Best & Worst Walking Dead Games

Highlights

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct offers a canon prequel starring Daryl Dixon and has FPS mechanics that allow players to fight Walkers head-on.
Overkill's The Walking Dead has unique characters with special skills for team play, but suffers from glitches, poor matchmaking, and long loading times.
The Walking Dead: Onslaught allows players to kill Walkers in VR with realistic-feeling guns, but lacks the gritty narrative charm and the gameplay can feel repetitive.

With The Walking Dead showing a visceral and raw take on how humans would try to outlast the living dead, the evolving stories of Rick and Carl Grimes, Michonne, Negan, and the rest of the survivors have met recreations and even alternate takes on various media outside the series - especially video games. It’s thanks to The Walking Dead video games that fans can get better insights into the world of the show through the lens of other characters, and there are bound to be games that outshine the rest.

The Walking Dead: 10 Characters With The Most Character Development

In a zombie-infested world, evolution is key. The Walking Dead's characters are constantly changing, but which ones have had the most development?

As such, for both the newcomer and veteran The Walking Dead fan, just how would each game from the series fare in terms of their overall performance?

Updated on October 23, 2023, by Rhenn Taguiam: With The Walking Dead: Dead City and Daryl Dixon exploring the future of the franchise from Maggie and Negan in Manhattan and Daryl in France, fans of the acclaimed post-apocalyptic zombie series may be interested in experiencing their trials for themselves - at least in the form of video games. While The Walking Dead franchise has had its fair share of strong and underwhelming titles, fans who want to explore this dimension of the series may want to look into certain advantages and disadvantages of getting into certain TWD games. In this regard, aside from the Telltale titles, certain The Walking Dead games are surprisingly must-try entries for the hardcore Walker fan.

14 The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct (2013)

Platforms: PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360

Fans of The Walking Dead who always wanted to hold Daryl Dixon’s crossbow can finally get the opportunity to blast walkers to oblivion in The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. Unlike other games that feature the series’ protagonists, Survival Instinct is canon to the current story and is actually a prequel to the series.

The game focuses on siblings Daryl and Merle Dixon as they journey from Georgia to Atlanta, where series protagonist Rick Grimes will eventually meet them. Aside from being a typical FPS, the game offers a survival component where Daryl has to take note of how much fuel, ammo, and food he has. Unfortunately, the intriguing plot of the game isn’t enough to save it from the abysmal FPS gameplay.

Pros	Cons
A prequel starring Daryl expands The Walking Dead narrative FPS mechanics give players a chance to fight Walkers head-on like the characters in the series	Bad enemy AI can make missions dull and uneventful Resource management has potential, but the game just solves problems for players if they run out The cast of NPC Companions can be one-dimensional, providing barely any reason to be invested in them

13 Overkill’s The Walking Dead (2018)

Platforms: PC

While creating a co-op zombie survival game is a perfectly reasonable next step for The Walking Dead franchise, the popularity of series such as Resident Evil and even Left 4 Dead makes it hard for a TWD game to stand out. Overkill Software attempted this with Overkill’s The Walking Dead, where players control characters Maya, Aidan, Grant, and Heather as they work together to outwit and outlast zombies with their unique set of skills.

The game is a must-try for its lore and interesting fighting mechanics, but its presence remains a source of frustration for fans. Unfortunately, the game received poor reception due to its glitches, low graphics, poor matchmaking, long loading times, and even its odd difficulty spikes.

Pros	Cons
Characters have unique skills to enhance team play Resource management element can enhance the tower defense format of the title Noise-based Horde Meter encourages players to explore various weapon types	The lack of solid narrative is a step away from the appeal of The Walking Dead series The resource management component is lackluster Co-op doesn’t have voice chat, severely limiting multiplayer options Prolonged loading times can ruin the fun of matches

12 The Walking Dead: Onslaught (2020)

Platforms: PC, PS4, VR

Fans who want to take The Walking Dead experience and see it with their own eyes might want to give The Walking Dead: Onslaught a shot. In this VR title, players get to play as various characters from the series as they encounter individual struggles similar to the ones they experienced in the series.

