History Main / SpiritualAdaptation

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[[redirect:SpiritualSuccessor]]

[[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1651253757097054800 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.]]]]]]
->''"It's a shame that there was never a good ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' game on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]]... Oh wait, actually I take it back! There ''were'' some good ''Alien'' games on the NES! They're called ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' and ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}!'' Yeah."''
-->-- '''The Angry Video Game Nerd''' (after playing the ''Film/Alien3'' [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames NES game]]), ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd''

While a SpiritualSuccessor is for ''any'' plot that is reused without the same setting/characters, a Spiritual Adaptation is when the plot and even characters are used in a different medium. This often occurs because the creators in the new medium are not the same creators/producers of the original medium, which means they don't have access to the intellectual property rights of the original storyline.

It's particularly evident with video games; most people have certain movie characters with tons of potential they dream of playing as in an amazing game, yet as [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames most movie licensed games are terrible]], there's little chance of that happening. The storyline may deal with the same themes or problems faced by [[CastOfExpies a very similar cast of characters,]] but without getting the license, the creators have put together an original work instead. Fans check out the new work, and recognize story elements from a work in a different medium.

A SubTrope of RecycledPremise, where it's the story that is reused for another work. A SisterTrope to SpiritualSuccessor (where any work that shares the same themes/creators is written in a [[TheVerse separate universe]]), SpiritualCrossover (when one work has the characters encounter [[{{Expy}} Expies]] from another franchise or work) and RecycledInSpace (where the same premise from one work is also reused for a similar but distinct work in another setting). Compare DivorcedInstallment (where a work ''did'', in fact, begin life as a straightforward adaptation, only to have the SerialNumbersFiledOff during production) and SpiritualAntithesis (where one work has the same characters and themes as its predecessor but done completely different). See JustForFun/XMeetsY, where two or more works are combined together and TheMockbuster where a work doesn't just have similar characters and plot from another work but deliberately rips it off [[FollowTheLeader to capitalize on its success]].
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!!Example subpages:
[[index]]
* SpiritualAdaptation/AnimeAndManga
* [[SpiritualAdaptation/AnimatedFilm Films — Animated]]
* [[SpiritualAdaptation/LiveActionFilm Films — Live-Action]]
* SpiritualAdaptation/LiveActionTV
* SpiritualAdaptation/VideoGames
* SpiritualAdaptation/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

