If you thought surviving the zombie apocalypse was tough in The Walking Dead, try keeping up with all its spinoffs. Over the years, the franchise has expanded into multiple series, each exploring different corners of this post-apocalyptic world.
Some of the spinoffs feature familiar faces, while others introduce entirely new characters and communities struggling to survive amid the chaos. With so many shows spinning out from the original, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start and which ones are actually worth your time. Some spinoffs have become fan favorites, while others… well, let’s just say they didn’t exactly deliver the same punch.
In this article, we’ve shared the four Walking Dead spinoffs you absolutely need to watch. We’ve also shared two spinoffs that, while part of the franchise, don’t quite live up to the hype and can safely be skipped.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
- Verdict: Watch
- Where to watch: AMC+
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is hands down the best Walking Dead spinoff, and honestly, it’s not even close. As viewers, we had to watch the most beloved couple in The Walking Dead be split up in the original series. Rick was taken away by Jardis, and Michonne was left to believe he was dead.
However, Michonne eventually finds some of Rick's things, which gives her hope that he might still be alive. This sets her off on a perilous journey as she tirelessly searches for answers and a way to reunite with the man she loves in The Ones Who Live. Meanwhile, Rick is just as desperate to find Michonne while stuck within the Civic Republic Military, a powerful and secretive organization that holds him prisoner.
Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira return in their respective roles as Rick and Michonne. Also in the cast are Pollyanna McIntosh, Terry O'Quinn, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Breeda Wool, and many others.
Fear the Walking Dead
- Verdict: Watch
- Where to watch: AMC+, Netflix
Fear the Walking Dead has always stood out as one of the most compelling Walking Dead spinoffs, and I genuinely think it deserves more credit than it often gets. What makes this series so special isn’t just the fact that it exists in the same universe as the original show, but the way it approaches the apocalypse from a completely different perspective. While the original series threw us into a world already in chaos, Fear shows us the collapse of society from the very beginning.
The show starts off following the lives of a fractured family as they navigate a Los Angeles on the brink of disaster. Then, it catches up to the timeline of the original series in its fourth season, introducing familiar faces like Morgan Jones, who joins the surviving members in their fight to stay alive amid escalating dangers.
Lennie James reprises his role as Morgan. The cast also includes Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Mercedes Mason, Colman Domingo, and others.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond
- Verdict: Skip
- Where to watch: AMC+
The Walking Dead: World Beyond has got to be the worst spinoff series in the franchise. It felt like a misstep in the otherwise rich Walking Dead universe, and I genuinely struggled to connect with it. One of the biggest issues is that the series tried to do too much with too little. Instead of focusing on the grounded, character-driven storytelling that made the original series and even other spinoffs compelling, World Beyond felt overly ambitious but shallow in its execution.
Another issue I had with this series is its focus on a cast of teenage and young adult characters who rarely feel real or relatable. Unlike Rick, Daryl, Michonne, or even Morgan in Fear the Walking Dead, the characters in this series often come across as flat and overly scripted. It made it hard for me to care about their fates. And don't get me started on the slow pacing and weak writing. Overall, skip this spinoff if you don't want to be disappointed. World Beyond isn’t worth your time if you’re looking for the quality or excitement of the main Walking Dead series.
Set 10 years after the zombie outbreak, World Beyond follows a group of teenagers as they leave the safety of their sheltered community and embark on a perilous journey across a dangerous, zombie-filled world, uncovering secrets and facing challenges that test their courage and loyalty. The cast is made up of Aliyah Royale, Alexa Mansour, Hal Cumpston, Nicolas Cantu, Nico Tortorella, and others.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
- Verdict: Watch
- Where to watch: AMC+, Netflix (seasons 1-2)
Personally, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon stands out as one of the most thrilling and expertly crafted spinoffs in the entire franchise. Right from the opening episode, it immediately captured my interest by putting one of the most beloved characters in the Walking Dead universe front and center. Daryl Dixon has always been the rugged yet fiercely loyal backbone of the original series, and seeing him take the lead in his own story has been exciting to watch.
The series begins with Daryl stranded in France, far from everything he’s known, forcing him to rely on his instincts and resourcefulness like never before as he tries to find a way back home. In the second season, the story still takes place in France, but Daryl finally reunites with Carol. Throughout season 2 and the recently wrapped up season 3, the iconic duo work tirelessly together to find a way back to America.
Norman Reedus returns as Daryl and Melissa McBride as Carol. A fourth season is also in the works and will be released sometime in 2026.
Tales of the Walking Dead
- Verdict: Skip
- Where to watch: AMC+
For me, Tales of the Walking Dead is one of the weaker entries in the zombie franchise, and honestly, I struggled to stay invested in it. The concept initially sounded promising. You have an anthology series exploring standalone stories set in the Walking Dead universe. But in practice, it often falls flat. The biggest issue for me is that the anthology format prevented any meaningful character development.
Unlike the original series, Fear the Walking Dead, or even Daryl Dixon, there’s no consistent cast to root for. Each episode introduces a new set of characters, most of whom I never felt connected to. I found myself constantly starting over emotionally with each installment, which made it hard to care about the stakes or the outcomes.
This spinoff also had issues with pacing and tone. Some episodes felt rushed, cramming in action and drama without giving the story or characters time to breathe, while others dragged on with filler moments that went nowhere. I would strongly recommend skipping right on over Tales of the Walking Dead, as it struggles to create the same emotional investment and tension that made the original series and other spinoffs so engaging.
The Walking Dead: Dead City
- Verdict: Watch
- Where to watch: AMC+, Netflix (season 1)
The Walking Dead: Dead City is one of the most exciting and engaging spinoffs in the franchise, and it has quickly become a personal favorite. Besides the series centering on Negan and Maggie, what also drew me in was the bold choice to set the series in New York City. We're used to seeing the zombie apocalypse unfold in rural or suburban landscapes, so placing the story in the dense, chaotic streets of Manhattan instantly made everything feel fresh and unpredictable.
The Negan and Maggie pairing was also interesting, seeing as though their history is filled with tension, betrayal, and loss. Watching them navigate a post-apocalyptic world together, forced to rely on each other despite their complicated past, has been fascinating. The spinoff follows the duo's journey through the city, dealing with both the undead and dangerous human threats while trying to locate Maggie’s missing son, Hershel.
Lauren Cohan reprises her role as Maggie, while Jeffrey Dean Morgan portrays Negan. There are two seasons out so far. A Dead City season 3 is currently in the works.