Compared to Saints & Sinners, however, Onslaught didn’t get to match the same VR experience as the title. If anything, Onslaught is a must-play for the performances of the cast, but its story and approach aren’t that far from a typical fan fiction entry.

Pros	Cons
Killing Walkers in VR can be fun with the variety of attack options Guns feel realistic to shoot, making the game fun for VR shooter fans The mini resource management component for Alexandria adds variety to the gameplay	Extreme action-oriented title lacks the gritty narrative charm of The Walking Dead Gameplay loop, especially when unlocking the Main Story, can make the game feel repetitive The lack of challenging gameplay can make surviving hordes of zombies dull

11 The Escapists’ The Walking Dead (2015)

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Coming from The Escapists strategy game, The Escapists’ The Walking Dead is a light-hearted yet zombie-filled puzzle experience. Taking cues from the original The Escapists, the game is a strategic take on the prison escape formula where players need to use various items around the map to find the most viable exit point for a stage.

In The Escapists’ The Walking Dead, players instead take the role of survivors as they navigate level after level as they escape hordes of zombies on their way. Despite the light-hearted take and the totally different “mood” compared to the rest of the series, The Escapists’ The Walking Dead seems abit too ordinary to wow gamers.

Pros	Cons
Solving areas in puzzles while loosely telling the story of the TV Show fits the game’s format Sandbox nature gives players freedom to “enjoy” this mini-The Walking Dead world, especially when it comes to securing their compound	Lighthearted graphics leave much to be desired in terms of visuals The lack of heavy combat mechanics does miss the mark on zombie action

10 The Walking Dead: Road To Survival (2015)

Platforms: Android, iOS

One of the more “ordinary” games in the franchise, The Walking Dead: Road To Survival is a 2D tactics game more akin to the lines of Marvel: Avengers Alliance, where players take the role of various characters in side-scrolling tactical fights against enemies. In Road To Survival, players do the same - “collect” characters and fight against both zombies and hostile human groups in a simple tactical title.

However, what perhaps makes Road To Survival stand out compared to other games is how it allows players to acquire and create teams from characters who are also from the novels, comics, and even the Telltale series. Unfortunately, the game’s simplistic gameplay doesn’t make it as attractive compared to other titles.

Pros	Cons
Top-down isometric visuals give a unique larger-scale look at the world not always present in the series Icon-clicking combat can finish fights quickly, helping players make progress in the gameplay loop faster Base-building mechanics make the game more accessible to players	Mechanics are too similar to other base-builders that only the zombies see its unique element RPG component is lackluster in terms of customization and progression

9 Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead (2020)

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android

Taking cues from a “game within a game” spinoff, Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead adds crazy physics to the zombie-filled franchise. Whereas Bridge Constructor needs players to aid various vehicles traversing a ravine through properly constructed bridges that follow physics, The Walking Dead iteration needs players not just to aid survivors crossing ravines but also to make sure walkers aren’t there to follow them.

The Walking Dead: 10 Saddest Deaths In The Series, Ranked

The Walking Dead and its cast of characters are no stranger to tragedy. Many have died along the way, but some deaths were much sadder than others.

As such, aside from creating bridges for survivors, this Bridge Constructor installment allows players to use baits, explosives, and objects to ensure that walkers are permanently dead on their tracks. Sadly, the humorous nature of the game doesn’t add a lot of value to a fan’s love of the franchise.

Pros	Cons
Building bridges to escape a horde of Walkers fit The Walking Dead’s premise Post-apocalyptic graphics are a change of pace from the original Bridge Constructor games	The lack of action gameplay misses the trademark violence in The Walking Dead Nothing noteworthy from a zombie game standpoint aside from the title, as the game is purely about creating bridges

8 The Walking Dead: Our World (2013)

Platforms: iOS, Android

Players who love augmented reality (AR) experiences like the ones in Pokemon GO will appreciate being transported into the world of The Walking Dead from the perspective of their mobile phones. In The Walking Dead: Our World, players take on the role of survivors as they fight walkers and survive the series’ harsh post-apocalyptic landscape by exploring their surroundings and leaving their marks for players to find.

