The Walking Dead: The Final Season

The Walking Dead: The Final Season is a moving exploration of grief, loss, choice, and letting go that gives Clementine's story the ending it deserves. Telltale may be gone, but at least they went out with a bang.

82%Game Brain Score

story, emotional

stability, grinding

93% User Score Based on 10,858 reviews

Critic Score 71%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

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About

In The Walking Dead: The Final Season, players control Clementine in the final chapters of her story, now a capable survivor and leader. They must make tough decisions in a world overrun by zombies, or "walkers," while protecting AJ, an orphaned boy in their care. With an emphasis on narrative and choice, the season offers emotional, impactful storytelling and the opportunity to shape the conclusion of Clementine's journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Walking Dead: The Final Season screenshot

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,869 reviews

story1.8k positive mentions

stability40 negative mentions

story
4,466 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
3%
The story of "The Walking Dead: The Final Season" is widely praised for its emotional depth and character development, particularly in the journey of Clementine and her relationship with AJ. While some players note that choices may not significantly alter the overall narrative, the game effectively ties up long-standing story arcs, delivering a satisfying conclusion to a beloved character's journey. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions, making it a memorable experience for fans of the series.
- “Regardless of all that, I still recommend the whole series just for the beautiful story and the feels!”
- “The story is amazing, and the end of Clementine’s journey makes me sad there's no more after.”
- “This game is a masterpiece and I will always carry this story into my heart my whole life.”
- “Yes, there's hardly any *real* choices to be made here and you're mostly just following one storyline which doesn't really branch out all that much, therefore most of your decisions won't have any real impact but despite that - I think the walking dead brings to the table a wonderful story, absolutely worth experiencing.”
- “This bull***t completely waves off any reason you may have effectively for anything in the whole game, disregarding any possible educated guess you may ever make just for the sake of plot convenience.”
- “Wish that choices would actually make a difference to the story, not just that some character dies now by us or in ten minutes by something else... but that's an ongoing problem of Telltale.”
emotional
1,183 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "The Walking Dead: The Final Season" is overwhelmingly powerful, with many players reporting that it made them cry multiple times throughout the game. The narrative effectively builds on years of character development, particularly the bond between Clementine and AJ, leading to a deeply resonant and bittersweet conclusion that evokes a wide range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak. Overall, the game is praised as a masterclass in emotional storytelling, leaving a lasting impact on those who have followed the series.
- “That ending put tears in my eyes; no game has made me cry until today.”
- “This game made me cry (like all of them did, to be honest).”
- “The emotional impact of the game is heightened by the fact that all the key 'positive' characters are children, who have to face real scoundrels.”
- “The story is predictable and lacks emotional depth, making it feel boring.”
- “The narrative feels repetitive and fails to evoke any real emotions.”
gameplay
864 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The gameplay in "The Walking Dead: The Final Season" has seen significant improvements, including a shift to a more engaging third-person perspective, enhanced combat mechanics, and the introduction of collectibles and exploration elements. While many players appreciate the increased interactivity and emotional depth, some have criticized the controls as clunky and the gameplay as occasionally frustrating, particularly during combat sequences. Overall, the game balances its narrative-driven focus with more dynamic gameplay, making it a notable evolution in the series.
- “The gameplay is just perfect.”
- “The intricate storytelling, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay all came together to create an absolute masterpiece that I will never forget.”
- “The final season of The Walking Dead not only delivers a gripping narrative but also showcases stunning visuals and immersive gameplay.”
- “Gameplay isn't fun and half the time it's just button mashing only for it not to matter.”
- “It's only downside is that they wanted to add more gameplay here than before and it felt really clunky and badly done, at times being really bothersome.”
- “The gameplay is a clunky and bug-riddled mess, and every time you fail and on some sections you can expect that a fair bit of that you will have to watch the previous cut scene which, while probably only 10 seconds, by the 6th or 10th time you watch it (if you really get those bugs) then it starts to annoy.”
graphics
781 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The graphics in the final season of The Walking Dead have received widespread acclaim for their significant improvements over previous installments, showcasing a refined cel-shaded art style that enhances the comic book aesthetic. Players appreciate the vibrant colors, detailed character animations, and immersive environments, although some note minor technical issues like frame rate drops and graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing to a more engaging and atmospheric gameplay experience.
