Sonic movie spin-off Knuckles isn’t a total Paramount Plus knockout – watch these 3 great video-game shows instead

Knuckles doesn’t earn a high score on Paramount Plus

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Knuckles, a TV show starring the beloved echidna warrior from theSonic the Hedgehoggames, is out now onParamount Plus– and fans are desperate to know if it’s any good.

The series, which is a TV spin-off set between 2022’sSonic the Hedgehog 2and the forthcomingSonic the Hedgehog 3(one of our most anticipatednew moviesof 2024), is Paramount’s attempts to flesh out its hybridized live-action-animationSonicuniverse. And, based onKnuckles' 69% critical rating onRotten Tomatoes(RT) – at the time of writing – it seems to just about get more right than it gets wrong.

I’ve only seen the first three episodes so far, but I can vouch forKnuckles' ability to weave dry and slapstick humor together, and its solid delivery of signatureSonic-style spectacle and source material authenticity on one of the world’sbest streaming services.

That said, it isn’t a total knockout. Based on what I’ve watched,Knuckles' plot is very derivative and, bizarrely, places a greater emphasis on its human characters than the Idris Elba-voiced individual. In short: it might not have enough to earn a spot on ourbest Paramount Plus showslist. Where’s an ultra-powerful chaos emerald when you need one, eh?

If that’s put you off watchingKnuckles, or if you were underwhelmed after streaming it, you should watch one of these three fantastic video game-based TV shows instead…

Fallout (Prime Video)

Number of seasons:1Age rating:TV-MA (US); 18 (UK); R18-plus (Australia)Main cast:Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins, Kyle MacLachlan, Moises Arias, and Sarita ChoudhuryRT score:93% (critics); 89% (audience)

Amazon’sFalloutTV series, which is set in the same universe as the iconic post-apocalyptic games of the same name, is an explosively entertaining companion piece to Bethesda’s action role-playing franchise.

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Set 219 years after a nuclear war that decimated our planet, theFalloutTV showfollows three main characters – Vault-33 dweller Lucy (Purnell), Brotherhood of Steel member Maximus (Moten), and a mutant gunslinger known as The Ghoul (Goggins) as they traverse Earth’s dystopian landscape and occasionally cross paths with one another.

It might sound like a pretty bleak affair, butPrime Video’s take on the games is anything but. Indeed, its penchant for bizarre, awkward, and droll humor means it’s laugh-out-loud funny. That’s not all it is, though – in ourFalloutseason 1 review, we called it “an ambitious, prestige-flavored adaptation that brings one of gaming’s most iconic series to life with a highly satisfying blend of source material devotion and narrative originality”. It’s easily one of thebest Prime Video showsever made – and, given how popular it’s been since its April 10 release, Amazon didn’t wait around to announce thatFalloutseason 2was in development.

Watch Fallout season 1 on Prime Video.

The Last of Us (Max)

Number of seasons:1Age rating:TV-MA (US); 18 (UK); R18-plus (Australia)Main cast:Pedro Pascal and Bella RamseyRT score:96% (critics); 89% (audience)

Another post-apocalypse-set video-game TV show, and one that’s not only a far more somber watch thatFalloutonMax, but also a largely faithful adaptation of Naughty Dog’s multi-award-winning action-survival horror game series.The Last of UsTV showstarsGame of Thronesalumni Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, two lost and damaged souls thrown together by circumstance as they try to survive in a harsh, dystopian world where a terrifying fungal disease has turned most of humanity into aggressive, zombie-like creatures.

One of thebest Max showsof modern times, HBO’s take onThe Last of Usvideo games is an emotionally powerful story that finds cause for optimism amid its grim fictional world. In ourreview ofThe Last of Usseason 1, though, we found the occasional fault with it, labeling it an “imperfect but undeniably faithful adaptation of developer Naughty Dog’s era-defining PlayStation title” and that its “loyalty to its source material is both a blessing and a curse”. Get the lowdown onThe Last of Usseason 2once you’ve watched its predecessor.

Watch The Last of Us on Max(NB:UK viewers can watch it on Sky Atlantic, while Australian audiences can stream it on Binge).

Arcane (Netflix)

Number of seasons:1Age rating:TV-14 (US); 15 (UK); MA 15-plus (Australia)Main cast:Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Katie Leung, Kevin Alejandro, Toks Olagundoye, Harry Lloyd, Mick Wingard, and Reed ShannonRT score:100% (critics); 96% (audience)

Very few video game TV adaptations can claim to have a perfect critical RT score, butNetflix’s take on Riot Games' incredibly successfulLeague of Legends(LoL) franchise certainly can.

Set in the fictional steampunk world of Runeterra,Arcaneprimarily tells the tale of estranged sisters Vi (Steinfeld) and Jinx (Purnell), who become embroiled in (and thematically become the faces of) a developing conflict between the rich, utopian city of Piltover and its oppressed underbelly town of Zaun.

That synopsis might not makeArcanesound all that appealing but, trust me on this, it’s an epic animated series that deserves a permanent spot in ourbest Netflix showsguide. Not many (if any) animated video game adaptations can match its delightful blend of stunning melodrama, understated humor, high-octane and bloody action, and gorgeous visuals. And, quite frankly, I’d wager it’s actually better thanFalloutandThe Last of Us. That’s how highly I rateArcane, and why I simply can’t wait forArcaneseason 2to finally debut on Netflix in November 2024. Stick it on your watchlist ASAP.

Watch Arcane season 1 on Netflix.

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As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as thisMoon Knight TV spot.

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.

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