Best Of
5 Telltale Games You Should Play Before The Expanse
Telltale Games has delivered us a lot of great episodic video game adventures over the years. So much so, that they could already hang up the cleats and bolster an impressive collection of games. However, their desire to produce interactive movies and videogame art hasn't stopped just yet. Their latest ambition is The Expanse, a sci-fi telltale series that looks to take players to the cosmos and beyond in the summer of 2023. This means we have another year to prepare for The Expanse's dramatic adventure. And there's no better way to do so than by playing the five gripping Telltale games that came before it.
Which we will confess, are all made by the same developers: Telltale Games. They are, after all, the studio that has successfully taken the reigns on the genre. But that's how you know you're in good hands. And, you can make a safe bet the studio is learning from their flaws in these games and improving upon them for The Expanse. As a result, these telltale titles are the perfect candidates to tide you over until The Expanse arrives in the summer of 2023.
5. The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series
One of Telltale Games' most proclaimed series is The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series. Based on the show but with its own original story, the video game counterpart delivers a four-season series, that is gut-wrenching from start to finish. Notably, the best episode of the bunch is the first, simply known as The Walking Dead. So, if you don't want to go all out with the definitive series edition, you can start with the first one. But it's almost guaranteed to hook you, leading you to purchase the other seasons as well.
In terms of plot, The Walking Dead does not bear many similarities to The Expanse, as the former is set on apocalyptic Earth and the latter is a full-fledged sci-fi thriller. However, the story trailer reveals that The Expanse will contain some graphic content in the form of blood and violence. And, coincidentally, the whole The Walking Dead series has a lot of gore. You probably could have guessed that, since it goes hand in hand with the zombie genre. As a result, The Walking Dead is a good game to play before The Expanse because it will prepare you for whatever twist or demented turn the story takes.
4. The Wolf Among Us
Okay, a mystery, murder, thriller, now we're talking. The Wolf Among Us is another credible entry from Telltale Games. Based on the Fable comic books, The Wolf Among Us follows sheriff Bigby Wolf as he investigates a series of mysterious murders in what was once a quiet, innocent Fabletown. Now we're more along the lines of The Expanse's plot, which appears to be developing into a sci-fi murder mystery as well. However, we expect their antagonist to be a bit more, extraterrestrial.
Our main takeaways for why you should play this game before The Expanse are the story themes. In general, both games are mystery thrillers. So The Wolf Among Us is one of the better choices on this list for getting into the right mindset for The Expanse and whatever it may bring. The game also only has five episodes, each lasting, give or take, an hour and a half. As a result, you can probably play another Telltale game on top of this one to prepare for The Expanse.
3. Tales From the Borderlands
The Borderlands series is one of the most extensive gaming series to date. The main series consists of four games, each with a tonne, and we mean a tonne, of DLC. In addition, there is a list of notable spin-offs, such as Telltale Games' Tales From the Borderlands. Which you will be reluctant to hear, is a notable spin-off, and one that's worth diving into. Especially if you have your eyes on The Expanse.
We say that because Tales From the Borderlands is also a sci-fi adventure, however, with much stronger western themes. The game takes you to the unforgiving world of Pandora, which is largely a vast alien desert planet. While that may seem like it makes for a bleak atmosphere, that's quite opposite of the case. Tales From the Borderland's glory lies in its fictional, sci-fi characters and the series' constant humor it's known for. So if you want aspects of sci-fi to fill that craving for The Expanse, and then comedy to take the edge off, Tales From the Borderlands is a great pick.
2. Batman: The Telltale Series
Whether you're a DC or Marvel fan, one thing we can all agree on is that Batman is universally adored by all superhero fans. And Batman: The Telltale Series continues to tell his story in a dark and dramatic tone. Which is perfect for preparing you for The Expanse. That's because this dramatic story comes with some consequential, game-changing decisions. So get used to making them in this game because you can expect The Expanse to be riddled with them.
Furthermore, if you enjoyed the first game, the sequel, Batman: The Enemy Within, is an excellent follow-up. It even takes the themes from the first game a step further, making for a very immersive title. Overall, the Batman: The Telltale series has a great story with themes similar to what you'll find in The Expense. That's why we recommend playing it before Telltale Game's latest sci-fi thriller.
1. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series
The best telltale game to play before The Expanse, for us at least, is Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series. This five-episode gaming series is a unique take on the original story, however, it's more or less the same. Nevertheless, it is still a very well-executed rendition of it. Plus, what's great about this game is that it's as close to full-fledged sci-fi as you can get. Its story, much like The Expanse's, takes place in the cosmos.
This game also has a fair share of comedic value, which detracts from its minor thriller presence. However, the Guardians of the Galaxy's team dynamic is just as compelling in this game as it is in the film. This makes the characters easy to like and root for, which allows you to become more immersed in the story. And we can't help but think Camina Drummer in The Expanse will strike a chord with us, just as the characters in this telltale game did.
