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Adventure Time changes you. A show that starts off as a silly cartoon about a kid wearing a bear hat and his shape-shifting adoptive brother Jake the dog hides some of the deepest, darkest lore in entertainment history. The show deals with existential issues in hilarious, sometimes disturbing ways, and once you lock onto its frequency, you realize it might be one of the best shows of all time. If you want to extend that vibe, you’ve probably already burned through all the similar shows you can find, so here are the books, movies, video games, and podcasts that can give you just a little more Adventure Time in your day.
The best books like “Adventure Time”
Few shows have as much going on under the surface as Adventure Time, making books an ideal way to replicate the experience. Here are some books that will remind you of Finn the Human and Jake the Dog’s adventures.
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson
Matching the chaotic dynamic and imaginary energy of Adventure Time isn’t easy, but Calvin and Hobbes is as close as you can get. This comic series about a little kid with a universe-sized imagination and his stuffed tiger (who comes to life only for him) as they go on adventures (in the real world as well as in Calvin’s lush fantasy life) might as well be a prequel to the show. Just like Adventure Time, Calvin and Hobbes often lets the real world and its dangers infect the whimsical romps of its protagonists, and you’ll find yourself once again bonding emotionally with a little kid and his real-to-him companion.
The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro
One aspect of Adventure Time that makes the show so special is the low-key melancholy that suffuses it, and one of the main ingredients for that is the implied backstory of destruction and loss due to the Mushroom War that left civilization in shreds centuries before Finn and Jake’s story. If that’s your jam, The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro is the perfect read. Set in Britain some time after King Arthur’s days, the story follows an elderly man on a quest for his past, and delivers a dreamy, myth-soaked mood that fans of the show will savor.
Tales of the Dying Earth, by Jack Vance
The apocalypse that led to the world of Adventure Time is glimpsed here and there in the background—the remnants of what is recognizably our world. The slow winding down of civilization and the literal death of our planet are powerful themes the show weaves into many of its stories, and makes them hauntingly beautiful. There’s a whole Dying Earth sub-genre of sci-fi you can dive into, but start with the originator, Tales of the Dying Earth, by Jack Vance, set in a far future where the Sun is fading and magic has reasserted itself after technology’s collapse.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built, by Becky Chambers
If you want more of the dynamic between Finn and Jake, check out A Psalm for the Wild-Built, by Becky Chambers. On the moon Panga, sentient robots left human society long ago, retreating to their own enclave. Humanity remade society in a more sustainable and less techno-centric way, and no human has seen a robot since. Dex, a tea monk, travels around listening to people’s fears and misgivings. One day, Dex travels into the wilderness and happens upon a robot named Splendid Speckled Mosscap, and the two begin traveling together. It’s a beautiful, slow burn of a story, and Dex and Mosscap’s relationship will remind you of Finn and Jake in many ways.
The Hike, by Drew Magary
If the high weirdness and loopy humor of Adventure Time is what sticks with you, Drew Magary’s The Hike is a great choice. Ben arrives at his hotel for a meeting and decides to take a walk. Almost immediately, he finds himself lost in a surreal predicament, pursued by killers and monsters and accompanied by a talking blue crab named, well, Crab. As Ben’s experiences get increasingly strange (and threatening), he learns he must find a powerful entity called The Producer if he wants to escape alive. His interactions with Crab and the oddly ominous nature of his new reality will definitely resonate with fans of Adventure Time.
The best movies like “Adventure Time”
Adventure Time is cinematic, in its way—those visuals are eye candy, and the scope of its narrative arc is actually kind of stealth-epic. If you want movies that scratch a similar itch, there are plenty to choose from (including, unexpectedly, the 1979 comedy Meatballs, because Bill Murray’s performance as Tripper in that film directly inspired the character of Jake in Adventure Time.)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Adventure Time and Where the Wild Things Are are so thematically similar you can find endless mashups of them online. Max, who wears a wolf costume like Finn wears a bear hat, is sent to bed, sulking, without supper. He finds himself transported to a magical jungle, where the native monsters—the Wild Things—try to frighten him, but then make him their king and take him on adventures. As with the show, this story has a dark core and a thread of melancholy to it. Stream Where the Wild Things Are on The Roku Channel or rent it on Prime Video.
