It’s been a full decade since The Walking Dead: The Game was released and revolutionized storytelling in video games as we know it. Developed by Telltale Games, the episodic video game series was canonical with the Walking Dead comic books and even featured characters like Glenn and Hershel. But it was the main characters in the story, Lee Everett (Dave Fennoy) and Clementine (Melissa Hutchison) that really made the game so special.
In the game, players control Lee, a man on his way to serve a life sentence in prison when the zombie outbreak begins. When Lee emerges in a world ravaged by the undead, he comes across Clementine, an 8-year-old girl left all alone after her babysitter is killed. Lee makes it a personal mission to keep Clementine safe in this dangerous new world while finding some redemption for his own misdeeds.
Other Telltale games had given players some creative freedom, but not quite in the same way as The Walking Dead: The Game. One split second decision in the first chapter would cause one character to be killed while another survives, and it’s up to you to make that choice. In a game filled with morally questionable choices where it never really seems like there’s a “right” answer, many of the choices you’re forced to make will regardless leave the player racked with guilt.
Throughout the course of five chapters, protecting Clementine also becomes just as important to the player as it does to Lee in the game. The voice acting and writing for the game series are beyond fantastic, fully immersing players into this world in way that no other Walking Dead story really could. Playing through the story is just as addictive as it is heartbreaking, and while the follow-up seasons can be compelling in their own ways, it was never again quite as special as it was for that first season.
The critics were unanimous in their praise for The Walking Dead: The Game, as even non-horror fans and those who didn’t otherwise care for The Walking Dead were left hooked by the story. It resulted in the game becoming established as one of the greatest video games ever made, garnering all kinds of Game of the Year awards and other accolades.
On the 10th year anniversary of the original episode’s launch, Telltale Games issued a statement celebrating the occasion. You can check out that statement below.
It feels like only yesterday, but 10 years ago the first episode of The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series came out and changed everything. For those of us here at Telltale that’s a huge deal. We are honored to be a part of this storied franchise and love the fact that these games touched so many people – and we’re not just talking about their braaaaains.
While we’re proud of the role Telltale played launching such a well-loved game series, we’re also fans. Just like you. Now, as part of this 10-year anniversary, our friends at Skybound are rolling out a bunch of content. So let’s take this moment to celebrate an amazing adventure, together.
It's been 10 years (!!) since #TheWalkingDead The Telltale Series launched. An amazing milestone based on Skybound's fantastic IP.
Let's take a moment here and celebrate the adventure with @SkyboundGames. pic.twitter.com/4NtUdTZo4H
— Telltale Games (@telltalegames) April 24, 2022
