Ever since Hannibal ended in 2015, fans have been hoping for a continuation of some kind. The show’s release on Netflix sparked hopes of a revival, as did a cast reunion in 2020. Unfortunately, it has yet to come to fruition, and it is unclear if the Mads Mikkelsen-led show will ever make a return to TV screens. However, video games have provided a way for shows to live on.
The upcoming video game adaptation of The Expanse is a perfect example of this approach, and funnily enough, its developer would be a perfect fit for a Hannibal game. As the developer behind The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us, Telltale has already established a perfect format for a Hannibal video game through its choice-based approach to gameplay. By leaning into Will Graham’s abilities and the devilish charm of Mikkelsen’s Hannibal Lector, a game based on Hannibal could be a hit.
How a Hannibal Video Game Could Work
The best thing that a Hannibal video game could do is give players control of Will Graham’s “this is my design” moments. A major highlight of the show, these scenes see Will embodying killers and carrying out gruesome murders within his head. Not only are they crucial in breaking the character’s mind, but they would also be a thrilling video game mechanic. Horror fans could investigate crime scenes inside Will’s mind, putting clues together themselves to recreate the crime and solve the case.
Hannibal was never focused on action, though it still featured a few important fight scenes and moments where Will had to chase down criminals. This limited-but-important action could be captured well through the quick time events seen in Telltale games, as there would be no need to design complex combat systems for the limited action a Hannibal game would have. The rest of the game could be focused on dialogue choices and relationships like other Telltale titles.
Players could be able to solve and fail cases by making right and wrong choices, with these outcomes ultimately contributing to the game’s conclusion. Hannibal Lector could be present throughout the game, with the ultimate goal being to outwit and capture the illusive killer. Much like what Telltale did with Joker in Batman: The Enemy Within, players could even be given a chance to shape their relationship with Hannibal, earning his friendship or ire with respectful or rude responses. This could have an impact on how certain sequences play out, with a curious Hannibal making investigations easier or harder depending on how he feels about the player.
Obviously, getting the cast back for the game would be a must. Everyone was perfect in their respective roles, from Lawrence Fishburne as the focused Jack Crawford to Hugh Dancy as the punished Will Graham. Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lector would be the most important pick-up, though. Thankfully, the actor already has already shown an interest in working on video games through his performance in Death Stranding, so he would likely be on board to return.
Aside from bringing the cast back, there are a few directions a game could take when it comes to its story. Telltale could retell the events of the series, focusing on Will and Hannibal, or it could explore what happened after Season 3’s ending. Telltale would have plenty of freedom to fill in the gaps before Hannibal meets Clarice if it took this route, giving the developer a chance to spin its own story. Regardless of the direction taken with the narrative, though, Hannibal was an excellent show that deserves to live on. Just like with The Expanse, video games may be a good route for a Hannibal continuation to take, with Telltale making use of the show’s dark tone to craft a stellar detective game.
