Back in 2003, the first comic book issue of The Walking Dead was released, and very few could've imagined its reach would spread across the globe like a zombie virus. Since then, the franchise has expanded into different media formats, with the AMC show running for 12 years before branching into multiple spinoffs. Additionally, we've also seen multiple The Walking Dead video games released with varying degrees of success.
This year, we had two The Walking Dead titles in the form of Aftermath, a free-to-play roguelite for mobile devices, and Streets of Survival, an arcade brawler released on all major platforms. However, fans have yet to play an AAA The Walking Dead video game that fully captures the magic of AMC's iconic show. Unfortunately, it's unlikely such a project will ever be released, but here are two very different ways in which it could work if a studio were up to the challenge.
An open-world AAA The Walking Dead game would be amazing
It never hurts to dream big. An open-world game set in the world of The Walking Dead, featuring multiple playable characters, could be one of the best additions to the franchise.
This hypothetical title could take inspiration from projects like 7 Days to Die for its survival component. A key plot point in many arcs of AMC's The Walking Dead has been finding (or even building) a community of survivors. With that in mind, the game should allow players to loot resources, craft tools, and build bases to survive hordes of zombies.
Ideally, the game would mix this survival component with a main narrative. It could be structured similarly to Fallout 4, where players can build settlements in specific areas of the map before going out into a world filled with side quests and main story missions.
While Days Gone was released to mixed reviews, it could serve as a blueprint for what the map and traversal of an open-world The Walking Dead game should be. Just as Deacon St. John rode his bike to traverse the wasteland, a similar scenario could be in store with Daryl Dixon. Moreover, the zombie horde system in Days Gone was one of the title's biggest strengths, so The Walking Dead game could benefit from having something similar.
In an ideal scenario, there would be multiple playable characters. Each one could play similarly to the others, with the key exception of their secondary weapon. While Daryl would use his ever-trusty crossbow, Michonne would slash her way through hordes of zombies with her katanas.
This hypothetical game would be a dream The Walking Dead project, but it would also be very expensive to make. It's unlikely any studio would take on the challenge without knowing an AAA TWD game could be a success first. As such, the open-world formula might be saved for a sequel, while the first entry in the video game franchise could aim for quality instead of quantity.
The Walking Dead game could also try to follow the level design of a Resident Evil game
Perhaps the more "realistic" option would be to release a The Walking Dead video game that tries to follow the formula perfected by the Resident Evil games. It shouldn't have an open world, crafting systems, or settlement builds. Instead, it would be a short, linear game that takes players through well-designed levels filled with zombies.
One of the advantages of following this path is that developers could pour more time into recreating iconic locations from AMC's show. The game could start with a brief tutorial on Hershel's farm before going into the West Georgia Correctional Facility, which could be similar to Raccoon City's Police Station in terms of level design.
In each level, we could unlock a different playable character. Once again, every character could have an exclusive set of weapons and tools, which could incentivize a little backtracking. Perhaps players won't get to open every single door in the West Georgia Correctional Facility the first time we venture through it. There could be certain types of locks that can only be shot with Rick's Magnum, and it isn't until we unlock the character halfway through the game that we can go back and explore the areas you missed.
This game wouldn't need to have RPG elements or a narrative that shifts depending on your choices. Just like a Resident Evil game, there could be just one impactful choice in the final mission of the campaign that changes the ending, but that should be it. Beyond that, we could re-experience the narrative of the first seasons of AMC's The Walking Dead, except in a whole new medium.
Unfortunately, the video game industry has been on shaky ground recently, and it's unlikely a developer would take a gamble on a big, proper AAA The Walking Dead game, even if the franchise is known and loved by thousands of fans. However, let's hope that one day this dream project sees the light of day.
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