The Walking Dead: The Final Season - Episode 1

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 25 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Walking Dead: The Final Season - Episode 1 Game Cover
The Walking Dead: The Final Season - Episode 1 is a near-perfect opener for this latest series. It lives up to the lofty expectations set by its predecessors, while also evolving the formula that had grown stale as of late.

"The Walking Dead: The Final Season - Episode 1" follows Clementine, a hardened survivor, and AJ, an orphaned boy, as they find possible refuge in a secluded school. As Clementine becomes a leader and protects the school, players will define relationships and make sacrifices in this emotional conclusion to Clementine's journey. The episode is the first of four, with subsequent episodes to be released.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews
gameplay3 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The new art style adds an abstract flourish, enhancing the visual experience.
  • The story's focus on children and motherhood introduces a fresh and unique angle to the narrative.
  • Improved gameplay mechanics make The Walking Dead feel more engaging and less reliant on quick-time events.
  • The third-person controls can clash with on-screen cursor moments, leading to some awkward gameplay.
  • The plot can feel generic and slow-paced, particularly in the first half of the episode.
  • Some quick-time events and exploration elements could use further refinement and depth.
  • story5 mentions

    The story of "The Walking Dead: The Final Season" is praised for its fresh perspective, focusing on children and incorporating motherhood as a gameplay element. While it retains familiar plot elements, the improved mechanics and storytelling delivery enhance the experience, making the human conflicts the central threat. The new art style and character dynamics contribute to a strong start for the finale, showcasing notable advancements in presentation and voice acting.

    • “The story delivery is the strongest seen so far, with improved presentation and voice acting being as good as ever.”
    • “However, they are far from being the main threats in the story, as the human survivors themselves prove to be the ultimate threat to each other's survival.”
    • “It’s practically impossible to make any firm conclusions about The Walking Dead: The Final Season in its first episode, but the engine improvements have really helped step up the storytelling, while the new cast of characters seem interesting at this early stage.”
    • “While it remains similar to its predecessors in plot and structure, the final season: episode one starts the finale off strong.”
  • gameplay5 mentions

    The gameplay in "The Walking Dead: The Final Season" is enhanced by a fresh art style and unique storytelling focused on children, alongside new mechanics that elevate the experience beyond simple quick-time events. The incorporation of motherhood as a gameplay element is particularly well-executed, contributing to more engaging scenarios. Overall, while some gameplay tweaks may be hit or miss, the heightened stakes and cinematic presentation keep players invested.

    • “The Walking Dead: The Final Season's first episode, 'Done Running,' shows that Telltale can still tell fantastic stories while adding in new gameplay elements.”
    • “Great performances by new and old characters, better camera work and depth of field make the game more cinematic, and brighter, more saturated colors and smoother animations bring scenes to life.”
    • “New mechanics finally make The Walking Dead feel like more than just quick time events.”
    • “While we could take or leave the gameplay tweaks, particularly in the combat department, it’s already clear that the stakes are going to be much higher in this concluding season than the series’ previous disappointing outing – and for now, that’s enough for us.”
  • graphics3 mentions

    The graphics in the game have been praised for their new art style, which adds an abstract flourish and enhances the overall visual experience. Reviewers highlight the superb character design and slick visuals, marking it as the best in any Telltale game to date. Additionally, the graphics effectively complement the unique storytelling elements and gameplay mechanics, contributing to a more immersive experience.

    • “Best graphics of any Telltale game, superb characterization, interesting twist on the moral choices formula, minimal action sequences.”
    • “Actions have real consequences, upgraded combat, slick new visuals.”
    • “The new art style adds an abstract flourish to the game.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been praised for delivering great performances from both new and returning characters, enhanced camera work, and improved depth of field that contribute to a more cinematic experience. Additionally, brighter, more saturated colors and smoother animations significantly enhance the visual appeal, while the gameplay scenarios feel more engaging and immersive.

    • “Great performances by new and old characters.”
    • “Better camera work and depth of field make the game more cinematic.”
    • “Brighter, more saturated colors and smoother animations bring scenes to life.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight the game's strong replayability due to its engaging references to season one, a well-rounded main cast, and a satisfying length that keeps the experience fresh without feeling prolonged.

    • “Great references and a return to season one highlights, with a well-rounded main cast of characters. The length and replay value satisfy without overstaying its welcome.”
    • “The game offers a variety of choices that lead to different outcomes, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “With multiple endings and side quests, I find myself coming back to explore every possible scenario.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

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