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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
{{page should be category}}
A video game based on an existing property, usually a movie, TV series or comic book.
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 [[Action Game|actioner]] one level, a [[Driving]] game the next, then back to an actioner before turning to [[Stealth Based Game|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.)
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 [[Action Game|actioner]] one level, a [[Driving Game]] the next, then back to an actioner before turning to [[Stealth Based Game|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 [[Video Game Movies Suck|movies based on games]]. Some titles however, such as ''[[GoldenEye 007 (1997 video game)|Golden Eye 1997]]'', ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (video game)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', ''[[The Punisher]]'', and most 3D ''[[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|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 ''[[Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever|Ecks Vs. Sever]]''. See [[The Problem with Licensed Games]].
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 [[Video Game Movies Suck|movies based on games]]. Some titles however, such as ''[[GoldenEye 007 (1997 video game)|Golden Eye 1997]]'', ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (video game)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', ''[[The Punisher]]'', and most 3D ''[[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|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 ''[[Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever|Ecks Vs. Sever]]''. See [[The Problem with Licensed Games]].
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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.
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 Game|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.
Also note that [[Sports Game]]s 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.
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): ===


{{examples}}
For a list of licensed games with their own pages here, see the contents of the [[:Category:Licensed Game|category page]].


== Anime and Manga ==
* ''[[Aladdin Capcom|Aladdin (Capcom)]]''
* ''[[Aladdin Virgin Games|Aladdin (Virgin Games)]]''
* ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 video game)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (the 2010 [[Tim Burton]] version)
* ''[[Aliens: Colonial Marines]]''
* ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man (video game)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]''
* ''[[Asterix and The Magic Carpet]]''
* ''[[Asterix Operation Getafix]]''
* ''[[Astro Boy Omega Factor]]''
* ''[[Back to the Future: The Game|Back to The Future]]''
* ''[[Batman: Arkham Asylum]]''
** ''[[Batman: Arkham City]]''
* ''[[The Battle for Middle Earth]]''
* ''[[Betrayal at Krondor]]''
* ''[[The Black Cauldron (video game)|The Black Cauldron]]''
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (video game)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''
* ''[[Captain America and The Avengers]]''
* ''[[Castle of Illusion]]''
* ''[[CSI (video games)|CSI]]''
* ''[[Star Wars: Dark Forces|Dark Forces Saga]]''
* ''[[The Darkness (video game)|The Darkness]]''
* ''[[Digimon World]]''
* ''[[Disneys Magical Quest]]''
* ''[[Doctor Who (video game)|Doctor Who]]''
** ''[[Doctor Who Return to Earth]]''
* ''[[Disneys Villains Revenge]]''
* ''[[Donald in Maui Mallard]]''
* ''[[Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi]]''
* ''[[DuckTales (video game)|Duck Tales]]''
* ''[[Emmanuelle]]''
* ''[[Empire At War]]''
* ''[[Epic Mickey]]''
* ''[[Eragon (video game)|Eragon]]''
* ''[[Escape from Horrorland]]''
* ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (video game)|ET the Extra Terrestrial]]''
* ''[[Eye of the Beholder]]''
* ''[[Ferias Frustradas Do Pica-Pau|Férias Frustradas do Pica-Pau]]''
* ''[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed|The Force Unleashed]]''
* ''[[Friday the 13th (video game)|Friday the 13 th]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (arcade game)|G.I.Joe]]''
* ''[[Garfield Caught in The Act]]''
* ''[[Ghostbusters the Video Game]]''
* ''[[The Godfather (video game)|The Godfather]]''
* ''[[Gold Box]]''
* ''[[GoldenEye 007 (1997 video game)|GoldenEye]]'' (1997)
** ''[[GoldenEye 007 (2010 video game)|GoldenEye]]'' (2010)
* ''[[GoldenEye: Rogue Agent|Golden Eye Rogue Agent]]''