!!Other examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Comedy]]
* The European segment of ''Film/ColinQuinnLongStoryShort'' seems to take a lot of cue from ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* There are many ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' comics, but the one that captures the spirit of the game the best? ''ComicBook/DemonKnights''.
* There's been plenty of comics based on ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'', but only ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' really captures [[WagonTrainToTheStars the spirit]] of the show, complete with some similar character archetypes. Others feel that it's closest thing to the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' continuation that we'll never get.
* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' as a character can be considered something of a gun-toting, katana-wielding spiritual licensee for ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}''
* There has been quite a bit of adaptations of ''Literature/TheLeatherstockingTales'' in comic book and graphic novel form. The best? The Manga/MangaShakespeare adaptation of the Creator/WilliamShakespeare play ''Theatre/KingLear'', where the setting is shifted to North America circa 1759 with Lear bringing Chingachgook to mind, as does Gloucester Leatherstocking and his sons the Munro sisters.
* Creator/GregRucka has openly acknowleged that ''ComicBook/QueenAndCountry'' is a comic adaptation of the cult British [[SpyFiction Stale Beer]] spy TV series ''Series/TheSandbaggers''.
* ''ComicBook/TheWalkingDead'' (and, by extension, [[Series/TheWalkingDead its TV series adaptation]]) is openly acknowledged by its creators to owe a heavy debt to Creator/GeorgeARomero's ''Film/LivingDeadSeries'' and the many films that it inspired. Robert Kirkman, in the introduction to volume one, heaped praise upon ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'' and stated that his intent was to create "the zombie movie that never ends". It even [[OurZombiesAreDifferent has everybody who dies come back as a zombie]] as opposed to just [[TheVirus those who were bitten by one]], a rule that is found throughout Romero's films but is rarely seen in other zombie stories.
* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'' is the best adaptation of [[Creator/EEDocSmith E.E. Doc Smith's]] ''{{Literature/Lensman}}'' ever. Both are ScienceFantasy series involving [[EmpathicWeapon Empathic Weapons]] created by SufficientlyAdvancedAliens to [[TheChosenMany empower champions]] who fight with their minds (albeit in different ways). A great many ''Green Lantern'' characters resemble ones from ''Lensman'' and the general tone of both stories is quite similar as well.
* ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'' is basically ''Literature/TheExecutioner'' [[RecycledInSpace in the Marvel Universe]].
* Creator/FrankMiller has acknowledged that ''Film/ThreeHundred'' is inspired by ''Film/The300Spartans'' and thus it serves as an unofficial comic adaptation of the movie albeit [[RuleOfCool heavily stylized]]. It's got to the point where some regions simply [[DolledUpInstallment rename the movie to have the same title as the original]], as though it were a remake.
* Creator/JDSalinger and his estate have [[NoAdaptationsAllowed ensured that there will likely never be an adaptation]] of ''Literature/TheCatcherInTheRye'' for the foreseeable future. ''ComicBook/GhostWorld'', however, makes a great substitute, albeit updated for [[TheNineties '90s]] [[StepfordSuburbia suburbia]] with [[GenderFlip a female Holden Caulfield]] in the form of Enid Coleslaw.
* Creator/AlanMoore's ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'' is a comic book adaptation of Creator/GeorgeOrwell's ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'' with both stories being social satires of specific ideologies (Communism in ''1984'', Thatcherite conservatism in ''V For Vendetta'') and a totalitarian political party ruling Britain with an iron fist. Unlike ''1984'', ''V For Vendetta'' has the dictatorship being outright overthrown by the main protagonist at the cost of his own life.
* ''ComicBook/Prez1973'' has a similar premise to cult movie ''Film/WildInTheStreets'' - a grassroots campaign helps a young man (24 years old in ''Wild In the Streets'', 20 in ''Prez'') become president of the United States - the similarity is very likely intentional, even if the premise is played on a LighterAndSofter angle.
* ''ComicBook/MorningGlories'' is ''Series/{{Lost}}'' as a TeenDrama with a complicated MythArc, many characters with extensive back stories, and plentiful [[AsTheGoodBookSays biblical motifs.]]
* ''ComicBook/TheUnbelievableGwenpool'' is a TrappedInTVLand action-comedy about a young fan who gets sucked into the world of their favorite action-packed media franchise and uses their GenreSavvy to subvert the cliches and fight the villains. Barring the GenderFlip of the protagonist and it being about Franchise/{{Marvel|Universe}} superheroes instead of [[HollywoodActionHero '80s action movies]], this is the best comic book adaptation of ''Film/LastActionHero'' ever made.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:LARP]]
* The [=MagiQuest=] simulated-adventure franchise, although much lower-tech and modest in scale, is currently the closest that fans of Niven & Barnes' ''Literature/DreamPark'' can come to savoring the fictional mega-theme park's attractions.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Simon R. Green's ''Literature/{{Deathstalker}}'' series will be immediately familiar and fun territory to any ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' player.
* The ''Nina Wilde'' series by [=Andy McDermott=], about a semi-reluctant AdventurerArchaeologist, obviously takes more than a few cues from (and frequently references) Indiana Jones and Lara Croft. However, the number of pitched gun battles in exotic locations and rare vehicles which inevitably explode makes it far more akin to the written form of ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}''.
* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'':
** It's been called an American take on ''Literature/BattleRoyale'', and for a long time, it was thought that [[Film/TheHungerGames the (then in production) film adaptation]] would be the closest thing that Americans had to even ''[[NoExportForYou seeing a legal release]]'' of the ''Film/BattleRoyale'' movie.[[note]]It (and its sequel, ''Battle Royale II: Requiem'') finally received an official DVD/Blu-Ray release in the US in 2012, twelve years after it came out and just eight days after ''The Hunger Games'' hit theaters, likely due to the popularity of ''The Hunger Games'' demonstrating to American distributors that it was no longer too soon after the UsefulNotes/{{Columbine}} massacre to release it there. The long period of NoExportForYou produced an UrbanLegend claiming that the film had, in fact, been [[BannedInChina banned in the US]].[[/note]] This is actually the root of the FandomRivalry between the two works, with fans of ''Battle Royale'' accusing ''The Hunger Games'' of being a ripoff and ''Hunger Games'' fans countering that both books draw from similar influences. And on that note...
** It's also been called "''Literature/TheRunningMan'' with teenagers." Both works are set in a dystopian future revolving a [[ImmoralRealityShow televised fight to the death]] that's used to oppress the populace, the intent of [[Creator/StephenKing both]] [[Creator/SuzanneCollins authors]] being to satirize contemporary television ({{game show}}s in ''The Running Man'', RealityTV in ''The Hunger Games''), politics, and pop culture.
* The best ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' novel is, without a doubt, ''Literature/TheDeedOfPaksenarrion''.
* ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'' is a medieval fantasy adaptation of ''Franchise/StarWars''.
* The improbable death scenes of ''Literature/{{Another}}'' make it awfully like a Japanese ''Film/FinalDestination''.
* In a rather broad sense, ''Literature/{{Mogworld}}'' is a pretty good novelization of [[spoiler: ''VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime'' in terms of both works being based around video game characters in a fantasy world NoticingTheFourthWall]].
* Solea Razvan's ''Literature/ASymphonyOfEternity'' series is a mashup of ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' and ''Literature/{{Flashman}}'' set in a universe akin to ''Anime/{{Legend of Galactic Heroes}}'' only where magic instead of technology is used in this epic Galactic War.
* ''Literature/TheGirlWithAllTheGifts'' may as well be the novelization of ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs'', only with the setting transplanted to England. Both are stories about a ZombieApocalypse caused by [[TheVirus a fungus]] in the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyceps cordyceps]]'' genus jumping to humans, in which a young girl who is [[TheImmune immune to the fungus]] and lives in a symbiotic relationship with it is being transported across a post-apocalyptic wasteland filled with zombies and human bandits to a safe zone [[spoiler:where scientists will likely slice her brain open to study her immunity]]. Two of Melanie's protectors in ''The Girl With All the Gifts'', Miss Justineau and Sergeant Parks, each correspond to different aspects of the protagonist Joel's personality in ''The Last of Us'', with Justineau being the loving, adoptive parental figure and Parks being the badass killer who develops a grudging respect for Melanie. [[spoiler:And both end with the protagonist destroying humanity's hope for a cure for the infection, while implying that the search for a cure was a lost cause to start with.]]
* The first book of ''Literature/{{Bravelands}}'' is this to ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994''. Both include a young male lion cub being driven out of his pride (and leaving behind a close female cub) after his father is murdered by another male. The cub is saved by prey animals and is adopted by them, before he eventually ventures off on his own.
* Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/{{It}}'' can easily be read as a literary adaptation of ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'', albeit on a slightly more [[{{Doorstopper}} epic]] scale, with both IT (in the form of Pennywise) and Freddy Krueger being [[DeadpanSnarker quick-witted]], FauxAffablyEvil monsters that prey on children by using supernatural powers to exploit their worst fears. IT's stomping grounds of choice are the sewers beneath the town of Derry, not unlike how Freddy's go-to dreamscape is an underground boiler room reminiscent of where he killed children in life. The 1994 film ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' takes the influence full-circle by having Freddy turn out to be an ancient demonic entity that latched onto the ''Nightmare'' series and took the form of its iconic villain, reminiscent of how IT is something more akin to an EldritchAbomination. Creator/AndresMuschietti even [[https://nerdist.com/freddy-krueger-almost-made-a-cameo-appearance-in-stephen-kings-it/ considered]] having IT [[ShoutOut take the form of Freddy]] at one point in the [[Film/{{It 2017}} 2017 adaptation]] of ''It'' (both that film and the ''Nightmare'' series were made by Creator/NewLineCinema), though he decided that it would be too distracting.
* Creator/JudyBlume's ''[[Literature/{{Fudge}} Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing]]'' is a bit like a loose GenderFlip of Creator/BeverlyCleary's ''[[Literature/RamonaQuimby Beezus and Ramona]]'', which was published 17 years earlier. Both books are episodic [[SliceOfLife Slices of Life]] about an average 9-year-old protagonist dealing with the crazy antics of their AnnoyingYoungerSibling, whom they describe as their "biggest problem," and the climax of both involves the younger sibling destroying something that meant a lot to the protagonist (Ramona ruins Beezus's birthday cake, Fudge [[UpToEleven eats Peter's pet turtle.]]) Both books also spawned a series of sequels named after the younger sibling, although the ''Fudge'' books [[SecondaryCharacterTitle keep big brother Peter as the protagonist]], whereas the later ''Ramona'' books switch the viewpoint from Beezus's to Ramona's.
* ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'' can almost be read as a loose retelling of ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing.'' Elizabeth corresponds to Beatrice, Darcy is like a CompositeCharacter of Benedick and Don Pedro, Jane and Lydia [[DecompositeCharacter both]] correspond to Hero (Jane as Elizabeth/Beatrice's sweet female relative whose briefly loses her love because of a misunderstanding, Lydia as the one whose [[DefiledForever damaged sexual reputation]] threatens to disgrace her family), Bingley is like an AdaptationalNiceGuy take on Claudio, the villainous Wickham [[CompositeCharacter combines]] aspects of Don John with the worse side of Claudio, and Caroline Bingley fills out the rest of Don John's role.
* "The Red One", a short story from ''Literature/FromACertainPointOfView'' about R5-D4, the astromech that was almost purchased in place of R2-D2, can be considered a serious version of "Skippy the Jedi Droid" from ''Comicbook/StarWarsTales''.
* Austin Grossman's ''Crooked'', a horror AlternateHistory of the Cold War, features Henry Kissinger as an AntiVillain HumanoidAbomination with necromancer powers and monstrous pacts. In that sense, the novel works as a prequel to ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'', where Kissinger fills the same role.
* Creator/RLStine said that ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' was inspired by reading ''[[Creator/ECComics Tales from the Crypt]]'' comics and watching ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' when he was young. Various books in the series also draw influence from older works, in many cases with just [[PunnyName punny titles]] but also going into plot elements in some.