- “The cel-shaded art style that has become a hallmark of the Walking Dead series is maintained in the final season, with hauntingly beautiful environments that capture the eerie atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic world.”
- “The graphics are absolutely beautiful, much better in-game than on screenshots and videos.”
- “The graphics are incredible and still so stylistic and unique, the soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal and conveys and enhances the moods of any setting possible, the story-line is seriously captivating, and all of the characters are incredibly well-written.”
- “Of course, the graphics are not a wow or anywhere close to any good.”
- “Unfortunately, the dark filter that the game enforces can be quite distracting, making the visuals appear more like a drawing from a comic book with no option to turn it off.”
- “Worst controls, pathetic graphics with huge lags, plot holes as never before, no suspense, no compassion towards heroes.”
music
274 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
52%
1%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack that enhances the storytelling experience. While some tracks are recycled from previous seasons, the overall composition is considered a standout, effectively evoking strong feelings and nostalgia. The combination of original pieces and familiar themes contributes to a memorable auditory experience that resonates with players throughout the game.
- “The music is an absolute classic at this point, very beautiful across the board.”
- “The sound design as a whole is excellent, with the soundtrack and sound effects being nicely crafted and sounding just as good, if not better than I anticipated.”
- “The graphics are incredible and still so stylistic and unique, the soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal and conveys and enhances the moods of any setting possible.”
- “Some of the truly unique music tracks from earlier seasons were lazily copied and pasted into season 4.”
- “The reused music from seasons 1 and 2 should have been a clear giveaway of what was to come, but it only got worse.”
- “The soundtracks are the same as in the first two seasons; maybe one song is new. It's actually not my type of music, but it fits perfectly—very sad songs, everything sad.”
character development
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
31%
6%
Character development in "The Walking Dead: The Final Season" is widely praised, particularly for Clementine, whose growth feels authentic and impactful, making player choices feel significant. While the main characters receive strong development, some side characters lack depth, leading to mixed feelings about their arcs. Overall, the game is celebrated for its exceptional storytelling and character interactions, creating a deeply engaging experience that resonates emotionally with players.
- “The character development, particularly for Clementine, is masterfully executed, making every decision and interaction feel weighty and meaningful.”
- “One of the best storylines ever, seeing Clementine growing and taking care of AJ is just a peak of character development; wish we saw Kenny more though.”
- “This game is all about character development, how we interact with others, how we stay true to the value of humanity or forsake it for survival.”
- “It's a bit slower paced and puts more emphasis on optional 'free roam' tasks and character development via sometimes-stale dialogue.”
- “I think this game has many beautiful moments and it's kinda disappointing that this series didn't get more character development for some of the side characters.”
- “Bad writing, awful character development, 'your choices matter' - we, except for the subreddit, all know the drill.”
atmosphere
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
41%
5%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, enhanced by a cel-shaded art style and a powerful soundtrack that captures the desolation of a post-apocalyptic world. Many reviewers highlight the immersive environments, strong voice acting, and the effective use of music to create tension and emotional resonance, making it one of the best storytelling experiences in video games. However, some criticism exists regarding certain character moments that detract from the overall atmosphere.
- “The cel-shaded art style that has become a hallmark of the Walking Dead series is maintained in the final season, with hauntingly beautiful environments that capture the eerie atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic world.”
- “The atmosphere was immersive, the unscripted combat was extremely fun, the graphics are beautiful, the camera angles and transitions are very immersive, the soundtrack is amazing and reflects Clem and AJ's relationship by mirroring it to Lee and Clem's relationship.”
- “One of the best storytelling and atmosphere in a video game.”
- “Some moments feel very stale, with some of the characters really ruining the atmosphere with the writing.”
- “While the new frontier's atmosphere is kind of edgy, the final season's atmosphere is way darker and grittier than usual.”
- “The quiet, rural, eerie atmosphere punctuated by visceral action lent itself well to a slower pace.”
replayability
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The game offers significant replayability due to its meaningful choices, multiple endings, and the introduction of collectibles and achievements that encourage players to explore different scenarios. While some players noted that the inability to fast forward through scenes can hinder the experience, many still found the overall narrative and character-driven gameplay compelling enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is regarded as one of the more replayable entries in the series, with some players highlighting it as the most enjoyable installment yet.
