When Arcane was first released in late ’21, it was a show that had big shoes to fill. The first Netflix adaptation of one of the biggest games ever, League of Legends, had years of deep lore to draw from and a rabid fanbase to please. Now that season one is over, this collaboration of League developer Riot Games and series creators Alex Yee and Christian Linke has not only been named one of the best shows of 2021 but has, for many fans, surpassed expectations. This story of sisters Vi and Jinx caught in the midst of a world plagued by class warfare and arcane magic managed to draw in not just League fans but a wide audience who has never touched a MOBA.
Through its incredible animation, great characters and emotional storylines, the series has not only been a great introduction to League of Legends’ world of Runeterra but quite simply a genius way for Riot Games to deliver its rich lore to a broader audience. With this success, now is the time for Riot to capitalize and bring the series that was inspired by a game back to the world of video games by spinning Arcane off into its own game, and here’s how it could work.
The best part about adapting Arcane into its own game is that it already has a wonderful story to follow. The story of rebellion and family, where two sisters are torn apart through their individual struggles with their past, is full of brilliant performances by a star-studded cast of voice talent. On top of this, the personal story of Vi and Jinx helps to tie the audience into the larger world of League. A game that closely followed the show’s events, perhaps focusing on one character and how it affects them, could work and already has a great framework in which to build its narrative.
As for the genre, one of the best ways to present an Arcane game would be as a third-person action-adventure that focused on Vi and her struggle against not just the villainy of Silco but her attempts to rescue the shattered mind of her sister Jinx. Although the show is focused on an ensemble cast, Vi is a great protagonist for an action game. Her brawler nature, tough persona and incredible steampunk gauntlets all make for a setup for some serious gameplay action. Players could fight through the streets of Zaun, brawling with thugs in the streets, much like the action of Sega’s Yakuza series.
Or perhaps the action could be split between two playable characters, with the game allowing players to switch between Vi and Jinx from level to level, telling its story much like the show does as it jumps around from character to character in its ensemble cast. Jinx’s gameplay could focus on her explosive gadget Flame Chompers, Pow-Pow minigun, and Zap pistol to take down opponents and try to figure out where she stands as she has become the adopted daughter of the most dangerous man in the Undercity.
Moreover, the style and setting of the series brilliantly lends itself to a game that can focus directly on the conflict between the put-upon undercity of Zaun and the high society of Piltover. Animation house Fortiche created in Arcane a gorgeous steampunk world that gives the fully realized worlds of BioShock and Dishonored some stark competition. Every frame of the show looks like it could be a painting, and its art style could translate brilliantly into a fluid third-person action game that displays its frenetic combat as a gorgeous flurry of paint strokes and colors.
On top of this, Riot is a company that has shown it is all too eager to expand the world of League of Legends with numerous spin-off games featuring well-known characters from the MOBA in entirely new genres in the past few years. Through its Riot Forge publishing arm, it already released the story-focused turn-based RPG The Ruined King last year and the rhythm game Hextech Mayhem. Now it has both action-platformer Convergence and The Last Guardian-inspired Song of Nunu on the way, as well.
Riot’s continued efforts to expand the world of Runterra in new directions is a smart way of drawing in players who may be turned off by the complicated nature of MOBA gameplay. With a second season already on the way, creating a new spin-off in the world of Arcane could bring even more players its way.
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