** ''Monster Blood'', about a novelty slime toy that can move around and eat anything it can envelop, is the series' take on ''Film/TheBlob1958'', albeit with the twist that anything that consumes the titular monster blood will [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever grow in size]]. A later book, ''The Blob That Ate Everyone'', was a more straightforward homage.
** ''Say Cheese and Die!'', about a MagicalCamera whose photographs show the future (including the fates of people and objects photographed with it), draws its inspiration from the ''Twilight Zone'' episode [[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS2E46AMostUnusualCamera "A Most Unusual Camera"]].
** ''Night of the Living Dummy'', about a CreepyDoll that terrorizes children while driving others to believe that they are acting out, is the ''Goosebumps'' version of ''Film/ChildsPlay''. Stine also said that it was inspired by ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio''.
** ''Welcome to Camp Nightmare'' shares its twist, that the protagonists [[spoiler:are actually aliens who will be heading off to Earth on a mission]], with the ''Twilight Zone'' episode [[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS1E14ThirdFromTheSun "Third from the Sun"]].
** Stine has said that ''Piano Lessons Can Be Murder'', about a piano teacher who enslaves children (or in this case, their disembodied hands) to play the piano forever, was inspired by ''Film/The5000FingersOfDrT''.
** ''Why I'm Afraid of Bees'' was inspired by the Creator/RobertSheckley novel ''Mindswap''.
** ''Phantom of the Auditorium'' is a straightforward parody of ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera''.
** ''The Haunted Car'' is about, well, a SinisterCar that tries to kill people, and is furthermore identified as female (it's possessed by the ghost of a girl who died when she took it on a joyride), while the protagonist is a boy who is obsessed with cars. In other words, it's a kid-friendly version of ''Literature/{{Christine}}'', though unlike Arnie Cunningham, Mitchell Moinian doesn't become a co-villain himself.
** ''Calling All Creeps'' is rather like a [[LighterAndSofter kid-friendly]] version of ''Literature/{{Carrie}}''.
* ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'' is often seen as a children’s novel version of ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle''.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' is probably the closest thing people will ever get to a novel series adaptation of ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness''. Alternatively, it works as a pretty damn good book series adaptation of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' (albeit being made even DarkerAndEdgier than ''Angel'' already was, along with having a less adversarial perspective on religion).
* Thanks in large part to how the whole series was originally conceived as "LostRomanLegion [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''," ''Literature/CodexAlera'' can be seen as basically the ancient Roman equivalent to ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', particularly in how in-depth the series is in examining how ElementalPowers has impacted the everyday society of [[HumansByAnyOtherName the Alerans]].
* ''Literature/MonsterHunterInternational'' is a series of ActionHorror novels in which the protagonists are wisecracking roughnecks who [[HunterOfMonsters hunt monsters]] with an assortment of [[GunPorn the biggest guns and explosives they can get their hands on]]. Barring the fact that they battle explicitly supernatural enemies, it may just be the closest translation of ''Film/{{Tremors}}'' to the page as one can get.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* ''Songs from the Mountain'' by Dirk Powell, Tim O'Brien, and John Herrmann was inspired by ''Literature/ColdMountain'', and originally was to have been titled after it before [[ScrewedByTheLawyers much legal wrangling with the rights holders]] intervened.
* "Bullet Time" by Music/TomSmith is ''Film/ThePunisher2004'' as a song. Both are about cops who lose their careers and families to the local crime bosses, and become shells of their former selves as they become homicidal vigilantes.
* Music/MaydayParade's "Terrible Things" is frequently associated with ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}''. It's about a formerly HappilyMarried man telling his son about his wife who died of a terminal illness years ago.
* [=LeaF=]'s SurpriseCreepy song "[=MopeMope=]" is practically a music version of ''VideoGame/{{Eversion}}'', featuring what appears to be cute flowery scenery at first and an accompanying jingle that [[SurpriseCreepy suddenly]] pulls a complete 180 and turns into a hellscape of [[EldritchAbomination otherworldly horrors]] and nasty music. Both works' creators had to slap on content warnings to [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids make it extra clear that they're not suitable for kids]]. Its apperance in ''VideoGame/MuseDash'' even features the game scenery randomly "everting" between different kinds, like in early versions of ''Eversion'' World 8.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E286KqzpkKw Soramafuurasaka's RPG]], despite the ''Creator/{{Nintendo}}'' inspired imagery, actually describes a typical ''Videogame/DiabloII'' session, and it also pass as one to ''WebAnimation/DiabLOL'' as well.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pinballs]]
* Both ''Tee'd Off'' and ''Pinball/NoGoodGofers'' strongly invoke ''Film/{{Caddyshack}},'' given they all feature golfers pitted against annoying gophers. Someone even modified a ''Gofers'' table into ''Caddyshack'' by repainting the cabinet and backglass.
* ''Pinball/HollywoodHeat'' is so close to ''Series/MiamiVice'' that it falls into TheMockbuster as a result.
* ''Pinball/F14Tomcat'' wants to be ''Film/TopGun'' with more combat, while ''Gold Wings'' goes straight into being a shameless [[TheMockbuster mockbuster]].
* It's difficult to play ''Pinball/CirqusVoltaire'' and not be reminded of ''Creator/CirqueDuSoleil''.
* Inadvertently done with ''Pinball/AttackFromMars''; it's highly reminiscent of ''Film/MarsAttacks,'' even though WordOfSaintPaul insists it's a case of parallel development instead.
* Deliberately invoked with ''Pinball/SlickChick'', which was created to capitalize on the then-popularity of Hugh Hefner's ''Magazine/{{Playboy}}'' Key Clubs.
* Also deliberately invoked in Creator/{{Gottlieb}}'s ''Pinball/{{Mayfair}}'', which is based on the film version of ''Film/MyFairLady''.
* Creator/{{Gottlieb}}'s ''Pinball/{{Raven}}'' tried to be this for ''[[Franchise/{{Rambo}} Rambo: First Blood Part II]]''.
* Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''Pinball/{{Sapporo}}'', a pinball game with a skiing theme, was released just before the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.
* Invoked in ''Pinball/VacationAmerica'', which features some very strong parallels to ''Film/NationalLampoonsVacation''.
* ''Pinball/AmericasMostHaunted'' and ''Pinball/BoneBusters'' are both inspired by ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}''.
* ''Pinball/ElvirasHouseOfHorrors'' is sometimes considered a spiritual ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' game, as several of the PublicDomainFeatureFilms it utilizes[[note]]Specifically, ''Film/AttackOfTheGiantLeeches'', ''Film/{{Eegah}}'', ''Film/HerculesAndTheCaptiveWomen'', ''Film/ManosTheHandsOfFate'', ''Film/SantaClausConquersTheMartians'', ''Film/TeenagersFromOuterSpace'', ''Film/TheBrainThatWouldntDie'', ''Film/TheGiantGilaMonster'', ''Film/TheKillerShrews'', and ''[[Film/Tormented1960 Tormented]]''[[/note]] were also riffed on by the latter show.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* The forum roleplay ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'', in which a high school class is kidnapped, fitted with [[ExplosiveLeash explosive collars]], brought to an island, and [[DeadlyGame forced to fight to the death]], is openly stated by its creators to be inspired by ''Literature/BattleRoyale'', albeit with the villains being [[TerroristsWithoutACause a terrorist organization]] instead of [[DayOfTheJackboot an authoritarian government]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/HeavyGear'' is an ''Anime/ArmoredTrooperVotoms'' game with the setting of ''Anime/FangOfTheSunDougram''.
