Jurassic Park seems like a sure setting for an adventure game, throw a group of characters in a park overrun by dinosaurs and let the tensions flare. The game did hit before Telltale’s game structure really got nailed down by The Walking Dead however. Reception for it was lukewarm, with a cast of characters that weren’t particularly memorable and incredibly simplistic gameplay and is one of the best telltale games..
Best Telltale Games
Telltale took at stab at the classic animated series from Aardman Animations, Wallace and Gromit. In traditional Telltale style, the game was split into four different episodes that saw you controlling both Wallace and Gromit. The developer worked in collaboration with Aardman to help craft a story and characters that would feel authentic to the series. With some slick animation and fun puzzles, the game succeeded fairly well.
Best Telltale Games
Back to the Future is similar to Jurassic Park as a Telltale adaption of a movie, but things turn out a bit better this time around. The game takes place six months after Back to the Future Part III, as Doc is still gone in an unknown time and the bank has foreclosed on his house. Plenty of thing we’ve come to expect from Telltale games are present like conversation trees, and explorable environments. Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox allowed the company to use their likenesses, while Lloyd even returns to voice Doc. Back to the Future gives us a chance to interact with the series’ characters again, and tells a pretty good story to boot.
Best Telltale Games
The Devil’s Playhouse is arguably the best Sam & Max game, once again pushing the heroes through a series of five episodes. The duo’s wit was back and funnier than ever, and the game introduced some great gameplay changes as well. You now had the ability to directly control both Sam and Max, instead of only pointing them where to go, and you could switch between the two at will. Psychic powers and eldritch gods are just two aspects to this crazy story and is one of the best telltale games..
Best Telltale Games
Minecraft: Story Mode was definitely a surprise, and we weren’t really sure how the game would function. What we got thought was a fun, adventurous romp featuring a great voice cast and tons of Minecraft references. For the first time players can customize the main character Jesse, played by Patton Oswalt. Jesse sets out on an adventure with his friends to discover the mysterious Order of the Stone, and eventually ends up embroiled in a quest to save the very world and is one of the best telltale games..
Best Telltale Games
Gearbox’s cartoony sci-fi shooter series seemed like an odd fit for the Telltale style of game, but Tales from the Borderlands works incredibly well. Telltale managed to nail the absurd humor that Borderlands is known for, including an incredibly memorable moment featuring a finger gun battle. The five-episode series focuses on two different characters named Rhys and Fiona. The two interact on multiple occasions and their story weave together, revealing a larger tale with surprising twists, great character interactions, and the return of some prominent Borderlands characters and is one of the best telltale games..
Best Telltale Games
The Walking Dead was the Telltale game that blew all of us away, and we were all definitely excited to see Clementine’s story continue. Season 2 used the same gameplay style as the previous season, this time putting you in the shoes of Clementine as she struggles to survive in the world. It had plenty of emotional and intense twists, and considering most people already cared about Clementine, the stakes were high going in. Although Season 2 didn’t quite reach the heights of the first, it was still a worthy followup and is one of the best telltale games.
Best Telltale Games
Long before Tales from the Borderlands, Telltale put their stamp on another video game series. Tales of Monkey Island is a five-episode series focusing on Guybrush Threepwood and his crew, who accidentally release a voodoo pox across the Gulf of Melange. Puzzles were mostly challenging across the series, with a few exceptions, and it retained much of the wit and charm the Monkey Island series is known for and is one of the best telltale games.
Best Telltale Games
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16. Jurassic Park: The Game
Jurassic Park seems like a sure setting for an adventure game, throw a group of characters in a park overrun by dinosaurs and let the tensions flare. The game did hit before Telltale's game structure really got nailed down by The Walking Dead however. Reception for it was lukewarm, with a cast of characters that weren't particularly memorable and incredibly simplistic gameplay.
15. Sam & Max Save the World
This title was the first Sam & Max game developed by Telltale, and follows the titular duo based on Steve Purcell's comic book series. In Sam & Max Save the World the pair has to solve several cases which are a part of a bigger hypnotism conspiracy over the course of five episodes. While Telltale did a great job writing the comedic pair and keeping the hilarity there, the gameplay was very simplistic and the overall story lacked impact.
14. Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space
Telltale seemed to keep improving with each Sam & Max game, with their humor and gameplay hitting more evenly in Beyond Time and Space. The duo returns once again with an updated engine, hint system and more dynamic NPCs. This time around Sam and Max have to deal with everything from an exploding volcano, to a zombie apocalypse, and recovering a lost soul.
13. The Walking Dead: Michonne
Michonne splinters off from Telltale's video game series, instead following the character of the same name after she leaves Rick Grime's party. It's mostly a separate story from Seasons 1 and 2 of Telltale's games, but there are some neat little tie-ins. This time around there were only 3 episodes, and while Michonne herself was an interesting character the series lacked some of the other character depth and emotional storytelling we've seen from Telltale's other outings.
12. Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures
Telltale took a stab at the classic animated series from Aardman Animations, Wallace and Gromit. In traditional Telltale style, the game was split into four different episodes that saw you controlling both Wallace and Gromit. The developer worked in collaboration with Aardman to help craft a story and characters that would feel authentic to the series. With some slick animation and fun puzzles, the game succeeded fairly well.
