Amazon’s ‘Secret Level’ Reimagines Iconic Video Games with Mixed Results

The animated anthology series adapts 15 gaming franchises, offering bold creative swings but drawing criticism for uneven storytelling.

Prime Video’s 'Secret Level,' an animated anthology series, adapts 15 video game franchises, including 'Pac-Man,' 'Dungeons & Dragons,' and 'Warhammer 40,000.'
The series features a mix of faithful adaptations and bold reinterpretations, with the Pac-Man episode, 'Circle,' standing out for its dark, horror-inspired reimagining.
Critics have noted that several episodes feel more like game trailers than fully developed stories, with some relying heavily on repetitive themes like death and resurrection.
The standout episodes include 'New World: The Once and Future King,' praised for its humor and unique narrative, and 'Circle,' which offers a visceral and controversial take on Pac-Man.
While the series boasts star power and striking animation, reviews have been largely critical, calling the storytelling superficial and inconsistent across its 15 episodes.