evil Dead is a fun movie to watch with friends if you want to have a gory good time.
The Good
- There are references to the cult horror film series that made Evil Dead so popular.
- Cooperative multiplayer mode that lets you fight hordes of demons with your friends.
The Bad
- Since the game is mostly about playing with other people, it doesn’t have a lot of content or ways to play it again.
South Park: The Fractured but Whole
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-2400 | Intel Core i5-4690 |
| 6GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| GeForce GTX 560 Ti | GeForce GTX 670 |
| 20GB available space | 20GB available space |
| PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 |
| Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S |
The Fractured but Whole is a parody of how much people love superheroes right now. It comes after the equally good South Park: The Stick of Truth. As the new kid in South Park, you play along with Stan, Kenny, and Cartman as they act like the most powerful heroes on earth.
Even without the South ParkIP, the game would be great because it is a turn-based RPG. You can use your powerful farts as a superpower to fight Nazi zombies, strippers, and even Morgan Freeman in this South Park-style game.
The Good
- The humor is funny and doesn’t take itself too seriously, just like the South Park TV show.
- Superhero-themed game mechanics and a lot of ways to change your character.
- Immersive, open-world exploration of South Park, the town that made the show famous.
The Bad
- Content that may not be suitable for all players because it is controversial or offensive.
- A simple combat system that might not appeal to players who want to play games that are hard.
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
| Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 | Intel Core i5-2500K |
| 2GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| GeForce 7600GS | GeForce GTX 480 |
| 5GB available space | 10GB available space |
| PlayStation 3 | PlayStation 4 |
| Xbox 360 | Xbox One |
Since the beginning of the 2000s, LEGO has made a lot of games that combine their own brand with licensed media. One of these games is LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, an action-adventure game from 2010 that follows the storyline of the first four Harry Potter books and movies.
Like other LEGO games, players control LEGO Harry Potter action figures as they explore a Wizarding World made of LEGO pieces, solve puzzles, and find different collectibles. In contrast to other LEGO games, players can learn many spells and potions that can be used to solve puzzles and get to new areas.
The Good
- Characters and places from the Harry Potter series are remade with Legos in a way that is charming and brings back memories.
- Fun and easy to play, this game is good for people of all ages.
The Bad
- Gameplay mechanics that are easy to understand and may not challenge more experienced players.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-750 | Intel Core i7-3770 |
| 4GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| GeForce GTX 460 | GeForce GTX 670 |
| 40GB available space | 40GB available space |
| PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 |
| Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S |
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was made by Monolith Productions, which is best known for the Blood, No One Lives Forever, and F.E.A.R. series. It is an action-adventure game that won an award in 2014 and takes place in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, but in an alternate, non-canonical timeline.
The main character, a Gondorian Ranger named Talion, is brought back to life when he fuses with an amnesic wraith. This happens after the Black Hand of Sauron kills his wife and son in a ritual. In the end, it turns out that this wraith is the spirit of the Elf Lord Celebrimbor, whose wife and child were also killed by Sauron.
The Good
- Innovative “Nemesis System” that makes each encounter with an enemy different and dynamic.
- Combat is fast and brutal, and there are a lot of weapons and abilities to choose from.
The Bad
- Some parts of the game are repetitive, like having to beat enemy captains over and over again.
Batman: Arkham City
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
| Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 | Intel Core i5-750 |
| 2GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| GeForce 8800 GT | GeForce GTX 460 |
| 17GB available space | 17GB available space |
| PlayStation 3 | PlayStation 4 |
| Xbox 360 | Xbox One |
Batman: Arkham City came out in 2011 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It was a direct follow-up to Batman: Arkham Asylum. It was made again by Rocksteady, and players could use the Dark Knight to fight bad guys in a world that was even bigger.
This showed that the developers knew exactly how to use the Batman license in a video game.
Even though the world was more open than in the first game, it was still a tight, focused experience that felt almost like a Metroidvania in the way it was put together.
The Good
- Immersive, open-world game that takes place in Gotham City and lets players explore famous spots as Batman.
- With its fluid moves and cool gadgets, the combat system makes players feel like the Dark Knight.
The Bad
- Outdated graphics and problems with how well they work on some platforms.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-2500K | Intel Core i7-3770 |
| 6GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 770 |
| 40GB available space | 40GB available space |
| PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 |
| Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S |
The game came out for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC for the first time in 2015. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is still considered one of the best and most important role-playing games ever made. In 2019, the game was also ported to the Nintendo Switch with all of the released DLC.
This was done by the developers, CD Projekt Red. The Witcher 3 is one of the most important games of the last ten years. It has a very natural and dark story, characters who talk to each other, and an open world. It would take hundreds of hours to learn everything there is to know about the game’s towns, culture, and history.
The Good
- Huge open world with stunning graphics and environments that pull you in.
- The game has a deep and interesting story with complex characters and choices that affect how the game ends.
- There are a lot of different things to do in the game, like fighting, exploring, and customizing your character in a lot of ways.
The Bad
- High system requirements, and it may not work on PCs with less powerful hardware.
- For new players, especially those who are not familiar with The Witcher series, there is a steep learning curve.
FAQs
Minecraft, a sandbox game made by Mojang and released in May 2009 for PC, mobile, and console platforms, has sold more than 238 million copies across all platforms, making it the best-selling video game of all time. Only Grand Theft Auto V and EA’s Tetris are known to have sold more than 100 million copies.
In November 2022, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II/Warzone 2.0, Overwatch, and Minecraft were the top PC games in the world based on how many people played them every month. In November, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II/Warzone 2.0 beat Overwatch to become the most popular game on desktops and laptops around the world.
When putting games on consoles run by giants like Microsoft or Nintendo, the publisher has to pay a royalty and sign a licensing agreement. If you do this and make sure the game meets their standards, you will be able to sell your games on their consoles.
You could say that PewDiePie is the most well-known gamer because he made his name by making videos of himself playing games and talking about them.