Angry Birds: Summer Madness imagines a world where the colorful characters in the Angry Birds franchise go to summer camp as preteens. (Turns out, birds go through puberty, too.) But these birds aren’t the only video game characters to be the stars of their own shows. It seems like now, more than ever, people are making live-action and animated adaptations of video games — from The Witcher to Sonic the Hedgehog to Arcane — going from the tiny screen to the small screen. 

Charge your devices, download your apps and get ready to play, because there are plenty of episodes to watch — even after your lives run out. 

1. Minecraft: Story Mode 

The Show: In this interactive special set in the Minecraft universe, the viewer sits in the writer’s chair. When the future of the world is at stake, it’s up to you to make the best decisions to save everyone from destruction. (No pressure or anything.) 

The Download: Minecraft, a multiplatform game available on mobile and desktop consoles, lets users explore a blocky, 3D world where they can make houses, acquire resources and survive against wandering mobs. Much like how the game allows you to build your own adventure, Minecraft: Story Mode allows viewers to do the exact same thing but with more high-stakes consequences. 

2. Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog 

The Show: Sonic is a bright blue hedgehog who can move at supersonic speeds and is full of personality. Although he might seem arrogant at times, he means well, especially when he and his friend Tails are thwarting the plans of the evil Dr. Robotnik (also sometimes referred to as Dr. Eggman) and his robot henchmen, who are looking to conquer the planet Mobius. 

The Download: The series, which made its TV debut in 1993, is based on the Sega video game franchise that has been present on a number of different gaming platforms. While there have been many different versions of the lovable hedgehog over the years, this one will take you back to the early ’90s Saturday morning cartoons. 

3. Sonic X 

The Show: Sonic is back again, but this time he and his friends are transported to Earth by Dr. Robotnik. While on Earth, they find that it’s not too dissimilar from their own planet. . . except it’s inhabited by humans. Here, they meet Chris, a 12-year-old boy who helps Sonic and his friends avoid Dr. Robotnik. 

The Download: Ten years after Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog premiered, Sonic X made its TV debut in Japan in 2003. This series borrows characters from the Sonic video game universe while also introducing a new cast of human characters. 

4. Pokémon Journeys: The Series

The Show: This four-part series focuses on famed Pokémon trainer Ash and his new friend Goh, who become official research fellows for Professor Cerise. Ash, determined to become a Pokémon master, travels all over the world with his partner, Pikachu, as well as Goh, who is determined to capture every single Pokémon that exists. 

The Download: Pokémon has been a staple in the gaming world since it made its big debut on Nintendo Game Boy in 1996. Since then, you could say Pokémon has exploded faster than an angry Voltorb. It has spurned multiple movies, games, phone apps (never forget the summer that everyone became obsessed with Pokémon GO) and TV shows. Pokémon Journeys: The Series is the 23rd season of Pokémon TV, and it doesn’t seem like the franchise is stopping anytime soon. 

5. Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series 

The Show: Ash is battling his way through the World Coronation Series while Goh is continuing his quest to capture every Pokémon out there in the latest season of Pokémon TV. The quest to “catch ’em all” never ends. 

The Download: This is the most recent Pokémon series to debut, with the episodes released in 2021. Just when you thought the Pokémon universe could not be expanded any more, Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series proves that there are many more stories to tell from the highest-grossing media franchise in the world. 

6. PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures 

The Show: A teenage PAC-MAN (who goes by Pac) and his friends attend a boarding school in the city of Pacopolis. Pac and his buddies have to protect the citizens of Pacopolis from the threat of ghosts, who are able to possess bodies, on top of facing the ups and downs that come with being teens. Pac vows to stop the bad guys from taking over the town with the help of four friendly ghosts. 

The Download: If you’ve ever been to an arcade, pizza parlor or dive bar, then you must have encountered PAC-MAN, the classic single-player maze game where you have to avoid the ghosts and collect all the dots. This 2013 animated series builds a story on the game that you’ve probably spent a few quarters on. 

7. Skylanders Academy 

The Show: In the world of Skylands, composed of floating islands, a band of heroes called Skylanders are in charge of using their personal skills to defend their world from threats. After graduating from Skylanders Academy, three friends — Spyro the Dragon, Stealth Elf and Eruptor — team up to learn what it means to be a hero. 

The Download: Although Spyro made his first appearance in the 1998 video game Spyro the Dragon, Skylanders is a newer franchise, with the first installment released in 2011. It is a toys-to-life game, which means that you can buy Skylanders toys and gain access to new parts of the game. Like in the show, players can explore the Skylands and stop a villain from taking over their universe. 

8. Rabbids Invasion 

The Show: Mysterious, indestructible rabbit-like creatures named Rabbids invade Earth with one mission: to create chaos wherever they go. Between causing mayhem, fighting off villains and living out of a yellow submarine (the Beatles are shaking), the Rabbids have their hands full. 

The Download: First appearing as the villains in the video game Rayman Raving Rabbids in 2006, the Rabbids have gone on to be the stars of their own show — literally. Just like their show selves, the Rabbids are destructive, wild and oh so lovable. 

9. Angry Birds

The Show: These little birds have a lot to be angry about, especially given that pigs are constantly trying to steal their eggs for the pigs’ king to eat. The birds will go to any lengths to protect their eggs, even if that means going on daring adventures and getting into trouble. 

The Download: After first being released as a phone app in 2009, Angry Birds is still going strong, racking up more than 4.5 billion downloads. In the years since its debut, it has spawned two animated films, spinoff games, merchandise and TV series, like the one streaming on Netflix right now. 

10. Arcane 

The Show: Vi and Jinx, two sisters fighting on rival sides of a war between the two cities of Piltover and Zaun, use magic and technology to help their fight in this prequel series based on two of the most popular characters in the video game League of Legends. 

The Download: Players engage in combat against teams placed across the map in the video game League of Legends, which was released in 2009. Arcane builds on the rivalries, diving deeper into this universe in a brand-new way.

11. The Witcher 

The Show: Geralt of Rivia is a Witcher: a traveling monster hunter with supernatural powers. It’s up to Geralt to journey toward his destiny in an ever-changing, turbulent world. 

The Download: The Witcher is based on the book series of the same name which also spawned the 2007 video game. The TV series not only expands on this world but has a huge fandom of its own, aside from its source material.