* ''[[The Goonies (video game)|The Goonies]]''
* ''[[Gundam Wing Endless Duel]]''
* ''[[Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak|Hamtaro Ham Ham Heartbreak]]''
* ''[[Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite!|Hamtaro Ham Hams Unite]]''
* ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (video game)|The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy]]''
* ''[[Hotel Mario]]''
* ''[[The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction]]''
* ''Indiana Jones'':
** ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark (video game)|Raiders of the Lost Ark]]''
** ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure|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 Emperors Tomb]]''
** ''[[Indiana Jones and The Staff of Kings]]''
* ''[[Initial D Arcade Stage]]''
* ''[[Jaws (video game)|Jaws]]''
** ''[[Jaws Unleashed]]''
* ''[[Jedi Power Battles]]''
* ''[[Jedi Starfighter]]''
* ''[[Jump Super Stars]]''
* ''[[Jurassic Park Operation Genesis]]''
* ''[[Jurassic Park: The Game|Jurassic Park the Game]]''
* ''[[Kamen Rider Climax Heroes]]''
* ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]''
** ''[[Kingdom Hearts (video game)|Kingdom Hearts (1)]]''
** ''[[Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories|Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories]]''
** ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]''
** ''[[Kingdom Hearts coded]]''
** ''[[Kingdom Hearts: 358 Days Over 2|Kingdom Hearts 358 Days Over 2]]''
** ''[[Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep]]''
** ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D]]''
* ''[[Knights of the Old Republic (video game)|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]]''
** ''[[Lego Rock Raiders|Rock Raiders]]''
* ''[[The Lion King (Video Game)|The Lion King]]''
* ''[[The Little Mermaid (video game)|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 (video game)|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 (video game)|Oliver and Company]]''
* ''[[One Piece (video game)|One Piece]]''
* ''[[Popeye (video game)|Popeye]]''
* ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica Portable]].''
* ''[[Quackshot]]''
* ''[[Republic Commando]]''
* ''[[Revolution X]]''
* ''[[Rogue Squadron]]''
* ''[[Sailor Moon: Another Story]]''
* ''[[Scarface the World Is Yours]]''
* ''[[Scott Pilgrim (video game)|Scott Pilgrim]]''
* ''[[Secret Agent Barbie: Royal Jewels Mission|Secret Agent Barbie]]''
* ''[[Silver Surfer (video game)|Silver Surfer]]''
* ''[[The Simpsons (video game)|The Simpsons]]''
* ''[[The Simpsons Game]]''
* ''[[The Simpsons Hit and Run|The Simpsons Hit & Run]]''
* ''[[The Simpsons Road Rage]]''
* ''[[Atari 2600 Spider Man|Spider-Man]]'' (Atari 2600)
* ''[[Spider-Man (2000 video game)|Spider-Man]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Spider-Man Friend or Foe]]''
* ''[[Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions|Spider Man Shattered Dimensions]]''
* ''[[Spider-Man Edge of Time]]''
* ''[[Spider-Man: Web of Shadows|Spider Man Web of Shadows]]''
* ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants (video game)|SpongeBob SquarePants]]''
* ''[[Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (video game)]]''
* ''[[Judgment Rites|StarTrek: Judgment Rites]]''
* ''[[A Final Unity|Star Trek: The Next Generation: A Final Unity]]''
* ''[[Star Trek Elite Force]]''
* ''[[Star Wars: Battlefront (series)|Star Wars Battlefront]]''
* ''[[Star Wars Galaxies]]''
* ''[[Rebel Assault]]''
* ''[[Star Wars Rebellion]]''
* ''[[Star Wars: The Old Republic|Star Wars the Old Republic]]''
* ''[[Street Fighter the Movie]]''
* ''[[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People|Strong Bads Cool Game for Attractive People]]''
* ''[[Atari 2600 Superman|Superman]]'' (Atari 2600)
* ''[[Superman 64]]''
* ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' (Except the [[Super Robot Wars Original Generation|Original Generation series]])
* ''[[Super Star Wars]]''
* ''[[Sweet Home (video game)|Sweet Home]]''
* ''[[Tatsunokovs Capcom]]''
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (video game)|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 (video game)|The Thing]]''
* ''[[TIE Fighter]]''
* ''[[Trespasser]]''
* ''[[Tron 2.0]]''
* ''[[Tron Evolution]]''
* ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (video game)|Ultimate Spider Man]]''
* ''[[Wangan Midnight]]''
* ''[[The Warriors (video game)|The Warriors]]''
* ''[[Westworld 2000]]''
* ''[[World of Illusion]]''
* ''[[X-Men (video game)|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|Yu-Gi-Oh Reshef of Destruction]]''


