As the weather cools down and the leaves start to fall, there’s nothing better than cozying up for a family movie night! With everyone bundled in blankets, popcorn in hand, and a great movie on the screen, it’s the perfect way to spend those chilly fall evenings together. If you’re ready for fun animated adventures, we’ve got a list of video game themed movies for families that will make your movie nights extra special this fall!

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Ages: 8+

When ace detective Harry Goodman mysteriously disappears, his 21-year-old son, Tim, sets out to uncover the truth. Along the way, he teams up with Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu. The adorable Pikachu and Tim realize they are uniquely equipped to work together. Tim is the only human who can communicate with Pikachu. Together, they join forces to unravel the tangled mystery.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Angry Birds 2 Movie

Ages: 7+

Red, Chuck, Bomb, and their feathered friends are shocked when a green pig proposes they put aside their differences to face a common enemy. Aggressive birds from an icy island have devised a weapon to destroy the fowl and pig way of life. To stop the threat, the birds and pigs join forces. They create a plan to infiltrate the island, disable the device, and save their homes.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Sonic the Hedgehog

Ages: 8+

Join Sonic the speedy Hedgehog as he battles the evil Doctor Eggman.The mad scientist Dr. Eggman is bent on taking over the world. Based on the popular video game series, Sonic uses his super speed and wits to outsmart Doctor Eggman. Buckle up for a fun, action-packed adventure the whole family will enjoy.

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Ratchet & Crank

Ages: 7+

Two unlikely heroes, Ratchet and Clank, team up to stop an alien named Chairman Drek from destroying the Solana Galaxy. They stumble upon a weapon capable of planetary destruction. Then, they must join a team of heroes known as The Galactic Rangers. Together, they learn about heroism, friendship, and discovering one’s true self, all while saving the galaxy from destruction.

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Wreck-It Ralph

Ages: 7+

Wreck-It Ralph, an arcade-game character, is tired of always being the “bad guy” and losing to his “good guy” rival, Fix-It Felix. Determined to prove he has what it takes to be a hero, Ralph embarks on a journey across various video games. However, Ralph’s quest accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade, leading to a thrilling adventure.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Ready Player One

Ages: 12+

In the year 2045, the world teeters on the edge of chaos, but people escape into the OASIS, a virtual reality universe. After the OASIS creator, James Halliday, dies, he offers his fortune to the first person who finds a hidden Easter egg within the game. Wade Watts, a young gamer, joins the contest and becomes an unlikely hero in a race to unlock the mystery and claim the prize.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Uncharted

Ages: 12+

Treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan recruits street-smart Nathan Drake to help him recover a 500-year-old lost fortune amassed by explorer Ferdinand Magellan. What starts as a heist becomes a thrilling globe-trotting adventure to solve one of history’s greatest mysteries before the ruthless Santiago Moncada can beat them to the prize.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Free Guy

Ages: 13+

Aa bank teller discovers he’s actually a background character in a massive open-world video game. He decides to take control of his own story. He sets out to save the day in his own way, navigating a world with no limits. Along the way, he finds love, friendship, and the power of choice in this hilarious and heartwarming adventure.

Read the Common Sense Media Review!

Conclusion

With these video game themed movies for families, your fall movie nights are sure to be a hit! From heartwarming moments to laugh-out-loud scenes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So, grab your snacks, snuggle up, and get ready for some unforgettable cozy nights. Happy watching!

Getting your kids to swap their controllers for a good book can be a real challenge, especially when the latest video game is calling their name. But what if you could turn their favorite gaming adventures into reading material? Enter video game books for middle schoolers—a brilliant way to merge the excitement of gaming with the benefits of reading. These books capture the action, characters, and stories that your kids already love, making reading not just a chore, but a new way to experience their favorite games. Whether your child is a reluctant reader or just needs a nudge toward more books, these video game books for middle schoolers might just be the power-up they need!

