Licensed Game

A video game based on an existing property, usually a movie, TV series or comic book.

Because the property is enough to unify these games, they can afford to be a bit more loose with their genre. A licensed title might well be an actioner one level, a Driving game the next, then back to an actioner before turning to stealth. This is especially the case with movie tie-ins, where gameplay is usually tailored to allow the player to recreate the film's plot as closely as possible. (TV show and comic book tie-ins instead create a new plot, preferably conceived of by one or more writers from the original property, allowing them to advertise this fact on the case. Movie and TV show tie-ins also prefer to rope in actors from the original property for voice work.)

These games, as a group, are generally regarded... well, suffice it to say that many gamers feel the same way about games based on movies as film critics feel about movies based on games. Some titles however, such as Golden Eye 1997, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Punisher, and most 3D Spider-Man games, gain a certain amount of respect amongst gamers. In some strange cases, the game receives noticeably better reviews than the property itself, as was the case with The Chronicles of Riddick and Ecks Vs. Sever. See The Problem with Licensed Games.

There is also a small edge to be gained by being based on an older property. Most licensed titles are made for a TV series at the peak of its popularity, or a movie just about to open. Games like The Godfather, The Warriors, and From Russia with Love get extra points for thinking outside of the box. Star Wars games don't count, as the merchandising cycle for that particular property is unending.

Also note that Sports Games with the official teams' and players' names are also licensed games. These are more often "good" than movie-/series-based games, likely because they were already games to begin with.

The presence of Title: the Adaptation is a sure sign you are playing one of these.

Licensed games with their own pages (collected here for indexing purposes)

 * Aladdin (Capcom)
 * Aladdin (Virgin Games)
 * Alice in Wonderland (the 2010 Tim Burton version)
 * Aliens: Colonial Marines
 * The Amazing Spider-Man
 * Asterix and The Magic Carpet
 * Asterix Operation Getafix
 * Astro Boy Omega Factor
 * Back to The Future
 * Batman: Arkham Asylum
 * Batman: Arkham City
 * The Battle for Middle Earth
 * Betrayal at Krondor
 * The Black Cauldron
 * Buffy the Vampire Slayer
 * Captain America and The Avengers
 * Castle of Illusion
 * CSI
 * Dark Forces Saga
 * The Darkness
 * Digimon World
 * Disney's Magical Quest
 * Doctor Who
 * Doctor Who Return to Earth
 * Disneys Villains Revenge
 * Donald in Maui Mallard
 * Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi
 * Duck Tales
 * Emmanuelle (video game)
 * Empire At War
 * Epic Mickey
 * Eragon
 * Escape from Horrorland
 * ET the Extra Terrestrial
 * Eye of the Beholder
 * Férias Frustradas do Pica-Pau
 * The Force Unleashed
 * Friday the 13 th
 * G.I.Joe
 * Garfield Caught in The Act
 * Ghostbusters the Video Game
 * The Godfather
 * Gold Box
 * GoldenEye (1997)
 * GoldenEye (2010)
 * Golden Eye Rogue Agent
 * The Goonies
 * Gundam Wing Endless Duel
 * Hamtaro Ham Ham Heartbreak
 * Hamtaro Ham Hams Unite
 * The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy
 * Hotel Mario
 * The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
 * Indiana Jones:
 * Raiders of the Lost Ark
 * Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade
 * Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
 * Indiana Jones Greatest Adventures
 * Indiana Jones and The Infernal Machine
 * Indiana Jones and The Emperor's Tomb
 * Indiana Jones and The Staff of Kings
 * Initial D Arcade Stage
 * Jaws
 * Jaws Unleashed
 * Jedi Power Battles
 * Jedi Starfighter
 * Jump Super Stars
 * Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
 * Jurassic Park the Game
 * Kamen Rider Climax Heroes
 * Kingdom Hearts
 * Kingdom Hearts (1)
 * Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
 * Kingdom Hearts II
 * Kingdom Hearts coded
 * Kingdom Hearts 358 Days Over 2
 * Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
 * Kingdom Hearts 3D
 * Knights of the Old Republic
 * Legend of Success Joe
 * The Legend of Zelda CDI Games
 * LEGO
 * Lego Adaptation Game
 * Lego Island
 * LEGOLAND
 * LEGO Racers
 * Lego Universe
 * Rock Raiders
 * The Lion King
 * The Little Mermaid
 * Little Nemo the Dream Master
 * Living Books
 * The Lucky Dime Caper
 * Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha As Portable
 * Marvel Super Heroes
 * Marvel vs. Capcom
 * X-Men vs. Street Fighter
 * Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter
 * Marvel vs. Capcom Clash of the Superheroes
 * Marvel vs. Capcom 2
 * Marvel vs. Capcom 3
 * Matches and Matrimony
 * Mickey Mania
 * Mickey Mousecapade
 * Nancy Drew
 * Naruto Clash of Ninja
 * Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
 * Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations
 * Neverwinter Nights
 * Neverwinter Nights 2
 * Nicktoons MLB
 * Nicktoons Unite!
 * The Nightmare Before Christmas Oogies Revenge
 * Oliver and Company
 * One Piece
 * Popeye
 * Puella Magi Madoka Magica Portable.
 * Quackshot
 * Republic Commando
 * Revolution X
 * Rogue Squadron
 * Sailor Moon: Another Story
 * Scarface the World Is Yours
 * Scott Pilgrim
 * Secret Agent Barbie
 * Silver Surfer
 * The Simpsons
 * The Simpsons Game
 * The Simpsons Hit & Run
 * The Simpsons Road Rage
 * Spider-Man (Atari 2600)
 * Spider-Man (2000)
 * Spider-Man Friend or Foe
 * Spider Man Shattered Dimensions
 * Spider-Man Edge of Time
 * Spider Man Web of Shadows
 * SpongeBob SquarePants
 * Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (video game)
 * StarTrek: Judgment Rites
 * Star Trek: The Next Generation: A Final Unity
 * Star Trek Elite Force
 * Star Wars Battlefront
 * Star Wars Galaxies
 * Rebel Assault
 * Star Wars Rebellion
 * Star Wars the Old Republic
 * Street Fighter the Movie
 * Strong Bads Cool Game for Attractive People
 * Superman (Atari 2600)
 * Superman 64
 * Super Robot Wars (Except the Original Generation series)
 * Super Star Wars
 * Sweet Home
 * Tatsunoko vs. Capcom
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Arcade Game
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Smash Up
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tournament Fighters
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Turtles in Time
 * The Thing
 * TIE Fighter
 * Trespasser
 * Tron 2.0
 * Tron Evolution
 * Ultimate Spider Man
 * Wangan Midnight
 * The Warriors
 * Westworld 2000
 * World of Illusion
 * X-Men: The Arcade Game
 * X Men Children of the Atom
 * X-Men: Destiny
 * X Men Legends
 * X-Men Next Dimension
 * X Wing
 * X Wing Alliance
 * X Wing vs. Tie Fighter
 * Yu-Gi-Oh!
 * Yu-Gi-Oh Forbidden Memories
 * Yu-Gi-Oh Reshef of Destruction