* If there was ever a tabletop game version of ''Literature/WatershipDown'', it would be called ''TabletopGame/BunniesAndBurrows''.
* ''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Warhammer 40,000]]'':
** The {{Space Marine}}s come almost prepackaged from Creator/RobertAHeinlein. In this case, they double as a SpiritualAntithesis, considering the franchise's [[WarIsHell very different outlook]] on [[WarIsGlorious Heinlein's militarism.]]
** Furthermore, calling ''Warhammer 40,000'' an [[AdaptationExpansion expanded adaptation]] of the ''ComicBook/NemesisTheWarlock'' universe wouldn't be too far off the mark. Later publications from the two even started to share writers.
* ''TabletopGame/{{FATAL}}'' is... well, let's be fair. ''FATAL'' is probably the '''worst''' ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' RPG ever made, but it's still the closest we'll ever come to a ''Berserk'' RPG.
* The board game ''[[https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/804/thunder-road Thunder Road]]'', the "ram and wreck survival game", is about driving through the desert and fighting with the other drivers. The publishers clearly wanted us to think of ''Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior''.
* ''[[http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/45315/dungeon-lords Dungeon Lords]]'' is ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper: The Board Game''.
* In the opening to their [[https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/15/15765.phtml RPGnet review]] of the [[TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness World of Darkness]] [[FollowTheLeader ripoff]] ''Vampire: Undeath'', reviewers Darren [=MacLennan=] and Wil Hutton argue that many tabletop games are, in some way, heavily inspired by properties from other media. They cite ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' as owing a heavy debt to ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' (with treants and halflings as, respectively, ents and hobbits), the World of Darkness as inspired by the works of Creator/AnneRice, and ''Underground'' as a stealth adaptation of ''ComicBook/MarshalLaw''.
* The board game ''Steampunk Rally'' is ''WesternAnimation/WackyRaces'', but Steampunk, and starring history's greatest inventors.
* ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'' is a ''significantly'' DarkerAndEdgier ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'', given that it's about magical beings tasked by Gaia to battle deformed madmen polluting the Earth ForTheEvulz.
* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}} Reign of Steel'' is very obviously inspired by the ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' franchise.
* ''Nemesis'' is a board game adaptation of ''Film/{{Alien}}'' in all but name. Its Carnomorphs expansion switches to being a board game adaptation of ''VideoGame/DeadSpace'' in all but name.
* The ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' card game has the World Legacy archetype and its related archetypes, which are based on JRPG characters. The story connecting them all has plenty of similarities to ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'' in particular.
* The British BoardingSchool [=RPGs=] ''The Skool Rools'' (Creator/PhilMasters, 1994) and ''Hellcats & Hockeysticks'' (Andrew Peregrine, 2009) are very much inspired by ''Literature/{{Molesworth}}'' and ''Film/StTrinians'' respectively.
* ''TabletopGame/FadingSuns'' with its FeudalFuture and FantasticCatholicism serves as one for ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' and ''Literature/TheBookOfTheNewSun.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* Ever wonder what ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' would look like as a musical set in working-class 1950s New York, with the Montagues and Capulets replaced with rival street gangs? Watch ''Theatre/WestSideStory'' and find out.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theme Parks]]
* This happens frequently with the haunted houses at Ride/UniversalStudios' Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights event when they don't own the property the house is based on, especially in its earlier years in the 90s and 00s. These days, they're more likely to officially license the property to make a house out of, though the rights to some may be held by other theme parks (namely Ride/{{Disney|ThemeParks}} and Ride/SixFlags).
** The ''RUN'' series of houses is big on this. The first one from 2001 is this to ''Film/TheRunningMan'', while the sequel house ''RUN: Hostile Territory'' from 2005 is based more on ''Film/{{Hostel}}''. The 2015 house ''RUN: Blood, Sweat, and Fears'' makes the ''Running Man'' influence even more blatant with its [[{{Zeerust}} '80s retro-apocalypse setting]], while also drawing inspiration from ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' (itself often seen as a YA version of ''The Running Man''; see Literature above).
** 2004's ''Horror In Wax'' is this to ''Film/HouseOfWax1953''.
** 2005's ''Demon Cantina'' is this to ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn''. They eventually got a ''From Dusk Till Dawn'' house in 2014, albeit based on [[Series/FromDuskTillDawn its TV adaptation]].
** 2008's ''Interstellar Terror'' is this to ''Film/EventHorizon''.
** 2010's ''Legendary Truth: The Wyandot Estate'' is this to ''[[Literature/HellHouse The Legend of Hell House]]''.
** 2011's ''The Forsaken'' is this to ''Film/TheFog''.
** The "Body Collectors" are strongly based off of the Gentlemen from the ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E10Hush "Hush"]].
** Universal will likely never be able to use ComicBook/TheJoker or Comicbook/HarleyQuinn at their parks (not with Ride/SixFlags holding the rights to use Creator/DCComics characters), but for the time being, they have Jack and his sidekick Chance, the {{Monster Clown}}s who delight in terrorizing, torturing, and killing people with sick games. Chance's 2015 redesign especially is almost a dead ringer for Harley in the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries''. This became even more apparent when Chance was made the icon of the event in 2016, the same year that ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' was released, a decision that many fans believe was made in part to capitalize off of Creator/MargotRobbie's popular take on Harley Quinn in that film.
* Years before Universal Japan would open Ride/SuperNintendoWorld, they essentially adapted ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' into the original attraction ''Ride/SpaceFantasyTheRide'', a whimsical science fantasy ride where guests help a cosmic princess and her adorable starry sidekicks save the solar system.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]]
* ''Toys/MonsterHigh'' has been described as the closest fans will ever get to a ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheGhoulSchool'' franchise.
* ''Toys/TheGrosseryGang'' action figures in the ''Putrid Power'' lineup are often favorably compared to ''Food Fighters'', an 80s action figure line that didn't have any supplemental media to back it up enough to survive longer. The comparison was pushed even further with the ''Bug Strike'' wave of action figures, which gave the characters army outfits.
* The ''Toys/TransformersBotBots'' line is often compared to the "Changeables" line of Happy Meal toys from UsefulNotes/McDonalds, being robots that transform from food items.
