It may be surprising to some when Vin Diesel appeared in the trailer for Ark 2 at The Game Awards 2020, but the actor has worked in video games for some time. Those past games, however, are a mixed bag. Diesel’s first foray into the gaming industry began with the founding of Tigon Studios in 2002. Since then, Tigon worked on various games, most of which featured the Fast & Furious actor in the leading role. While technically still active, the studio has been quiet since 2013, with its last game, Barca B.C., in development limbo since 2006.
Most of the studio’s released games were movie tie-ins that lessened the maneuverability for the studio to play with the IP to a degree. As a result, while each game was interactive and immersive, they were widely panned. However, like Vin Diesel’s pop star debut single, “Feel Like I Do,” the actor gives his full attention to whatever project he is working on, innovating when he can. While Diesel and video games are not exactly synonymous, his passion is mirrored with the games he works on.
However, while there have been entries that have reached critical acclaim, some do the complete opposite. While it would be a relatively simple task to trash those games, it’s far more productive to break down exactly why each game didn’t reach its potential. Here is every game Vin Diesel has starred in, and while some of those deserve to be forgotten, there are some underrated games that deserve a sequel or, at the very least, a remake.
#5 – Riddick: The Merc Files Is Vin Diesel’s Worst Game
A departure from the 3D realism of the other two Chronicles of Riddick games, Riddick: The Merc Files is a top-down action shooter for iOS and Android. Despite being set within the world established by the film Pitch Black, the game lacks an overarching story. Instead, the story and the game simply revolves around the player as Riddick being hunted by mercenaries and subsequently hunting them. When it comes to tie-in games, Riddick: The Merc Files is bare-bones as they come being more similar to a puzzle game than a game as the loner assassin Riddick.
#4 – Fast & Furious Crossroads Isn’t A Good Vin Diesel Game
Debuted at The Game Awards 2019 and set within the Fast & Furious film franchise, Fast & Furious Crossroads is an action racing game for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Among others, Crossroads stars Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez reprise their roles as Dominic and Letty. However, Fast & Furious Crossroads loses focus on missions and its overall premise, with objectives becoming a jumble of a racing game and an open-world experience.
While the game featured epic boss battles with vehicles ranging from a massive hovercraft to a literal space rocket, the game coddled the player with a checklist of ways to stop the boss. Moreover, the driving was subpar, and despite the new story made for the game, it was shallow and straightforward. While the game had plenty of action, a plethora of playable cars, and allowed players to roleplay as their favorite characters within the Fast & Furious franchise, it’s unfortunately buried under a distracting game.
#3 – Wheelman Is A Decent Vin Diesel Video Game
A Fast & Furious game in every aspect but name, Wheelman starring Vin Diesel is an open-world action-adventure driving game for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. The game surrounds the titular driver Milo Burik played by Vin Diesel and features various driving-oriented missions and objectives. While the game has a story, it was relatively basic and forgettable. Fortunately, the gameplay offered a Hollywood experience, be it numbingly simple, with explosions and gunfights galore. Even an ” Airjack ” feature that allows players to highjack a car by jumping to it. A combination of GTA, Burnout, and Crazy Taxi, Wheelman cast the player as an action movie star.
#2 – The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
A first-person stealth action game for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay acts as an origin story for Riddick. While the story was relatively simple – escape from the prison, Butcher Bay – the game was as immersive as other open-world games of different genres. Escape from Butcher Bay has no traditional head-up display like Halo or Call of Duty; instead, it had a minimalistic health bar of small white boxes and on-screen cues to signal weapon pickups. Moreover, the combat was brutal, with weapons ranging from typical firearms to more improvised weaponry like shivs, leaning toward a more stealth playstyle. There’s even a segment where the player pilots a mech against the guards.
While gameplay made Escape from Butcher Bay vastly different from other games of the same genre, the performances of its cast of characters elevated the game further. With talent, not only including Vin Diesel in the starring role, but actors such as Ron Perlman, Kristin Lehman, and Michael Rooker elevated the game to a movie experience. Escape from Butcher Bay innovated gameplay utilizing Diesel’s acting and performances.
#1 – Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Is The Best Vin Diesel Video Game
A sequel to Escape from Butcher Bay, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena would add to its predecessor’s gameplay mechanics and features. The game would add an impressive multiplayer mode, along with taking advantage of the new technology and improving both the graphics and enemy AI. However, its multiplayer mode would be one of the highlights of the game, where Escape from Butcher Bay was a primarily single-player experience, the multiplayer mode “Pitch Black,” immersed players into the world of Riddick. Like the game mode juggernaut from Call of Duty, the game put players as either Riddick or one of his prey, with the player able to kill Riddick taking his place.
Another improvement from Escape from Butcher Bay is the voice acting of the cast. Taking advantage of Vin Diesel’s time in The Chronicles of Riddick, Diesel’s voice and monologues would add to the game’s immersive experience. Assault on Dark Athena not only continues the narrative of Riddick but innovates the gameplay of an already award-winning game. While the game can be interpreted as simply an add-on or expansion pack to Escape from Butcher Bay, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is a sequel to its predecessor in all intents and purposes. Thus, it earns its spot as the best game starring the family-oriented car-loving, Vin Diesel.