11. Poker Night at the Inventory Games
There isn't a ton of content to the Poker Night at the Inventory games, but waht is there is incredibly fun. The two games are just as they sound and are basically simulators for playing poker. The fun catch however, is that you're playing the game with some well known game characters like Max, Strongbad, the Heavy from Team Fortress 2, Ash from Evil Dead, and Tycho of Penny Arcade. It's your standard game of poker, but the personalities and quirks of each of the characters keep things fun and interesting.
10. Back to the Future: The Game
Back to the Future is similar to Jurassic Park as a Telltale adaption of a movie, but things turn out a bit better this time around. The game takes place six months after Back to the Future Part III, as Doc is still gone in an unknown time and the bank has foreclosed on his house. Plenty of things we've come to expect from Telltale games are present like conversation trees, and explorable environments. Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox allowed the company to use their likenesses, while Lloyd even returns to voice Doc. Back to the Future gives us a chance to interact with the series' characters again, and tells a pretty good story to boot.
9. Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People
For anyone that doesn't know, Strong Bad is actually a character from the comedic series of web cartoons called Homestar Runner. The Telltale game uses Strong Bad as the main character, and players have to navigate his world and life in each episode by talking to other characters and using items. The five-episode series is pretty good with its comedy, however, if you haven't seen Homestar Runner before, you might feel a little lost. Nevertheless, it was a good fit for Telltale's style.
8. Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse
The Devil's Playhouse is arguably the best Sam & Max game, once again pushing the heroes through a series of five episodes. The duo's wit was back and funnier than ever, and the game introduced some great gameplay changes as well. You now had the ability to directly control both Sam and Max, instead of only pointing them where to go, and you could switch between the two at will. Psychic powers and eldritch gods are just two aspects to this crazy story.
7. Tales of Monkey Island
Long before Tales from the Borderlands, Telltale put their stamp on another video game series. Tales of Monkey Island is a five-episode series focusing on Guybrush Threepwood and his crew, who accidentally release a voodoo pox across the Gulf of Melange. Puzzles were mostly challenging across the series, with a few exceptions, and it retained much of the wit and charm the Monkey Island series is known for.
6.Minecraft: Story Mode
Minecraft: Story Mode was definitely a surprise, and we weren't really sure how the game would function. What we got thought was a fun, adventurous romp featuring a great voice cast and tons of Minecraft references. For the first time players can customize the main character Jesse, played by Patton Oswalt. Jesse sets out on an adventure with his friends to discover the mysterious Order of the Stone, and eventually ends up embroiled in a quest to save the very world.
5. Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones seemed like a sure fit for Telltale's style, with all its political intrigue and fascinating characters, and for the most part it was. Game of Thrones told the story of House Forrester, a smaller house loyal to the Starks. You take the role of multiple different siblings from the house who at various points even end up interacting with characters from the books and show. Outside of some strange animation for the show characters, Game of Thrones is an action-packed ride with plenty of political drama.
4. The Walking Dead: Season 2
The Walking Dead was the Telltale game that blew all of us away, and we were all definitely excited to see Clementine's story continue. Season 2 used the same gameplay style as the previous season, this time putting you in the shoes of Clementine as she struggles to survive in the world. It had plenty of emotional and intense twists, and considering most people already cared about Clementine, the stakes were high going in. Although Season 2 didn't quite reach the heights of the first, it was still a worthy followup.
3. The Wolf Among Us
The Wolf Among Us continues Telltale's successful formula established with The Walking Dead, this time putting things in the gritty comic book world of Fables. You play as Bigby Wolf the sheriff of Fable Town, and the one and only big bad wolf from fairy tales. The game did a great job casting the morally ambiguous world of Fables in the game, and Bigby himself was a well fleshed out character. A strong supporting cast, branching storyline, and intense action sequences only made things even better.
2. Tales from the Borderlands
Gearbox's cartoony sci-fi shooter series seemed like an odd fit for the Telltale style of game, but Tales from the Borderlands works incredibly well. Telltale managed to nail the absurd humor that Borderlands is known for, including an incredibly memorable moment featuring a finger gun battle. The five-episode series focuses on two different characters named Rhys and Fiona. The two interact on multiple occasions and their story weave together, revealing a larger tale with surprising twists, great character interactions, and the return of some prominent Borderlands characters.
1. The Walking Dead: Season 1
The Walking Dead released in 2012, to tons of critical praise and even a few Game of the Year awards. It told the story of original characters Lee Everett and a young girl named Clementine, within the comic world of The Walking Dead. The game helped cement the structure and gameplay style that Telltale would use up until now, and showed the company telling one of the best stories they possible could. The Walking Dead told an emotional tale about the relationship between Lee and Clementine, along with a great ensemble cast, that reaches some tragic and impactful conclusions.
About the author
Hayes Madsen
A connoisseur of all things RPG related, and always looking for the artistic expression in gaming. His love of Gundam is only matched by his love of Pizza. Playing Games Since: 1991 Favorite Genres: RPGs, JRPGs, Strategy,