Great Games Based On Cartoons

In celebration of South Park: The Stick of Truth releasing tomorrow, we reflect on other video games inspired by cartoons on TV. Many licensed games leave something to be desired, but there are certain games that surprise us. This list compiles games that were based off of cartoon TV shows, but are still excellent games.

Darkwing Duck (NES)

Darkwing Duck bears a lot of similarities to another Capcom developed game: Mega Man. Both were side scrolling, platforming games where you shot a gun, but Darkwing Duck had a few differences that set it apart. There’s a focus on vertical exploration, Darkwing Duck can actually grab on to ledges, shoot from them, and pull himself up. You can choose between different levels that each has a different boss, similar to Mega Man. We’ve got a Replay of Darkwing Duck that has comedian James Adomian guesting and showing off his incredible knowledge of the cartoon.

Felix the Cat (NES)

Felix the Cat came out in the golden age of side-scrolling platformers, with Mario sitting at the top. Felix takes a lot of inspiration from Mario, but still is a distinct and fun experience. The main parallel to draw is how he transforms. Felix collects power-ups that change his appearance and attacks, similar to the Tanooki suit or fire ball, except Felix’s transformations are more bizarre. He changes from a cat, to a magician, to a car, and then to a tank. 

The Adventures of Batman and Robin (SNES)

The Adventures of Batman and Robin is part platformer; part beat ‘em up. It is impressive in the way it handles something that is unfortunately too often overlooked in games previous to this one: Batman’s equipment. You’re able to bring a variety of items into a level, such as the grappling hook or batarang, and use them like the Batman from the show. Other similarities to the show include a fantastic score and aesthetics. And yes, The Adventures of Batman and Robin did release on other platforms besides the Super Nintendo, but the SNES version is considered the best one by fans. 

Simpsons Hit & Run (PS2, Xbox, GC, PC)

Simpsons Hit & Run bears an undeniable resemblance to the GTA series, though it is slightly more family friendly. Simpsons Hit & Run is an open world, sandbox style game where you can drive around the town of Springfield or attack pedestrians. The game is stuffed full of Simpsons humor and self-references, which shouldn’t be surprising since the writers for the show came on to pen the dialogue and plot. It’s lauded for its humor and voice acting by the actual cast. 

X-Men Arcade Game (Arcade, PSN, XBLA)

X-Men the Arcade Game isn’t based off the popular X-Men cartoon from the '90s. Oddly enough, it is actually based on a pilot of X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, which never made it past the first episode. While the X-Men comics of the '90s touched on a lot of serious topics, the show was campier for a younger audience. The X-Men Arcade game is ridiculous to a whole new level. It’s a fairly standard brawler: You can choose between Wolverine, Colossus, Dazzler, Nightcrawler, Cyclops, and Storm. The story is nonsensical, and the game has amazingly fumbled lines like “I am Magneto, master of magnet!” It was also released a few years ago on PSN and XBLA, with the same dialogue, story, and graphics. 

Up Next: Golden haired warriors, flying dogs, and a duck with a pogo stick... 

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (PS2)

The Budokai series is a blast in general, but Budokai 3 is the best of the bunch. The gameplay is standard for a 3D fighting game, but there are tons of Dragon Ball Z-inspired additions that make it stand out. Moments like both players firing a special attack at each other – pumping in more energy until one overtakes the other – is reminiscent of the classic anime. 

Snoopy Flying Ace (XBLA)

If you were to travel back in time and say that Snoopy Flying Ace would be a great game, people might think that you’re crazy. But this flight combat game is surprisingly fun, polished to a remarkable degree, and has been likened to cult favorite Crimson Skies. The gameplay consists of dogfights (No pun intended) using memorable characters from the Peanuts series. Snoopy Flying Aces also has a Pigskin mode – which is like an aerial version of rugby with planes – in addition to modes like team deathmatch and capture the flag. You can check out our review of Snoopy Flying Ace here.

TMNT: Turtles in Time (Arcade, SNES)

Choosing between the TMNT games is tricky, but Turtles in Time stands out. This side-scrolling brawler offers some of the best gameplay on the SNES and a fun 4-player co-op experience on the arcade version. The game is pretty short compared to other titles, but the replayability of Turtles in Time really helps it stand out. 

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (PS3, 360, PC)

Transformers: Fall of Cyberton is the best use of the Transformers brand to date. As noted in our review, “Fall of Cybertron is the Transformers toy battle you imagined as a child, transposed onto the TV in front of you.” Watching the characters from the classic '80s cartoon come to life is almost surreal. Each character plays a little differently, and is distinct enough where it doesn’t seem like you’re playing the same character, just reskinned. The experience is often cinematic with detailed set pieces and visual spectacle. It has the heroics and villainy we all expected, but its ability to competently tell its story is what really stands out.

DuckTales (NES)

It’s hard to talk about the Nintendo Entertainment System without talking about DuckTales. DuckTales has a similarity to Mega Man, like other Capcom-developed games at the time, and key members of the team actually worked on the game. You play as Scrooge McDuck and travel the world in search of more fortunes. Your cane can be used to attack enemies or throw certain objects, but it is best remembered for its use as a pogo stick. It is also well remembered for featuring non-linear gameplay, which was rare at the time. Players could choose between five different levels and revisit them to explore unlocked areas. In many ways, DuckTales was ahead of its time.

Did we miss any games based on a cartoon TV show that you hold dear? Tell us about them in the comments below!