In an era where spinoffs and sequels are a dime a dozen and the lack of original IP can feel like a drag to viewers who want something new, I’ve been thinking about one series I’d actually like to see revived in 2025: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Anything that can be imagined could theoretically happen in Buffy. It’s less about consistent world logic and more about its titular character and what she does. Who is the main character? Buffy. What does she do? She slays vampires (and other monsters). From its early episodes, Whedon conjures up a playground for occult monsters that’s rooted in the everyday issues of its teen characters. Beyond that, the rules of its monster-making aren’t all that strict and could be used and iterated upon in a number of ways in a video game.
Quirks that might make the show tough to rewatch in 2025 would translate perfectly into an action game: The show runs on campy, low-budget fighting scenes where the sound of a punch might not line up with the actual footage of it. A game development team could update the fighting sequences, or even lean into the low-budget style. Even the show’s stiff dialogue and corny one-liners like “You were myth-taken” already seem like they were written for a video game.
Seeing Buffy kick ass as the slayer obviously inspired me to see her as an action game hero, but her everyday life also made me think about what the series could look like as a game. Lots of the show takes place in the hallways of the high school and the cozy library, and I could already see myself clicking through little dialogue scenes where Buffy talks to her friends at school. Even the pacing of the show seemed to match my imagined video game world, trading off between more heavy sections of action with narrative elements that focus on her everyday life and friends, just like a Persona game would. Also, I saw Buffy’s colorful and zany Y2K fashion and immediately wanted a game where I could pick her outfit.
Given all this, it’s no wonder that the series has already received several video game spinoffs. But the most recent game was released on Nintendo DS in 2009, and I would love to see how a game could adapt its stories in the year 2025. I love my DS as much as the next person, but the series would benefit from updated graphics and gameplay.
Also, let’s not forget the heart of it all: Buffy Summers herself. As I watched her juggle the responsibilities of everyday life and the weight of protecting the world, I couldn’t help but be endeared to the character. Buffy is just an easy-to-love protagonist, and she deserves to be playable in a new game. And I, personally, can’t wait to raid her closet.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream on Hulu.