* The toyline that spawned ''WesternAnimation/LEGOElvesSecretsOfElvendale'' could easily be considered the closest thing to a ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}'' LEGO set we have, since it focuses on a teenage girl going on a quest to rescue her younger sibling from a handsome goblin king.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* The Website/{{Newgrounds}} flash game ''[[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/600197 Super Adventure Pals]]'' is the best ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' platformer that you'll find on the web that isn't actually a licensed ''Adventure Time'' game.
* Alvin-Earthworm stated that the ''WebAnimation/SuperMarioBrosZ'' reboot is, scale-wise, inspired by ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath''.
* Do you wish ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki'' had more chapters[=/=]episodes? You can always watch the countless stick fight animations on Website/YouTube to quench that thirst.
* ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'' can be seen as a modern, animated successor to the '90s website ''[[http://www.grudge-match.com/current.html WWWF Grudge Match]]'', which pit characters from pop culture against each other in [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny hypothetical battles to the death]].
* In many ways, ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'' is the real life version of the ''[[JustForFun/TheItchyAndScratchyShow The Itchy & Scratchy Show]]'' segments from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', both being parodies of classic American animation where the AmusingInjuries are [[{{Gorn}} depicted with the gore that would result in real life]]. The only thing is that while ''Itchy & Scratchy'' is presented InUniverse as [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids a children's show]] (as befitting the satire of ''The Simpsons''), ''Happy Tree Friends'' is pretty much meant for adults.
** In addition, the ''KAPOW!'' short "[[Recap/HTFOperationTigerBomb Operation: Tiger Bomb]]" can be seen as an adaptation of ''Animation/SquirrelAndHedgehog''. Both shows feature cartoon animal soldiers (in “Tiger Bomb”, there is W.A.R.[[note]]Weaponized Animal Regiment[[/note]] and the unnamed tiger army, while ''Squirrel and Hedgehog'' has the Flower Hill Army and it’s various enemies) in wartime, with blood and gore to boot. The only difference between both shows is while ''Squirrel and Hedgehog'' is North Korean propaganda aimed at children, ''KAPOW!'', being a spin-off of ''Happy Tree Friends'', is explicitly made for adults and animated by an [[Creator/MondoMedia American animation studio]].
* ''WebAnimation/WolfSongTheMovie'' is a lot like a ''Literature/SurvivorDogs'' fan-film based around a bunch of original characters. They both involve canines in the wild, feature a lot of bloody fighting, and have similar lore.
* As several fans [[https://www.fearreview.com/2018/11/17/rwby-volume-6-chapter-3-review-spoilers/ have pointed out]], [[Recap/RWBYV6E3TheLostFable "The Lost Fable"]] from ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' makes for a surprisingly good animated adaptation of ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. What certainly helps are the numerous parallels between the two work's respective {{Big Bad}}s of [[EvilSorcerer Salem]] and [[SatanicArchetype Sauron]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': PlayedForLaughs with the Fantasy Wasteland [=NP=] arc, which is effectively a Spiritual Adaptation of Creator/{{Bethesda}} Western [=RPGs=] - specifically, it feels like a slurry of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' and ''VideoGame/Fallout3''.
* ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'' is effectively a ''TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}'' comic in all but name. Not only does it feature an identical premise (a PortalCrossroadWorld in the middle of TheMultiverse) and share [[NewWeird a genre]] with it, but many of the races and characters are quite evocative of ones from ''Planescape'', and the art style has a similarly DungeonPunk look. The main story even kind of feels like a {{Deconstruction}} of the old "What would happen if the Lady of Pain died?" [[FandomSpecificPlot fanfic plot]].
* ''Webcomic/PixieAndBrutus'': The comics, which are the amusing and SugarWiki/{{WAFF}}y adventures of a soft-hearted tough dog with a Roman name and an innocent CuteKitten, resembles the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "WesternAnimation/FeedTheKitty".
* ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Following its CerebusSyndrome, ''[=OotS=]'' can be considered the best unofficial ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' comic ever created: Both are DungeonPunk {{Affectionate Parod|y}}ies of archetypical fantasy stories set in a unique {{Constructed World}} presided over by {{Physical God}}s and which have the TheoryOfNarrativeCausality as a fundamental force of nature, and use their setting to critique and satirize serious real-world societal issues while never forgetting to cheerfully indulge in SurrealHumor and/or a HurricaneOfPuns -- [[BetterThanABareBulb all of which is almost always noted]] and lampshaded by the cast of GenreSavvy main characters while as many tropes as possible are played with in creative ways.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* InUniverse, this occurs in ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'''s review of ''Film/ThePrincessDiaries 2'', when Benny the assassin says he didn't know they made a video game of ''Film/ThePurge'', but the Nostalgia Critic says it's actually ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto VI''.
* {{Discussed}} in ''WebVideo/HonestTrailers'' (see under "Animated Films"):
-->'''Epic Voice Guy:''' And don't tell me there's no way to make a good ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' movie! It's called ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', and it's ''perfect!''
* ''Creep Catchers'': Inspired by ''Series/{{Dateline}}'''s ''To Catch a Predator''. A Canadian grassroots movement (not so much an organization) dedicated to confronting would be child predators. As with ''Dateline'', they pose as children in chatrooms and wait for would be "creeps" to take the bait and arrange a meeting. They will film their encounter and often aggressively persuade the "creep" to own up to their actions in light of the evidence in the chatlogs. The encounter is then posted on social media such as Facebook and Youtube as a shaming tactic. Their encounters with said "creeps" can get confrontational and some of the members have been charged with assault. They are especially noted for the theme song that was created by K-Blitz and adopted by individuals who act as creep catchers. Several individual unaffiliated groups use the name "Creep Catchers". Justin Payne, calls his operation P.O.P or "Prey on Predators" but still has used the K-Blitz theme song.
* Like the aforementioned ''Death Battle'', ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'' can also be seen as an updating of ''WWWF Grudge Match'' for the Website/YouTube age in how it pits both historic figures and pop culture icons against each other, though here, it's done through BattleRapping rather than an UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny.
[[/folder]]
----