Anime & Manga

 * Cardcaptor Sakura
 * Dragon Ball
 * Dragon Ball Z
 * Dragon Ball GT
 * Ghost in the Shell (for the PS 1)
 * Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (for the PSP and the PlayStation 2)
 * Hamtaro
 * Magic Knight Rayearth
 * Marmalade Boy
 * Miracle Girls
 * Mirumo de Pon
 * My Wife Is a High School Girl
 * Neon Genesis Evangelion
 * One Piece
 * Pokémon (Yellow and Puzzle League)
 * Sailor Moon (aside from the aforementioned game above the series also had numerous other games, usually either fighting games, side scrolling beat-em-ups or puzzle games).
 * Saint Seiya
 * Soul Hunter
 * Naruto has a whole bunch, mostly fighters.
 * Nichijou: Uchuujin
 * Tenchi Muyo!
 * To Aru Majutsu no Index and To Aru Kagaku no Railgun
 * Wedding Peach

Comics

 * The Punisher
 * Captain America (comics): Super Soldier
 * Dick Tracy
 * Donald Duck
 * Garfield
 * The Incredible Hulk
 * Peanuts
 * Superman

Eastern Animation

 * Nu Pogodi - A pioneering Russian example.

Films -- Animation

 * An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
 * Beauty and the Beast
 * Beavis and Butthead
 * Bolt
 * Brother Bear
 * A Bugs Life
 * Cars
 * Fantasia
 * Finding Nemo
 * The Great Mouse Detective
 * Hey Arnold!: The Movie
 * The Incredibles
 * The Jungle Book
 * Lilo and Stitch
 * Megamind
 * Monsters, Inc.
 * Pinocchio
 * Pocahontas
 * Ratatouille
 * Toy Story (all three films)
 * Up
 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Films -- Live Action