=== Other examples: ===

== Anime & Manga ==
* ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]''
* ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]''
* ''[[Dragon Ball]]''
* ''[[Dragon Ball]]''
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* ''[[Saint Seiya]]''
* ''[[Saint Seiya]]''
* ''[[Soul Hunter]]''
* ''[[Soul Hunter]]''
* ''[[Naruto]]'' has a whole bunch, mostly [[Fighting Game|fighters.]]
* ''[[Naruto]]'' has a whole bunch, mostly [[Fighting Game|fighters.]]
* [[Nichijou]]: Uchuujin
* [[Nichijou]]: Uchuujin
* ''[[Tenchi Muyo!]]''
* ''[[Tenchi Muyo!]]''
* ''[[To Aru Majutsu no Index]]'' and ''[[To Aru Kagaku no Railgun]]''
* ''[[A Certain Magical Index]]'' and ''[[A Certain Scientific Railgun]]''
* ''[[Wedding Peach]]''
* ''[[Wedding Peach]]''



== Comics ==
== Comics ==
* ''[[The Punisher]]''
* ''[[The Punisher]]''
* ''[[Captain America]]: Super Soldier''
* ''[[Captain America (comics)]]: Super Soldier''
* ''[[Dick Tracy]]''
* ''[[Dick Tracy]]''
* ''[[Donald Duck]]''
* ''[[Donald Duck]]''
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* ''[[Pocahontas]]''
* ''[[Pocahontas]]''
* ''[[Ratatouille]]''
* ''[[Ratatouille]]''
* ''[[Toy Story]]'' (all three films)
* ''[[Toy Story (franchise)|Toy Story]]'' (all three films)
* ''[[Up (animation)|Up]]''
* ''[[Up (animation)|Up]]''
* ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit?]]''
* ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit?]]''
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* ''[[Dennis the Menace US|Dennis the Menace]]''
* ''[[Dennis the Menace US|Dennis the Menace]]''
* ''[[Dick Tracy (film)|Dick Tracy]]''
* ''[[Dick Tracy (film)|Dick Tracy]]''
* ''[[Dragon Ball Evolution]]''
* ''[[Dragonball Evolution]]''
* ''[[Driven]]''
* ''[[Driven]]''
* ''[[Fight Club]]''
* ''[[Fight Club]]''
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* ''[[Independence Day]]''
* ''[[Independence Day]]''
* ''[[The Italian Job]]''
* ''[[The Italian Job]]''
* ''[[Juon]]''
* ''[[Ju-On]]''
* ''[[Jurassic Park]]''
* ''[[Jurassic Park]]''
* ''[[The Karate Kid]]''
* ''[[The Karate Kid]]''
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* ''[[Lost]]''
* ''[[Lost]]''
* ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]''
* ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]''
* ''[[Mission Impossible]]''
* ''[[Mission: Impossible]]''
* ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''
* ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''
* ''[[Star Trek]]''
* ''[[Star Trek]]''
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* ''[[Guitar Hero]]: [[Van Halen]]''
* ''[[Guitar Hero]]: [[Van Halen]]''
* ''[[Green Day]]: [[Rock Band]]''
* ''[[Green Day]]: [[Rock Band]]''
* ''[[Michael Jackson]]: The Experience''
* ''[[Michael Jackson]]: The Experience''
* ''[[Iron Maiden|Ed Hunter]]'' (a game that came along with a [[Greatest Hits Album]])
* ''[[Iron Maiden|Ed Hunter]]'' (a game that came along with a [[Greatest Hits Album]])
* ''[[Journey (band)|Journey]]'' ([[wikipedia:Journey (arcade game)|arcade]])/ ''Journey Escape'' ([[Atari 2600]])
* ''[[Journey (band)|Journey]]'' ([[wikipedia:Journey (arcade game)|arcade]])/ ''Journey Escape'' ([[Atari 2600]])
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== Western Animation ==
== Western Animation ==
* ''[[The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius|The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron]]''
* ''[[The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius|The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron]]''
* ''[[American Dragon Jake Long]]''
* ''[[American Dragon: Jake Long]]''
* ''[[Animaniacs]]''
* ''[[Animaniacs]]''
* ''[[Atomic Betty]]''
* ''[[Atomic Betty]]''
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* ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers]]''
* ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers]]''
* ''[[Castle of Illusion]]''
* ''[[Castle of Illusion]]''
* ''[[Cat Dog]]''
* ''[[CatDog]]''
* ''[[Care Bears]]''
* ''[[Care Bears]]''
* ''[[Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (animation)|Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers]]''
* ''[[Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (animation)|Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers]]''
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* ''[[Doug]]''
* ''[[Doug]]''
* ''[[Dragon Tales]]''
* ''[[Dragon Tales]]''
* ''[[The Fairly Odd Parents]]''
* ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]''
* ''[[The Flintstones]]''
* ''[[The Flintstones]]''
* ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]''
* ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]''
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* ''[[Gargoyles]]''
* ''[[Gargoyles]]''
* ''[[Goof Troop]]''
* ''[[Goof Troop]]''
* ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy]]''
* ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy]]''
* ''[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]]''
* ''[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]]''
* ''[[Humf]]''
* ''[[Humf]]''
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* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003]]''
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003]]''
* ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]''
* ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]''
* ''[[The Tick]]''
* ''[[The Tick (animation)]]''
* ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures]]''
* ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures]]''
* ''[[Totally Spies]]''
* ''[[Totally Spies!]]''
* ''[[Tom and Jerry]]''
* ''[[Tom and Jerry]]''
* ''[[Transformers]]''
* ''[[Transformers]]''
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[[Category:Media Adaptation Tropes]]
[[Category:Media Adaptation Tropes]]
[[Category:The Renaissance Age of Animation]]
[[Category:The Renaissance Age of Animation]]
[[Category:index]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Licensed Game]]
[[Category:Licensed Game]]

Latest revision as of 20:33, 20 August 2022

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.

Examples of Licensed Game include:

For a list of licensed games with their own pages here, see the contents of the category page.

Anime and Manga


Comics


Eastern Animation


Films -- Animation


Films -- Live Action


Literature


Live Action TV


Music


Puppet Shows


Theme Parks


Toys


Video Games


Western Animation

Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Licensed_Game?oldid=1975337"