* ''ComicBook/MorningGlories'' is ''Series/{{Lost}}'' as a TeenDrama with a complicated MythArc, LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters with extensive back stories, and plentiful [[AsTheGoodBookSays biblical motifs.]]

* ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'' is effectively a ''TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}'' comic in all but name. Not only does it feature an identical premise (PortalCrossroadWorld in the middle of TheMultiverse) and share [[NewWeird a genre]] with it, but many of the races and characters are quite evocative of ones from ''Planescape'', and the art style has a similar DungeonPunk look. The main story even kinda feels like a {{Deconstruction}} of the old "what would happen if the Lady of Pain died?" [[FandomSpecificPlot fanfic plot]].

* ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Following its CerebusSyndrome, ''[=OotS=]'' can be considered the best unofficial ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' comic ever created: Both are DungeonPunk {{Affectionate Parod|y}}ies of archetypical fantasy stories set in a unique {{Constructed World}} presided over by {{Physical God}}s, and use their setting to critique and satirize serious real-world societal issues while never forgetting to cheerfully indulge in either SurrealHumor or a HurricaneOfPuns -- [[BetterThanABareBulb all of which is almost always noted]] and lampshaded by the cast of GenreSavvy main characters.

* ''Literature/MonsterHunterInternational'' is a series of action-horror novels in which the protagonists are wisecracking roughnecks who [[HunterOfMonsters hunt monsters]] with an assortment of [[GunPorn the biggest guns and explosives they can get their hands on]]. Barring the fact that they battle explicitly supernatural enemies, it may just be the closest translation of ''Film/{{Tremors}}'' to the page as one can get.