The game allows players to have single-rounded Encounters against walkers, multi-round Infestations, and other modes. Fans who love walking around will have a lot to do in Our World, but not much else to those who love a more casual, sitting-down experience.

Pros	Cons
Straightforward FPS gameplay can make the game more enjoyable for casual The Walking Dead fans Challenges are fairly straightforward and encourage players to explore both the game’s mechanics and roster of characters	The game can be played in a single location, with moving around only an option unlike in other games like Pokemon GO AR aspect of the game tends to be buggy, making the base version of the game the more optimal way to play

7 Michonne: The Walking Dead (2016)

Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, iOS, Android

Of all characters in The Walking Dead, it’s katana-toting Michonne Hawthorne that serves as the definitive icon of badass in the series. However, Michonne: The Walking Dead from Telltale Games proves that there’s more to Michonne than meets the eye, and it’s her past experiences that forged her into a warrior of today’s zombie outbreak.

While fans love the way the game finally deep-dives into Michonne’s motivations in the past and the forces that drive her, the chapters in her game add up to be yet another misery-fest that doesn’t do anything but just subject Michonne’s character to further suffering. While others justify that these contributed to her character development, the bleakness of the story just adds a whole lot of gray to the already-middling reception of the show’s more recent episodes.

Pros	Cons
Michonne’s independence is explored greatly in the story, improving a fan’s relationship in the character Death is handled well in the game, making each choice meaningful	Certain characters tend to be archetypal, making some chapters predictable for Telltale savants Some choices tend to lead to the same conclusion, making them lose their value at times

6 The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (2016)

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android

After Clementine’s adventures in the original Telltale experience, here comes another episodic adventure title from Telltale, this time with The Walking Dead: A New Frontier starring Javier “Javi” Garcia. While Clementine returns as a companion, it’s through Javi’s eyes that much of the game is told. Javi must work together with Clementine to save their families from the New Frontier, a seemingly-benevolent group with sinister intentions.

The Walking Dead: 10 Underrated Side-Characters

Everyone watching The Walking Dead knows Daryl Dixon and Rick Grimes but there are some fantastic side characters that deserve more attention.

Taking cues from the original Telltale series, Javi now serves as the younger companion of an older Clementine and once again has players decide on difficult choices to ensure the survival of their families. Unfortunately, A New Frontier just doesn’t live up to the sophistication of the original series.

Pros	Cons
Improved cinematography helped make QTEs more impactful whenever they arrive A larger family unit navigating post-apocalyptic politics is a fresh take on The Walking Dead concepts	Aging Telltale tech is showing on overall graphics The expanded cast has transformed some of its members into archetypes The game may experience bugs that don’t always carry over decisions from one episode to the next

5 The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land (2015)

Platforms: iOS, Android

Fans of zombie games would’ve likely encountered a game where characters have to barricade their base, venture on quests, and collect both resources and other characters. However, what better franchise to have a base-management game than The Walking Dead? And this is exactly what The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land does.

In this base management game, players have to collect resources and fortify their base against zombies, all the while rescuing survivors, doing quests, and augmenting their arsenal. Fans who want to get immersed in the world of The Walking Dead without being railroaded into getting involved with Rick and the show’s survivors will appreciate No Man’s Land.

Pros	Cons
Tactical turn-based RPG format provides a more strategic take on the franchise Base-building mechanics give a more realistic take on creating a settlement	Difficulty spikes in some stages can halt the overall progression of the game Specific upgrades tie into in-game purchases The timer-based system can heavily pause some aspects of the game

4 The Walking Dead: Season 2 (2010)

Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android

Fans of episodic games will have a gut-wrenching experience playing through the second season of the hit Telltale TWD title. In The Walking Dead: Season 2, players see the ending of the first season carried over with Clem finding herself among new survivors.

