They work fine. A novel is just a story that name drops people, places and things from the RPG. It is exactly what a TV show or movie would do.I'd love to see the explanation for how RPG novelizations work...
Any D&D novel is basically just a fantasy novel name drops people, places and things from the RPG. But is it "really" a "game" novel? Or is it just a novel. When you read a Drizzt novel is that character the pure heart and soul of all of D&D and represent the whole game? Or is he just a fictional character?
Note the before the novel, The Crystal Shard, Drizzts is not in any D&D rulebooks. When they get around to making a Drizzt movie/tv show it will be based off the NOVELS not anything to do with the GAME (but sure WotC will take credit).
What would a Blades in the Dark movie look like? Just make an "Ocean's" type movie but slap "Blades in the Dark" on the title?
Would a Bubblegumshoe TV show just be a Scooby Do cartoon, but slap "Bubblegumshoe" over it?