With the news of Telltale Games' revival came the announcement of a sequel to one of its most beloved franchises: The Wolf Among Us 2. The company has been largely quiet since this announcement, but many have high hopes for the newly-established Telltale Games, as well as its work. The Wolf Among Us 2 is set to release in 2023, and fans are anticipating the return of Bigby Wolf. His journey in the first game to uncover the conspiracy that plagues the fictional land of Fabletown is one that stayed with players long after the credits rolled. It arrived not long after the conclusion of The Walking Dead, which captured the hearts of many with its emotional story, so the expectations of the developer were sky-high.
Though the series is known for its cel-shading art style and stellar storytelling, The Wolf Among Us 2 will adopt the tradition of previous Telltale games by being segmented into separate parts. Past games have had chapters that often arrived weeks apart from one another, though TWAU2 is taking a slightly different, if still episodic approach. The episodic release format is used for most titles from the studio despite others, like DontNod's Life is Strange, opting to switch to a more traditional approach to production. Episodes aren't all bad, though, and The Wolf Among Us 2 could show the positives that come from releasing a game over time.
Bigby Wolf's Episodic Adventure
Released over the course of a year in 2013/14, The Wolf Among Us was met with great review scores, but many took issue with the way in which it hit digital storefronts. On one hand, its twisting mystery and cast of familiar characters like Snow White and Ichabod Crane were significant bright spots. On the other, its ~10-hour adventure taking almost twelve whole months to conclude was a frustration for so many. It did see a full, physical release just months after the release of its fifth and final chapter, which left many scratching their heads at why it decided to utilize an episodic format, to begin with.
Telltale Games was onto something though, as a segmented approach does wield benefits. Pacing becomes a non-issue, as five separate release dates do well to keep players guessing throughout. Also, its somewhat short length means that should it be consumed in one playthrough, the mystery feels like it ends almost as quickly as it started. Having each episode leave on a significant and well-executed cliffhanger does wonders for the story, provoking fan theories and discussion about where the unpredictable story will go next. It's a true crime lover's paradise, and with the genre relying so heavily on unexpected twists and narrative red herrings, the break between chapters does well to keep fans guessing.
Perhaps it was too long, though, and that's a lesson learned. All episodes of The Wolf Among Us 2 are in development simultaneously, something differing from past entries, and this would likely mean the episodes would come at a quicker pace. Exactly how much quicker remains to be seen, but this may retain that mystery while also not dragging it out for too long.
The Industry's Move Away From Episodes
Though episodic games were a dime a dozen in the mid-2010s, they've since become significantly less popular. At that time, Telltale games and DontNod lead the charge with offerings like Batman: The Telltale Series and Life is Strange. The latter developer's last game that arrived in parts was Tell Me Why, which arrived on Xbox Game Pass in the Summer of 2020 to positive reviews, though it didn't generate as much buzz as Life is Strange before it. Tell Me Why felt like a relic of years gone by, as its familiar gameplay and segmented release made it feel like something that would have been at home on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.
The beloved, yet overlooked Tales from the Borderlands is getting a sequel this year, but it won't be Telltale Games at the helm. This will surely be a disappointment to many, but it promises an all-new story and cast of characters, and the switch to Gearbox as the creators will likely shake up the formula. However, Tales from the Borderlands is special, not for its gameplay or presentation, but for its lovable characters and exciting, surprisingly emotional story. The five episodes that make up the game contribute to its quality, and with The Wolf Among Us' world-building paves the way for a more in-depth narrative, so it could show that the format still has more to give.
The general consensus is that episodic games are dead and don't provide anything more than a long wait between chapters. The space between releases has often been an issue, but segmenting a story can do well to keep the tension up and allows players to feel as though they are growing with the story. Bigby Wolf's return in 2023 will be a long-awaited reintroduction for so many, and watching his story unfold over the course of multiple episodes should make it a real treat, especially with its only real downside potentially minimized.
The Wolf Among Us 2 releases in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.