Unfortunately for Clem, these new survivors aren’t as trustworthy as they seem, and Clem needs to decide which of these survivors can be trusted with their lives. Players are thrust into the horrible world of The Walking Dead as Clem is left defenseless and fending for herself, with this point-and-click adventure giving the same intense vibes as the original show.

Pros	Cons
Clementine becomes a more active character that participates in the plot Severe consequences for choices give players heart-wrenching outcomes Tense scenarios and strong moments are comparable to the television show	Pacing in the last episodes can affect one’s appreciation of the narrative Lose-lose choices seem to ruin the illusion of choice for players QTE appearances can distract players from taking in the plot

3 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (2020)

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners

Platform(s): Oculus Rift , Oculus Quest , PC , PlayStation VR
Released: January 23, 2020
Developer(s): Skydance Interactive , Skybound Entertainment
Genre(s): FPS , Survival Horror

See at Amazon

One of the most impressive things to have come out of The Walking Dead in terms of games has to do with its VR offerings, particularly The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. In this title, players hop onto their VR devices to get into New Orleans during the onset of the outbreak. As the Tourist, players have to head onto the mythical Reserve that has a treasure trove of supplies - but players have to get past various waves of zombies first.

What perhaps makes Saints & Sinners so impressive as a title is its unique approach to gameplay. This VR game is the closest players have to an in-person The Walking Dead immersion. Aside from being able to fight zombies, they can use VR to scale buildings to attack from a distance, and even craft weapons and improve existing ones they’ve been using. This easily sets the bar not just for a Walking Dead game but also for VR in general.

Pros	Cons
Impressive graphics make killing Walkers extremely gory and satisfying Controls are heavy on the hands, making melee kills more realistic Risk-reward option on conserving energy vs meeting more zombies makes encounters more exciting	Linear character progression removes flexibility in builds Difficulty spikes can make certain levels more challenging to accomplish One chance to regain items after death can provide jarring setbacks

2 The Walking Dead: Season 1 (2010)

The Walking Dead The Game

Platform(s): Android , iOS , PC , PS3 , PS4 , Vita , Switch , Xbox One , Xbox 360
Released: April 24, 2012
Developer(s): Telltale Games
Genre(s): Adventure , Horror

Perhaps the most surprising entry in The Walking Dead franchise in its release, The Walking Dead: Season 1 from Telltale wowed the world with the potential of episodic games. Such was the impression that The Walking Dead gave that it won several Game of the Year awards from publications - particularly for the game’s intense drama and weight on decisions.

The game will have players take on the role of ex-convict Lee Everett who takes care of a young girl named Clementine. As Lee helps Clementine reunite with her parents, they have to make hard decisions about their survival - as well as the lives of the people they meet.

Pros	Cons
Choice-heavy narrative retains depth courtesy of complex characters A simple control scheme transitions well into choices and combat segments	QTEs can interrupt the flow of the narrative at times Same ending but different methods of getting there can eliminate the illusion of choice Bugs such as text freezes and disappearing files can ruin the experience

1 The Walking Dead: The Final Season (2019)

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

Fans of The Walking Dead who want to experience perhaps the best game of the franchise so far would want to hop onto The Walking Dead: The Final Season. This heart-wrenching final season of Clementine’s story, The Final Season is an amazing pay-off to the series.

This youth-focused season adds a “Lord of the Flies” spin on the title, adding a new perspective to the franchise that isn’t present in the shows. Although grim and grotesque throughout the way, it remains a good way to maintain a take on The Walking Dead in the format of a video game.

Pros	Cons
Clementine and AJ’s relationship is constantly tested in new ways, establishing a new dynamic compared to Clementine and Lee’s New cast of characters offer new perspectives that challenge the viewpoints of the protagonists	Not enough time to turn new characters into cast members to care about Certain QTEs and gameplay elements ruin immersion