Video game adaptations used to be a death sentence. We all remember the dark days of the nineties and early 2000s when "based on the hit game" usually meant "this is going to be a disaster." But things have changed. Between the success of Fallout and the emotional gut-punch of The Last of Us, we are in a golden era. Now, Amazon has doubled down with Secret Level, an adult-animated anthology series that basically functions as a love letter to the medium.
If you’re looking for the Secret Level show release date, you should know that the first season has already made its grand debut. The series premiered on December 10, 2024, on Prime Video.
Honestly, the rollout was a bit of a whirlwind. Amazon didn't just dump all fifteen episodes at once. They split them up. You got the first eight episodes on the 10th, and then the final seven dropped just a week later on December 17. It was a smart move, giving fans enough time to breathe between the hyper-detailed, often violent shorts.
The Games That Made the Cut
This isn't just a collection of random cartoons. We’re talking about massive IPs. Tim Miller—the guy who gave us Love, Death + Robots and directed Deadpool—is the mastermind here. He used his Blur Studio to craft stories for some of the biggest names in gaming history.
What really makes Secret Level stand out is the sheer variety of the roster. You’ve got legendary classics sitting right next to modern indies and even a few games that haven't had the smoothest rides in the real world.
A Mix of Legends and Newcomers
- Dungeons & Dragons: The series kicked off with a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the world's most famous TTRPG.
- Warhammer 40,000: This episode serves as a direct sequel to the events of Space Marine 2, with Clive Standen returning as Titus.
- Armored Core: Keanu Reeves stars in this one. Yes, that Keanu Reeves. It’s a gritty, mech-heavy story that fits his vibe perfectly.
- Mega Man & Pac-Man: These aren't the kid-friendly versions you grew up with. The Pac-Man episode, in particular, is a dark, dystopian reimagining that caught a lot of people off guard.
- Sifu: A brutal, martial arts revenge story that captures the "die and retry" mechanic of the game in a cinematic way.
There was also a lot of talk about the Concord episode. For those who don't follow gaming news closely, Concord was a high-budget shooter from Sony that was shut down just weeks after its launch. Despite the game basically vanishing from existence, the Secret Level team decided to keep the episode in the show. It’s a strange, digital time capsule now.
📖 Related: Why Breath of the Wild Meme Culture is Still the Funniest Part of Hyrule
Is Season 2 Actually Happening?
Good news. You don't have to worry about a cliffhanger ending with no payoff. Amazon officially renewed Secret Level for a second season in late December 2024.
This was a huge relief for fans because the first season was billed as the "largest debut for an animated series on Prime Video." When a show pulls those kinds of numbers, the suits usually greenlight more pretty quickly.
We don't have a specific Secret Level season 2 release date yet. Animation is a slow, grueling process. If we look at Tim Miller’s past work on Love, Death + Robots, those seasons usually have a two-to-three-year gap. Since we are currently in early 2026, it is highly likely we will see news about the next batch of episodes later this year or in early 2027.
The Voice Cast is Insane
Amazon clearly didn't skimp on the budget. The voice talent list reads like a Hollywood red carpet. It’s not just Keanu.
Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in the New World: Aeternum episode. His son, Patrick Schwarzenegger, is also in the cast. Then you have Kevin Hart, Gabriel Luna, Ariana Greenblatt, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.
📖 Related: Form of Solitaire Won NYT: Why Everyone is Googling This Specific Puzzle Phrase
They even brought back actors who are synonymous with their game characters. Merle Dandridge is there, and so is Claudia Doumit from The Boys. Having these heavy hitters involved makes the show feel less like a "video game show" and more like a premier prestige TV event.
Why This Format Works So Well
Anthologies are tricky. Some episodes are inevitably better than others. But for video games, this format is basically perfect.
Think about it. A full ten-episode series about Sifu might get repetitive. But a fifteen-minute, high-octane short? It’s pure adrenaline. It allows the creators to experiment with different art styles, tones, and storytelling techniques without being tied down to one long-form narrative.
Some episodes act as prequels, like the Unreal Tournament story. Others, like Playtime, are just a chaotic celebration of the PlayStation universe featuring characters like Kratos and Jin Sakai.
✨ Don't miss: Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes: Why This $30 Demo Was Actually a Masterpiece
What You Should Do Now
If you haven't watched it yet, stop scrolling and head over to Prime Video. It’s worth it just for the visuals alone.
- Watch the Warhammer 40k episode first if you want to see the pinnacle of modern CGI.
- Check out the Sifu short if you're a fan of John Wick-style choreography.
- Keep an eye on official Amazon socials for the Season 2 game list. There are rumors circulating about which franchises will be featured next, with games like Dispatch being high on the fan wishlist.
The first season is fully available to stream right now. It’s 15 episodes of pure gaming nostalgia mixed with cutting-edge animation.