Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Best Episodes, Ranked

Regardless of how Telltale’s trajectory panned out, there’s no denying that the company caught its biggest break with the release of The Walking Dead. This graphic adventure boasted a great art style that made up for some technical limitations, with the writing being this game’s crowning jewel.

Later games in the series did a great job of continuing the story established by the first game before ending things in a satisfactory manner. Each title took an episodic approach to storytelling, ensuring that players could enjoy the narrative highs of the story before taking a breather as some of the best episodes of Telltale’s The Walking Dead drew to a close.

Spoilers ahead for Telltale’s The Walking Dead series!

8

Ties That Bind – Part 1

An Excellent Opening Chapter For Javier’s Adventures

• Episode 1 of The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

There’s no denying that the third Walking Dead game split fans down the middle, with fans taking their time to warm up to the introduction of Javier and Clementine’s new character. However, all things considered, fans can agree that A New Frontier brought its fair share of strengths to the table.

A New Frontier‘s first episode is easily the strongest part of the series, serving as a great introduction to new characters as Clementine comes back with a bang. Shocking deaths, zombie-killing action, and tough choices are ever-present in the first part of Ties that Bind, ending on a nail-biting note that will compel players to check out the second part as soon as possible.

7

No Going Back

Clementine Must Make Some Tough Choices After Certain Information Comes To Light

• Episode 5 of The Walking Dead: Season 2

The Walking Dead: Season 2 had its fair share of issues, but there’s no denying that players loved assuming control of Clementine and seeing how things panned out in this new adventure. While meeting familiar faces felt great, this contributed to the chilling decisions that players must make in the final episode of Season 2.

The rising tensions within the group, as they struggle to take care of A.J., culminate in a heartbreaking finale where Clementine must make a tough and brutal choice. The aftermath that follows is an eye-opening affair that recontextualizes events and forces the player to make a hard choice that aligns with Clementine’s interests.

6

Take Us Back

Toys Around With The Player’s Emotions

• Episode 4 of The Walking Dead: The Final Season

After the two games following the first Walking Dead split fans down the middle, Telltale addressed complaints by making the episodes longer and letting players control Clementine in an engaging video game with a greater focus on action. The Final Season is a great send-off to Clementine, with the final episode highlighting how emotional things get after a series of disastrous events.

Watching A.J. struggle to deal with the aftermath of a bite on Clementine’s leg is heartbreaking to witness. Until the last few minutes of the ending, players are kept in the dark about the fates that befell this game’s characters, making for a great conclusion that ends the narrative of Telltale’s The Walking Dead on a high note.

5

Starved For Help

Lee And The Group Must Escape The Cannibals Who Want To Eat Them

• Episode 2 of The Walking Dead (Season One)

The first game is undoubtedly the very best Walking Dead game developed by Telltale. Each episode told a riveting story, with the cannibalistic St. John family in Episode 2 serving as great antagonists. The lack of food compels the motel survivors to take the help of what seems like good Samaritans, only for the ugly truth to rear its head in no time.

The desperation and horror of this episode make it a great continuation of the first episode’s events. Running down the stairs to stop Clementine from eating human meat and taking out the members of the St. John family one by one are iconic moments that will make it clear why fans can’t get enough of Telltale’s The Walking Dead.

4

Done Running

The First Episode Of The Final Season Starts With A Bang

• Episode 1 of The Walking Dead: The Final Season

The Final Season needed a bombastic first episode to capture fans from the get-go, and this was achieved in Done Running. Seeing Clementine and A.J. struggle to survive before being welcomed by a group makes for a great introduction to the events that follow.

Since A.J. was born in the post-apocalypse, he’s unaware of how civilized society operates. The way his mind works is different and makes for an interesting narrative angle to explore in Clementine’s final adventures.

3

All That Remains

Clementine Goes Through Numerous Ordeals Before Being Welcomed By A Group

• Episode 1 of The Walking Dead: Season Two

Fans couldn’t wait to get their hands on The Walking Dead: Season Two after the way that the first game wrapped things up. Fans were worried about Clementine’s fate and got their answer in a gripping first episode that showed how much she’s grown.

She keeps Lee’s advice in mind and shows how much she’s grown as a survivor. Watching her stitch up her wound and win over the trust of a survivor group shows why The Walking Dead: Season Two was received warmly by players, even if some of the episodes weren’t up to the mark and paled in comparison to the first season.

2

A New Day

Lee And Clementine Meet For The First Time In An Excellent Opening Chapter

• Episode 1 of The Walking Dead (Season One)

Watching Lee in a police car as a trooper relentlessly talks to him just before crashing into a zombie is a great way to kickstart the events of The Walking Dead. His injured leg is a detriment as he tries to escape the undead, climbing a fence and ending up in Clementine’s house.

It’s here that the iconic duo unite for the first time as they embark on a grand adventure to secure their survival. Several iconic video game characters make their appearance here, with players struggling to survive before eventually stumbling upon a motel that serves as their hideout for a long time.

1

No Time Left

The Emotions Are At An All-Time High In The Season Finale

• Episode 5 of The Walking Dead (Season One)

Nothing comes close to the wave of emotions players experience at the end of Telltale’s The Walking Dead. After being bit, Lee slowly succumbs to the zombie plague as he gives Clementine her final lessons at the end of a riveting tale.

Fans can’t help but shed a tear as Clementine bids a tearful farewell to Lee before either leaving him behind or shooting him in the head. It’s a traumatizing ending that hammers in once again why fans love the first Walking Dead made by Telltale.

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  Released

  
  April 24, 2012
  

  ESRB

  Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

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  Released

  
  December 17, 2013
  

  ESRB

  m

• 

  Released

  
  December 20, 2016
  

  ESRB

  Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Drugs

• 

  Released

  
  August 14, 2018
  

  ESRB

  Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language