Another Tron movie release usually means another future cult classic that will not do great at the Box Office. So you’re left with a bunch of fans who need more of this universe. Thankfully the expanded universe for this franchise has given us many video games that add to the lore and story fittingly enough more than a book would’ve. So we’re going to focus on the video games made for Tron and their stories. And well since technically every Tron video game can be a part of the canon, we might as well mention every video game ever made so it’s a full on history. We’ll begin with the ones that actually have more of a story and move from there. As far as the canonicity, well they’re CUPO at best, I’m sure they’re all forgotten, will never be referenced and any contradictions can only be attributed to a software update I guess.
Tron 2.0
In a way this was a multimedia release since it invovolved the at the time continuation of the story through the game, backed up by a comic book and even figures. It is a sequel that well of course is eventually forgotten about but it’s there and likely one of the purest stories when it comes to what Tron was.
The GBA also got its own version of the story in a game called Tron 2.0 Killer App that’s somehwat connected to the main game. An upgraded Xbox version was made though it’s mostly just an enhanced version of the original with added multiplayer. There were apparenatly 2 mobile game versions Tron 2.0 Lighty Cycles, Tron 2.0 Discs of Tron, couldn’t find much information about them but they appear to be just mini games for phones like the original arcade games.
Tron Evolution
This game did come out when expectations for licensed games were bigger, so we get a big budget prequel to Tron Legacy that is sadly no longer available to purchase. The story will be forgotten as usual however the added lore to the movie will always exists for those that care. And if you can’t get enough well.. The PSP port actually takes place slightly before the main console game being a bit more of a prequel.
Tron Evolution: Battle Grids
Prequel to the prequel’s prequel, which is also another forgotten trope we used to get. This is only loosely connects to the ‘main game’ of the story and takes place before it, there was a version for both Wii & DS with both telling part of the same story albeit with some differences as the DS one takes palce slightly before.
Tron Identity
Visual Novel released more recently that has Query a defective program, it is not the most engaging visual story but still interesting and a nice addition to the lore for those wanting to have more story set in this universe. It’s something new to explore in the franchise and deserves more people checking it out despite being the odd genre choice for Tron.
Tron Catalyst
Sequel to identity but an isometric action adventure game, it expands on the ideas and lore that was set up in the previous game despite being a totally different genre. This actually makes the game more interesting as there’s more of a backstory. Isometric games aren’t my strong point but we’re mostly talking lore here.
The next list of games well the story is very light or not really there, however they can take place at anypoint really, they’re just events that happen in the Tron world.
Tron the Arcade game
The first Tron video game and its ports have you taken to the game grid where you must play 4 mini games to survive all based from the movie: I/O Tower, MCP Cone, Light Cycles, Battle Tanks. S
Discs of Tron
There were supposed to be 5 games but one of them did not make it to release so it just got released later with actual time to flesh it out more.
These two games are actually found on the GBA Tron 2.0 game so we do know where exactly they take place. And man those Tron arcade cabinets, I’m sure it was an experience playing them there.
Tron: RUN/r
An endless runner with a basic story that at least you can purchase as a full game so that in a way makes it way better than something different. Wish it could’ve also meant more of a story but that was not the case here as it’s rather basic.
Space Paranoids
The game Kevin Flynn created, an arcade version was playable at SDCC 2009, online in 2010 and also at Disneyland. So while I guess an official game no real release of it for people to own, I guess technically the canon game that was made.
Tron: Deadly Discs / Tron: Maze-a-Tron ( Adventures of Tron ) / Tron: Solar Sailer
Some of the games mattel made, all very basic becasue of the time they were released, no story just small pintbased games. Storywise they can pretty much take place at anytime before the movie I guess. Tron fights disc throwers. A platformer where you are trying to avoide enemies. You avoid enemies in a grid like area.
There are others games I guess that are either unlicensed games, lightcycle rip-offs, I used to play one on iOS when the iphone was new that I loved. Fans apparently liked Armagetron & AdvancedGLtron though I never played them. And there are also other versions not worth talking about since they’re simple licensed releases TomyTronic Tron TomyTutor Tron which are simple handhelds. And of course the collaboration or crossovers in other games like Kingdom Hearts, Disney Infinity maybe even fortnite that well yeah it’s Tron, it can have parts of the games you’d expect and maybe even a story but it’s not really well Tron, they’re just fun crossovers. Normally I wouldn’t mention these but fans seem to care a lot about them since they do talk about the lore despite being obviously not canon.