4. Neverwhere

The license: This 1996 Neil Gaiman novel follows the story of Richard Mayhew, a Londoner who, through an ill-advised act of kindness, finds himself a part of the parallel "London Below," an invisible world filled not only with the dregs of society but also mythical creatures and historical figures.

In this strange land, he sees the life he had built before crumble around him as he helps his new companion, named Door, escape from a murderous pursuit.

The novel was actually an adaptation of a BBC miniseries that also aired in 1996.

The game: Showing the parallels between the real "London Above" and the hidden "London Below" would be the key to making the game resonate with players.

An open-world structure could first see Mayhew traveling around London, engaging in the usual tedium of life, only to see everything twisted when he's inevitably taken to London Below.

From that point on, the gameplay would focus on Mayhew's efforts to protect Door from her pursuer, all cast against the fantastical, confusing world Mayhew finds himself in.

The developer: The developers at Team Ico obviously know how to create a game focused on protection of a ward, as well as one with imaginative, organic environments.