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The combination of adult themes and a strikingly designed universe marks Adventure Time as something special, and the same goes for The Dark Crystal, Frank Oz’s triumph of puppetry. The story of two Gelflings, Jen and Kira, as they seek to heal a magical crystal and save their world from eternal darkness and tyranny is a visual treat. Like the show, the film is ostensibly aimed at kids, but deals with a lot of heavy, adult-level themes along the way. Stream The Dark Crystal on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video.
Spirited Away (2001)
Another film frequently mashed up with Adventure Time is Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. Although the animation style is quite different, the story of a young girl, Sen, who accidentally enters the spirit world and then must find a way to save her parents after they are transformed into pigs by a witch has the surrealist flair and dark vein of sadness fans of the show will recognize. It’s a visually dazzling story that explores the crossover from childhood to adulthood through a Japanese cultural lens and playful visuals that yield new surprises each time you watch. Rent Spirited Away on Prime Video.
Labyrinth (1986)
This 1986 film from Jim Henson is live action, but it mirrors many of the themes of Adventure Time (which sports its own Labyrinth that bedevils Finn and Jake), especially the under-the-surface melancholy and the use of fantasy to address serious issues. 16-year-old Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) resents her father’s remarriage and her infant stepbrother, Toby, and in a moment of irritation, she offers him to the goblins she was just reading about. When the Goblin King, Jareth (David Bowie), shows up, she is told she must solve his labyrinth in 13 hours or Toby will become a goblin. Through a lush fantasy world, Sarah must use her brain and rely on her sense of right and wrong to defeat the Goblin King in a story that any fan of Adventure Time will love. Stream Labyrinth on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video.
The Iron Giant (1999)
If it’s the “I’m not crying, you’re crying” vibe that often creeps into Finn and Jake’s interactions on Adventure Time that you love, The Iron Giant is a must-watch. In 1957, a 50-foot tall robot crash lands on Earth, discovered and befriended by nine-year-old Hogarth Hughes. When the government learns about the Giant, it reacts with violent paranoia, forcing Hogarth and the Giant to flee even as the Giant wrestles with the destructive force it potentially wields. It’s a gorgeous animated film exploring the power of friendship between disparate beings—what could be more Adventure Time-y? Rent The Iron Giant on Prime Video.
The best video games like “Adventure Time”
Adventure Time’s stories often work with beats and dynamics that are similar to video games, with quest-based stories and wildly imaginative graphics. If you want more of that, check out these video games.
Adventure Time: Finn And Jake Investigations
Because it’s pretty much a game in cartoon form, there are a lot of video games officially based on Adventure Time to choose from. Adventure Time: Finn And Jake Investigations isn’t the most challenging game on that list, but it’s one of the most fun and immersive. Finn and Jake decide to become detectives, like their parents, and begin collecting treasures as they solve puzzles throughout the Land of Ooo. The game lets you wander the world, interact with other denizens, and generally have fun. It’s like playing inside an actual episode of the show.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Wii U, 3DS, Steam
Olli Olli World
It’s a skating game, yes, but visually and tonally it’s like playing a skating game set inside Adventure Time. The characters live in a world called Radlandia, but they could just as easily have migrated from the Land of Ooo, and the world’s visuals are equally Adventure Time-ish. You play as a candidate for the title of Skate Wizard, and you have to travel around Radlandia impressing folks with your amazing skateboard skills, which sounds like an episode of Adventure Time as well. Olli Olli World doesn’t have the strain of sadness and loss you find at the deep center of the show in later seasons, but it’s a blast that will remind you of the early episodes.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam
Dungeons of Hinterberg
If you want a visually lush game that gives a bit more of the melancholic and existential mood of Adventure Time, check out Dungeons of Hinterberg. You play as a tourist named Luisa who has arrived in Hinterberg to investigate the dungeons and slay the monsters that have appeared in the surrounding mountains. There’s combat and skilling up as you might expect, but you also have to navigate social interactions in town that illuminate Luisa’s backstory and emotional state, giving this dungeon-crawler game a unique aspect. In the end, it’s the visual style and exploration of Luisa as a character that will remind you of Adventure Time as you play.
