10 Game Series We’d Love To Get Development Documentaries

Playing video games is fun, but if you’re interested in game development, then knowing how some of the greatest series are made is even better. Some games are lucky enough to get developer commentary, while others have companion art books that can give you further insight on the evolution of some of your favorite stories.

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Of course, some games have either had a big impact or such an intriguing way of telling a story that a developer documentary is needed to know what was going on behind the scenes. Meanwhile, other games have had such a loud and ongoing development history that it would be nice to have someone put all the pieces together.

10 Call Of Duty Zombies

A Secretive Game Mode

Call of Duty is one of the longest standing series in the first-person-shooter genre. However, there is one game mode that has the most secrecy. This is Call of Duty Zombies, which went from being a simple side mode to becoming a staple of the series.

With Call of Duty Zombies having such a hidden story, even concept art can spill the beans as to where it will go next. From hidden ciphers, to story radios that remain hidden for years, getting a development documentary as to the paths taken would provide plenty of juicy insight.

9 Resident Evil

The Number One Survival Horror

Resident Evil has come a long way since the overhead camera, tank controls, and multiple character paths. It has also changed the most as it leaps from the survival horror genre to the action horror one.

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With highs and lows, Resident Evil has plenty of titles to talk about and gameplay decisions that shaped the future of the series. Resident Evil 4 was originally going to have more paranormal elements, while Resident Evil 7 served as a soft reboot of the entire series, so why not explore the development journey?

8 Pokemon

From Kanto To Paldea And Beyond

Pokemon has had so many entries since it first debuted on the Game Boy. Each generation has seen the graphics improve, the animations get creative, and the regions expand into larger locations. There have even been plenty of spinoffs, from the darker Pokemon Colloseum to the expansive Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

There is plenty to talk about when it comes to designing each Pokemon and deciding how each game would expand the core mechanics of the game. From adding in weather elements to modernizing how players interact with each other, it would be an interesting watch to see how it all got made.

7 Final Fantasy

A Never-Ending Fantasy

Final Fantasy has come a long way since its pixelated and turn-based roots. Since then, Final Fantasy has become one of the most impactful, emotional, and memorable series ever made as it tests the limits of the fantasy genre.

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The Final Fantasy series constantly changes its main protagonist, world, as well as aesthetics. While some games go for a more traditional fantasy world, others add in a corporate dystopian vibe with environmental themes. If the mainline series doesn't have enough to talk about, there are also the countless sequels and spinoffs that take each incarnation in new directions.

6 Dead Rising

A Comeback For The Dead Rising Series

The Dead Rising games found success with their unique boss battles, variety of weapons, and 72-hour time limit. While the first game took place within the confines of a mall, each title evolved to give players an even bigger playground to experiment with. This includes the addition of combo weapons to try out.

While the series lost its way with Dead Rising 4, it would eventually make a massive comeback with Dead Rising: Deluxe Remaster. Game series can often fall, but sometimes they can climb back into the spotlight. Everyone loves a good comeback story and this would be one scoop worth learning about.

5 Fallout

Discovering The Wasteland

The world of Fallout is ripe for developer commentary. Each game has its own unique vaults, settlements, and characters that could be expanded upon from a development standpoint. Why were some locations chosen over others? What inspired the mutants that you encounter in the wasteland?

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There are so many different facets that can be explored through commentary, whether you’re watching it as a documentary or going with the classic Valve method of inserting commentary bubbles around the map. From the more tabletop presentation of the original title to the later years as an open-world RPG, a development documentary could explore the impact of the Fallout series.

4 Grand Theft Auto

The Talk Of The Town

Grand Theft Auto has had a major impact on culture both within the gaming community and outside of it. It has been viewed as a major talking point within the violence and video games discussion, while also being a satire of American culture.

Besides the reputation it has built, the Grand Theft Auto series only keeps getting bigger in terms of what a video game can offer players. Grand Theft Auto 5 alone gave players an entire online ecosystem filled with stocks, heists, and customization.

3 The Elder Scrolls

Many Unique Lands To Discuss

The Elder Scrolls series has many different angles to talk about. What goes on behind the scenes when designing the characters and stories of each game? How is each in-game race designed from the Dwemer to the Nords of Skyrim?

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One game that has plenty of interesting choices is Morrowind. This entry in particular has some of the strangest creature designs in the entire series. Meanwhile, Oblivion has some of the most generic fantasy designs, equivalent to a medieval-time restaurant.

2 The Souls Series

How Dark Souls Eventually Became Elden Ring

Elden Ring is one of the greatest and most expansive games by From Software. It takes every feature that worked in the Souls series and makes it work in an open world. FromSoftware has come a long way in perfecting the craft since the early days of Demon Souls.

Of course, besides the evolution of the genre, the games themselves have plenty of intriguing elements. Item descriptions are carefully crafted to expand the lore of the world and environmental storytelling is used to give further insight to each game's narrative. From understanding how players will gravitate towards certain play styles to balancing some of the hardest bosses in gaming, this would be one documentary worth watching.

1 Sonic The Hedgehog

The Rise, Fall, And Rise Again Of Sega's Mascot

Sonic the Hedgehog has come a long way since he was the mascot of Sega's own console. There have been many popular games across Sonic's history and quite a few groan-inducing ones as well during the series' rough periods.

However, the series managed to outrun the same fate as Sega's console as it went multiplatform, returned to its roots, and even spawned one of the best video game movie adaptations of all time. Each game is fascinating to discuss and learn more from the odd choices of Sonic 06, to the Breath of the Wild-style Sonic Frontiers.

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