Why this adaptation feels natural
Life Is Strange is already structured like episodic television. It’s not about gameplay loops or boss fights. It’s about characters, relationships, choices, and consequences. It’s about sitting with feelings, navigating friendships, and replaying moments of “what if.”
Those things don’t always make for a great game - especially if, like me, you’d rather be running through Doom's hellscapes than deciding which classmate to trust. But on TV? That’s where this kind of story thrives. The emotional arcs, the cliffhangers, the slow-burn mysteries - it’s practically begging for a streaming adaptation.
And Amazon clearly agrees: they’ve greenlit a live-action series with Charlie Covell (The End of the F**ing World*) writing and showrunning. That’s an inspired choice - someone who already knows how to balance teen angst, sharp writing, and dark humor.
Meanwhile… “God of War” is rolling the dice
What makes this even more interesting is that Amazon has two giant video game projects on the way: Life Is Strange and God of War.
And here’s where my expectations flip. I’m a massive fan of the modern God of War games. I loved Kratos’ beardy dad phase, the axe-throw mechanics, and the nine realms. But as a TV series? I’m skeptical. The story is mythic, epic, drenched in spectacle. That works in a game where you’re playing the god of war. But in live action? Unless they’re throwing House of the Dragon money at every single episode, I don’t see how it translates without feeling… smaller.
Honestly, if God of War was adapted as an animated series, I’d feel way more optimistic. But live-action Kratos growling through Vancouver soundstages? I’ll believe it when I see it.
Life Is Strange, on the other hand, doesn’t need a billion-dollar budget. It just needs strong performances, careful writing, and the courage to lean into its emotional heart. That’s much easier to pull off in this medium.
The “games to TV” boom
We’re officially in the “games to TV” era. After The Last of Us proved a single season of prestige television could get mainstream attention (even if its second season is… let’s say “divisive”), every studio is dusting off their game libraries to see what could work on streaming.
And while I’m not rushing to replay Life Is Strange any time soon, I think this one actually makes sense. It’s intimate, character-driven, and already episodic by design. Which is more than I can say for half the other adaptations studios are greenlighting.
My hope
Here’s the part where I surprise myself: I might actually watch this. Not because I suddenly fell in love with the game, but because I think it’ll work better as TV than it ever did as a video game.
And if Amazon pulls it off, maybe it sets the tone for a wave of smaller, more character-focused game adaptations — not just the blockbuster ones.
So yeah. I’ll keep my axe ready for God of War, but for once, I’m more excited to see Chloe and Max on screen than Kratos.
