The Mandalorian already feels a lot like a video game when tuning in. The Disney Plus show has plenty of elements that feel like they came straight out of a video game, such as its slow-paced action and the random quests that the titular character finds himself going on, meaning it would translate naturally to the video game. Note: This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian first premiered in November on Disney’s new streaming service and aired its entire first season, consisting of eight episodes, through the end of December. The show follows the adventures of the titular hero as he attempts to safeguard the child - affectionately dubbed online as Baby Yoda. Staying true to the film western aspects of the Star Wars franchise, The Mandalorian, as a show and as a character, takes its time in reaching particular plot points. This has drawn some criticism from fans and other viewers alike with critics consistently labeling certain parts of the show’s main plot, like the sidetracking, as missing the mark.
Video games have the capability to be enjoyed at whatever pace the player playing the game decides to go by. This would thus give Disney's The Mandalorian the perfect opportunity to be enjoyed by the crowd that is accustomed to sidetracking - gamers.
Mandalorian Quests
During a scene in the second episode of The Mandalorian, as the eponymous Mandalorian returns to his ship with Baby Yoda, he notices that almost his entire ship had been stripped of its parts by sneaky jawas. A deadly chase and some negotiations later, the Mandalorian reluctantly agrees to go after an egg of some local creature and give it to the jawas in exchange for the parts they took from him.
Though these types of plots are certainly not new, the egg hunt in The Mandalorian is still one of the most video game-feeling aspects of the entire show. Storylines in games and the writers behind them tend to build up a character’s motivation to go on a quest by having something taken away from. Further, a lot of introductory sequences, in RPGs particularly, sometimes feature one or more tutorial quests that teach the player how to use the controls and the game’s various mechanics by interacting with smaller contained objects and enemies in the game.
A reinterpretation of The Mandalorian into a video game would then mean that the egg plot becomes a side or tutorial quest, depending on its placement in the hypothetical game. Most of the key plot points in the show can be reinterpreted this way.
Mandalorian Armor
One thing that Mando kept worrying about in the story was his armor, and with good reason, as it is considered to be some of the most valuable pieces of armor in Star Wars lore. This dedication to the outside of the titular hero rhymes well with a common RPG mechanic - armor maintenance. For the most clear visualization of what The Mandalorian might look like in a video game, fans can need look no further than Destiny(which could possibly get its own TV Show). Besides the fact that all the game’s guardians look like Mandalorians with their armor on anyway, a video game version of The Mandalorian’s armor choices would ostensibly be similar to Destiny.
The Mandalorian and The Witcher
However, the gameplay of a reinterpretation of The Mandalorian would probably not be like Destiny at all. Looking at the facts, Mando is a bounty hunter who accepts jobs in dealing with transport, trading, but most importantly of all, killing. Mando is, in a sense, just Geralt in space. Besides common themes, The Witcher 3 is the perfect game for The Mandalorian to copy. The player could go on bounty hunts or kill a vicious creature just as they could as Geralt..
The Mandalorian is available to watch on Disney Plus now.