- “This has to be one of the best TWD games, a happy ending and definitely replayable because the choices you make actually matter in this game.”
- “The game is massively replayable with 10 endings.”
- “Telltale has made sure that the game has plenty of replayability, with special items that you can find around the chapters, and plenty of different choices that affect how characters turn out at the end.”
- “The replay value is quite low compared to other seasons as the first two episodes feel completely different to the rest of the season and as such would be a slog to replay.”
- “There are replay value with the different choices, but with the inability to fast forward scenes, not sure if it's worth the time for most people (this goes with previous seasons too).”
- “It's a ridiculous premise to have you go against, or go with Clementine in several key decisions in this game... everyone playing this game is going to go with Clementine, unless you want the replay value.”
humor
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
12%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of lighthearted moments and cringeworthy scenes, primarily driven by characters like Louis and Violet, who provide comic relief amidst the emotional weight of the story. While some players found the humor effective and engaging, others felt it fell flat or was overshadowed by the game's more serious themes, leading to a varied reception of its comedic elements. Overall, the humor contributes to a complex emotional experience, balancing laughter with moments of sorrow and tension.
- “Amazing characters and an interesting story full of unexpected plot twists that can make you sweat, then cry, then laugh...”
- “All four episodes had me engaged; I found myself laughing, smiling, yelling 'WTF,' and shedding a manly tear or two, not gonna lie.”
- “Let's just pretend that won't sober you up and make you more mature - nope, AJ fought and survived through a final zombie showdown, and he's still a goofball who has funny quips to spew to himself about things being 'nice' or 'cool' or 'mean.'”
- “I was laughing out loud; some parts were so cringey.”
- “Not funny!”
- “Not funny!”
optimization
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
46%
17%
Overall, "The Walking Dead: The Final Season" is generally well-optimized, delivering smooth performance and impressive graphics, especially when compared to previous titles in the series. While some users reported minor stuttering and occasional crashes, these issues are not considered game-breaking and are manageable on most systems, particularly those with GPUs from 2015 or later. Despite some frustrations with performance on higher-end systems, the game is praised for its visual enhancements and overall stability.
- “Overall, The Walking Dead: The Final Season is a well-optimized game that runs smoothly and without major technical issues.”
- “While there are some minor optimization issues, they are not game-breaking and should not affect the player’s experience.”
- “The game is well optimized.”
- “First up: the final season on my device was a performance downgrade from the New Frontier.”
- “Gameplay and visuals are improved but the optimization still sucks at some point.”
- “The salt lick was a nice nod to one of the best episodes in the whole series, season 1 episode 2, and there were some enjoyable parts even with the stuttering framerates during the final section on the boat.”
stability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant bugs, including frame rate drops, graphical glitches, and occasional freezes, particularly during combat and action sequences. While some users reported a smoother experience with fewer issues compared to previous seasons, others found the final season to be particularly buggy, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while the new engine shows promise, many recommend waiting for patches to address these stability concerns.
- “The new engine for this game is visually stunning and runs great on a keyboard and mouse or a controller.”
- “Other than that, the game runs great.”
- “+ bug free.”
- “This final season is buggy.”
- “There are noticeable glitches and frame drops, especially during the action sequences.”
- “Some notable negatives are freezes before combat, combat itself just feels wrong, some cutscenes felt flat out stretched out, and the section where you try to board the ship is absolute cancer.”
grinding
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
66%
31%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, often requiring significant time investment for achievement hunting and combat mechanics. Many reviews emphasize that the grinding can detract from the overall experience, with some players feeling overwhelmed to the point of abandoning the game. Overall, while the story is praised, the grindiness is a common point of frustration.
- “A bit grindy.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “But the quicktime events with groups of zombies make the game so incredibly tedious that in the second episode I chose to turn the game off and simply not start it again.”
- “A great story and beautiful ending for Clementine, but achievement hunting can be very tedious.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with users labeling it as a "cash grab" due to the developer's failure to complete the game after receiving significant financial backing. Many players express frustration over the uncertainty regarding the release of the final chapters, feeling that their investment has not been honored.
- “No wonder this was their final cash grab.”
- “Telltale, you better finish this game. You don't release a game and then say it may not get the last two chapters, then run off with millions of people's money. Sounds like a cash grab.”
- “Seems like it was a cash grab.”