Wild Rescuers

Age: 8-12

Summary: From StacyPlays, creator of the mega-popular YouTube series Dogcraft, comes a thrilling illustrated novel about a girl raised by a pack of wolves and her quest to protect their shared forest home. The first in a new Minecraft-inspired fantasy adventure series!

Stacy was raised by wolves. She’s never needed humans to survive and, from what she sees of humans, they’re dangerous and unpredictable. For as long as she can remember, Stacy’s pack of six powerful, playful wolves—Addison, Basil, Everest, Noah, Tucker and Wink—have been her only family.

Together, Stacy’s pack patrols the forest to keep other animals safe, relying on her wits and each wolf’s unique abilities to accomplish risky rescue missions. But as the forest changes and new dangers begin lurking, are Stacy and the wolves prepared for the perils that await them?

DanTDM: Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal

Age: 8-12

Summary: From the mind of one of the most popular YouTubers of all time, DanTDM, comes a graphic novel adventure that reimagines the Minecraft-style worlds and characters he’s created like you’ve never seen them before.

After a day of experiments, Trayaurus and DanTDM are about to call it a night when a strange-looking crystal plummets to earth, breaking into five pieces that scatter far and wide. DanTDM and Trayaurus recover one of the shards and quickly realize they are in possession of an object more powerful than anything they’ve ever known.

Word reaches DanTDM and Trayaurus that other pieces of crystal have been recovered—a group of pigs have harnessed the crystals’ power to enable them to talk. But they’re not alone—Dan and Trayaurus’s archenemy, Denton, has also found a shard and manipulated its power for evil. He has created a cloning machine and is producing a terrifying marauding army intent on hunting down the remaining crystals in his effort to become all-powerful.

It’s down to DanTDM and Trayaurus to stop him. Will they prevail, or will the forces of evil be too great for them to overcome?

Homerooms and Hall Passes

Age: 8-12

Summary: In the mystical realm of Bríandalör, every day the brave and the bold delve into hidden temples or forgotten dungeons, battling vile monsters and evil wizards to loot their treasure hoards for sweet, sweet magic items.

But in their free time, our heroes—Thromdurr the mighty barbarian, Devis the shifty thief, Vela the noble paladin, Sorrowshade the Gloom Elf assassin, and Albiorix the (good!) wizard—need to relax and unwind.

That’s why they meet up once a week to play Homerooms & Hall Passes: a role-playing game where they assume the characters of average American eighth graders.

But when the five young adventurers are magically transported into their H&H game by an ancient curse, they must band together to survive their toughest challenge yet: middle school.

Who knew that battling ogres would be easier than passing algebra or navigating the cafeteria social scene? They must use what they’ve learned from playing Homerooms & Hall Passes to figure out how to save their game world (which might actually be real…).

FGTeeV Presents: Into the Game!

Age: 8-12

Summary: The FGTeeV family gamers have played hundreds of games together. Which is why Moomy decides to make a new game called My Pet Fish. Just one problem: the game is SUPER boring. And one other problem: Moomy and Duddy accidentally got sucked into it—and now they’re trapped!

It’s up to the kids, Lexi, Mike, Chase, and Shawn, to jump into the gaming console and rescue their parents. But first, they have to battle their way through their favorite games until they find the one their parents are stuck in. Can the kids take on a vicious pack of vampire prairie dogs, flying doody diapers, some spooky ghouls, and one incredibly dull fish before Moomy and Duddy are bored to death

Conclusion

Video game books for middle schoolers are a fantastic way to ignite a love for reading in your young gamers. By bringing the excitement of their favorite digital adventures into the world of books, you’re helping them discover that reading can be just as thrilling as any game. So, the next time you’re looking to encourage some screen-free time, consider a book that lets your child relive their favorite games—this time, in print. With these fun and engaging reads, you might just find that getting your kids to read is easier than completing the final level of their favorite game!

Just like GameTruck parties, video game books are the cool new thing! Readers are bound to find a book for gamers like themselves, and don’t be afraid to pick one of these up for yourself too! Happy reading! 

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