The concept of bridging video games with real life has been around for decades. While the early arcade hits of the 1970s and 80s focused on creating new and exciting worlds for players to immerse themselves in, as gaming evolved, developers began showing more interest in including official brands, characters, and even celebrities in their projects.
Back in 1991, the NFL partnered with Tecmo and Nintendo to produce the Tecmo Super Bowl. The game included the very first example of a real-world professional sports team roster appearing in a video game. The idea quickly took off, leading to more sports simulations that included major league athletes and, eventually, dozens of other projects that incorporated real-world crossovers.
Today, seeing a celebrity in a hit game or even wielding a world-class football team is par for the course for many gamers. But it’s taken a long time to get here. Let’s explore some of the top games and genres that feature the most beloved real-life crossovers in gaming history.
Mini-Favorites: Slots
The world’s most popular online casino game is slots—which means there are dozens upon dozens of themes, styles, and formats for players to seek out. Let’s look at an example from PokerStars Casino, which offers one of the longest lists of virtual slots. Thanks to slots developers gaining licensing from a variety of hit projects in pop culture, players can dive into themed slot games.
These include major Hollywood hits like Jumanji and Jurassic World. But there are tons of other crossovers, from television shows like Deal or No Deal and Rick and Morty, to musical hits like Jimi Hendrix and Motörhead, to hit films like The Goonies and Ted.
All-Time Greatest: Sports Simulations
Beginning with Tecmo Super Bowl in 1991, sporty gamers have sought out official franchises and teams. One of the recent hits released in this category of real-life sports simulations is EA FC 24. The idea of incorporating real-world rosters into franchise game modes actually stems from the fantasy sports world, which has been around since the late 1960s before really taking off in the 1980s.
To this day, sports simulations mark the greatest and most consistent real-world crossovers in gaming. Each year, leagues rehash licensing with major developers; FIFA, for example, recently parted ways with EA, leading many to speculate about who will produce the next officially licensed simulations.
Enter the Multiverse(s): Superhero Titles
Over a decade before Tecmo released its NFL-licensed Tecmo Super Bowl, Atari and Warner Bros. worked together to produce Superman in 1979. This Atari game saw players control Superman as they went on a wild quest to restore a bridge destroyed by Lex Luthor. The premise, though incredibly popular thanks to Superman’s brand reach, was hit with hard times thanks to the early gaming crash.
However, the idea proved promising. Though superhero titles took longer to take off with fans in comparison to sports simulations, they’re an incredibly popular category to this day. Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise is a firm favourite. Other hits border this genre, such as 2003’s Knight of the Old Republic. Though based on Star Wars rather than a superhero franchise, the idea is the same: players love stepping into the shoes of famous fictional characters.
Celeb Cameos That Stuck the Landing: Multiple Genres
Seeing a celebrity in a crossover project is exciting for players and fans. The more unexpected the crossover, the more audiences tend to enjoy the appearance. This is also true in gaming—but which projects have delighted fans?
Norman Reedus, for example, starred throughout Kojima’s Death Standing video game, which turned into a hit partly thanks to his performance. The same goes for Keanu Reeves, who managed to help salvage certain parts of Cyberpunk 2077. A few other favorites include Manny Pacquiao, who inspired a fighting character in Mobile Legends Bang Bang, along with (to name a few) Snoop Dogg, Michael Caine, and Phil Collins, who appeared in various Grand Theft Auto projects. The latter has done a great job of surprising fans throughout the years with celebrity storylines and surprise cameos.