What do you think so far?
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Steam
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
With its nonlinear gameplay, open world design, and exploration-based dynamics, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offers a gaming experience that can offer similar levels of comfort and fun, especially if you find clever ways to avoid fighting (which is possible, and adds an element of extra challenge to the game as well). Both are set in beautiful post-apocalyptic worlds, both play around with a “sci-fantasy” mix of magic and technology, and there’s definitely a vibe of loss and sadness to Breath of the Wild that will feel familiar to Adventure Time fans.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Wii U
Undertale / Deltarune
The RPGs Undertale and its parallel-story sequel Deltarune definitely give Adventure Time vibes. In Undertale, you play as a child who slips through the magical barrier between your world and the Underground, where monsters were banished after a war with humanity; in Deltarune, you’re in the same universe but you explore a Dark World with a different set of goals and challenges. The games feature whimsical, lo-fi graphics filled with fanciful monsters, and a range of tones that shift from hilariously silly to moments of surprising emotional devastation.
Platforms: PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam
The best podcasts like “Adventure Time”
Sometimes you just want to close your eyes and let someone tell you a story, or tell you what they think about a story you love (like Adventure Time). In that case, here are some of the best podcasts for fans of the show.
Never Ending Adventure: An Adventure Time Podcast
Credit: Podcast logo
The dynamic on Never Ending Adventure is genius: Host Russell has never watched the show, and reacts to each episode in chronological order. The other host, Ned, is a deep fan of Adventure Time and knows far too much about it. Their discussions mirror those moments when you’re desperately trying to get a friend to love something as much as you do so you can obsess over it together. It’s a terrific way to rekindle your excitement for the show and catch some stray insights you missed on your own journey.
Oh My Glob! An Adventure Time Podcast
Credit: Podcast logo
If you just want a straightforward—yet hilarious—deep dive into each and every episode, check out Oh My Glob! An Adventure Time Podcast. It’s just two smart people, Matt and Amy, recapping and analyzing each episode. If you lack a group of weirdos who also want to just sit around re-watching episodes and excitedly noting the Easter eggs and hints scattered throughout, putting this podcast in your ears is the next best thing.
Wolf 359
Credit: Podcast logo
Like Adventure Time, this narrative fiction podcast starts off as a humorous story and then slowly develops into a much more emotional and powerful story. Doug Eiffel is part of the small crew on board the U.S.S. Hephaestus as it orbits the star Wolf 359, seeking signs of alien life. As Doug investigates some weirdness, the crew slowly realizes that their mission and existence is not what they assumed, and the tone slowly shifts into a compelling drama in a way that fans of the show will appreciate.
Everything Is Alive
Credit: Podcast logo
The depth and sensitivity of Adventure Time kind of sneaks up on you, and if that’s one of your favorite aspects of the show, this Everything Is Alive is just the ticket. Each episode is an interview with an inanimate object—a towel, for instance—and each episode offers a surprisingly nuanced, funny, and often hilarious rumination on existence, purpose, and the hidden world all around us. This combination is exactly what fans of Adventure Time are looking for.
The Adventure Zone: Balance Arc
Credit: POdcast logo
For a more “adventure”-based story that offers the same slow burn as Adventure Time, the Balance arc of The Adventure Zone is a great choice. The first campaign of the podcast starts off as a simple role-playing game narrative with a focus on friendships, but slowly morphs into a deep examination of the power of love, the nature of time, and dealing with an existential threat beyond anything you’re prepared to deal with. For AT fans, it’s a treat.
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