 * Alien
 * Avatar
 * Back to The Future
 * Bad Boys
 * Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever
 * Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus
 * Batman
 * Batman Returns
 * Batman Forever
 * Batman and Robin
 * Beetlejuice
 * Beverly Hills Cop
 * Big Trouble in Little China
 * Blade Runner
 * The Blair Witch Project
 * Bram Stokers Dracula
 * Congo
 * Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
 * The Crow
 * The Dark Crystal
 * Darkman
 * Die Hard
 * Demolition Man
 * Dennis the Menace
 * Dick Tracy
 * Dragon Ball Evolution
 * Driven
 * Fight Club
 * Firefox
 * From Dusk till Dawn
 * Evil Dead
 * Ghostbusters
 * The Godfather
 * Godzilla
 * The Great Escape
 * Gremlins 2: The New Batch
 * Halloween
 * High School Musical
 * Home Alone (the first two)
 * Hook
 * Hudson Hawk
 * Independence Day
 * The Italian Job
 * Juon
 * Jurassic Park
 * The Karate Kid
 * King Kong
 * Krull
 * Land of the Dead
 * The Last Airbender
 * The Lawnmower Man
 * Lethal Weapon
 * Little Nicky
 * Mad Max
 * Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
 * Moonwalker
 * A Nightmare on Elm Street
 * Pirates of the Caribbean
 * Plan 9 from Outer Space
 * Rambo
 * Reign of Fire
 * Reservoir Dogs
 * Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
 * RoboCop
 * The Rocketeer
 * Rocky
 * Saw
 * The Shadow
 * Space Jam
 * Star Wars
 * Attack of the Clones
 * The Empire Strikes Back
 * A New Hope
 * The Phantom Menace
 * Return of the Jedi
 * Revenge of the Sith
 * Starship Troopers
 * Terminator
 * The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
 * TMNT
 * Top Gun
 * Tron
 * True Lies
 * Warlock
 * Waterworld
 * Willow
 * The Wizard of Oz

Literature

 * Arthur
 *  The Berenstain Bears
 * Caillou
 * Clifford the Big Red Dog
 * Franklin
 * Little Critter
 * Madeline
 * The Magic School Bus
 * Spot the Dog
 * Winnie the Pooh

Live Action TV

 * 24
 * The Addams Family
 * Alias
 * Dark Angel
 * The Dukes of Hazzard
 * ER
 * Gilligan's Island
 * Grey's Anatomy
 * Hannah Montana
 * Heroes
 * Law and Order
 * Lizzie McGuire
 * Lost
 * Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
 * Mission Impossible
 * Monty Python's Flying Circus
 * Star Trek
 * Star Trek: The Original Series
 * Star Trek: The Next Generation
 * Star Trek Generations
 * The Prisoner
 * The X-Files

Music

 * Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
 * Guitar Hero: Metallica
 * The Beatles: Rock Band
 * Guitar Hero: Van Halen
 * Green Day: Rock Band
 * Michael Jackson: The Experience
 * Ed Hunter (a game that came along with a Greatest Hits Album)
 * Journey (arcade)/ Journey Escape (Atari 2600)
 * Kiss Pinball
 * Guns N' Roses Pinball

Puppet Shows

 * Barney and Friends
 * Bear in the Big Blue House
 * The Muppet Show
 * Sesame Street

Theme Parks

 * The Haunted Mansion
 * ''Universal Studios Theme Park Adventure

Toys

 * Lego Crossover Game

Video Games

 * Sonic the Hedgehog (arguably, games such as Sonic Spinball and Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine)

Western Animation

 * The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron
 * American Dragon: Jake Long
 * Animaniacs
 * Atomic Betty
 * Avatar: The Last Airbender
 * Batman the Animated Series
 * Ben 10
 * Blazing Dragons
 * Blue's Clues
 * Bonkers
 * Bucky O Hare and The Toad Wars
 * Captain Planet and the Planeteers
 * Castle of Illusion
 * CatDog
 * Care Bears
 * Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers
 * Codename: Kids Next Door
 * Code Lyoko
 * Count Duckula
 * Danny Phantom
 * Darkwing Duck
 * Dexters Laboratory
 * Doug
 * Dragon Tales
 * The Fairly Odd Parents
 * The Flintstones
 * Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
 * Futurama
 * Gargoyles
 * Goof Troop
 * The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
 * He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
 * Humf
 * Jackie Chan Adventures
 * The Jetsons
 * Kim Possible
 * Looney Tunes
 * Duck Amuck
 * My Little Pony
 * Phineas and Ferb
 * The Powerpuff Girls
 * Recess...if you live in the UK
 * The Ren and Stimpy Show
 * Rocket Power
 * Rocko's Modern Life
 * Rocky and Bullwinkle
 * Rugrats
 * Scooby Doo
 * The Simpsons
 * Sitting Ducks
 * The Smurfs
 * South Park
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars
 * Strawberry Shortcake
 * Tale Spin
 * Taz-Mania
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003
 * Teen Titans
 * The Tick (animation)
 * Tiny Toon Adventures
 * Totally Spies
 * Tom and Jerry
 * Transformers
 * Wacky Races
 * World of Illusion
 * Xiaolin Showdown
 * Yogi Bear