** In addition, the ''KAPOW!'' short “[[Recap/HTFOperationTigerBomb Operation: Tiger Bomb]]” can be seen as an adaptation of ''Animation/SquirrelAndHedgehog''. Both shows feature cartoon animal soldiers (in “Tiger Bomb”, there is W.A.R.[[note]]Weaponized Animal Regiment[[/note]] and the unnamed tiger army, while ''Squirrel and Hedgehog'' has the Flower Hill Army and it’s various enemies) in wartime, with blood and gore to boot. The only difference between both shows is while ''Squirrel and Hedgehog'' is North Korean propaganda aimed at children, ''KAPOW!'', being a spin-off of ''Happy Tree Friends'', is explicitly made for adults and animated by an [[Creator/MondoMedia American animation studio]].

* In many ways, ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'' is the real life version of the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow The Itchy & Scratchy Show]]'' segments from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', both being parodies of classic American animation where the AmusingInjuries are [[{{Gorn}} depicted with the gore that would result in real life]]. The only thing is that while ''Itchy & Scratchy'' is presented InUniverse as [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids a children's show]] (as befitting the satire of ''The Simpsons''), ''Happy Tree Friends'' is pretty much meant for adults.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' is probably the closest thing people will ever get to a novel series adaptation of ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness''. Alternatively, it works as a pretty damn good book series adaptation of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' (albeit being made even ''DarkerAndEdgier'' than ''Angel'' already was, along with having a less adversarial perspective on religion).

* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Played for laughs. The Fantasy Wasteland NP arc is effectively a Spiritual Adaptation of Bethesda RPGs - specifically, it feels like a slurry of Skyrim and Fallout 3.

* ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Following its CerebusSyndrome, ''[=OotS=]'' can be considered the best unofficial ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' comic ever created: Both are DungeonPunk {{Affectionate Parod|y}}ies of archetypical fantasy stories set in a unique {{Constructed World}} presided over by {{Physical God}}s, and use their setting to critique and satirize serious real-world societal issues while never forgetting to cheerfully indulge in either SurrealHumor or a HurricaneOfPuns -- [[BetterThanABareBulb all of which is almost always noted]] and lamsphaded by the GenreSavvy cast of main characters.

* In-universe, this occurs in ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'''s review of ''Film/ThePrincessDiaries 2'', when the bodyguard says he didn't know they made a video game of ''Film/ThePurge'', but the Nostalgia Critic says it's really ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto VI''.

-->'''Awesome Voide:''' And don't tell me there's no way to make a good ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' movie! It's called ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', and it's perfect!

* The ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' card game has the World Legacy archetype and its related archetypes, which are based on JRPG characters. The story connecting them all has plenty of similarities to ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles'' in particular.

->"It's a shame that there was never a good ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' game on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]]... Oh wait, actually I take it back! There ''were'' some good ''Alien'' games on the NES! They're called ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' and ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}!'' Yeah."

** ''Calling All Creeps'' is rather like a [[LighterAndSofter kid-friendly]] version of ''Literature/Carrie''.

* In a rather broad sense, Literature/{{Mogworld}} is a pretty good novelization of [[spoiler: VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime]].

* ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'' can almost be read as a loose retelling of ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing.'' Elizabeth corresponds to Beatrice, Darcy is like a CompositeCharacter of Benedick and Don Pedro, Jane and Lydia [[DecompositeCharacter both]] correspond to Hero (Jane as Elizabeth/Beatrice's sweet female relative whose briefly loses her love because of a misunderstanding, Lydia as the one whose [[DefiledForever damaged sexual reputation]] threatens to disgrace her family), Bingley is like an AdaptationalNiceGuy Claudio, the villainous Wickham [[CompositeCharacter combines]] aspects of Don John with the worse side of Claudio, and Caroline Bingley fills out the rest of Don John's role.

* Austin Grossman's ''Crooked'', a horror AlternateHistory of the Cold War, features Henry Kissinger as an AntiVillain HumanoidAbomination with necromancer powers and monstrous pacts. The novel works as a prequel to ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'', where Kissinger fills the same role.

* In many ways, ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'' is the real life version of the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow The Itchy & Scratchy Show]]'' segments from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', both being parodies of classic American animation where the AmusingInjuries are [[RealityEnsues depicted with the gore that would result in real life]]. The only thing is that while ''Itchy & Scratchy'' is presented InUniverse as [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids a children's show]] (as befitting the satire of ''The Simpsons''), ''Happy Tree Friends'' is pretty much meant for adults.

->''"It's a shame that there was never a good ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' game on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]]... Oh wait, actually I take it back! There ''were'' some good ''Alien'' games on the NES! They're called ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' and ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}''! Yeah."''

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E286KqzpkKw Soramafuurasaka's RPG]], despite the ''Creator/Nintendo'' inspired imagery, actually describes a typical ''Videogame/DiabloII'' session, and it also pass as one to ''WebAnimation/DiabLOL'' as well.