Telltales the Walking Dead : Season 1

The unforgettable journey of Lee and Clementine

Telltale’s The Walking Dead is a game I became interested in after discovering one of the most famous YouTubers of all time: PewDiePie. Some of the first videos I ever watched from him were his playthroughs of this game. From the very beginning, I was hooked.

This game is a story-driven experience where your choices — whether in dialogue or action — directly affect how the narrative unfolds. Back when it was released, it was one of the most impactful and popular choice-based games of its time. Later on, we would see other hits like Until Dawn and Detroit: Become Human, but Telltale’s style stood out in a good way.

The game is divided into five episodes (essentially chapters), and we follow the journey of one of my personal favorite characters in video game history: Lee Everett. After watching PewDiePie’s playthrough, I finally decided to dive into the story myself and see just how different my version would be.

Instead of breaking down each episode one by one, I want to focus on the three most important aspects of this game — and why they work so well (or sometimes don’t).

The Characters: Lee, Clementine, and the People Around Them

The most important aspect of The Walking Dead is, of course, the characters. Lee Everett is our protagonist — a man we meet riding in the back of a police car, on his way to jail for killing someone (in what we later learn was a crime of passion and possibly self-defense).

Soon after the world begins to fall apart, Lee finds Clementine — a young girl left alone while her parents were away in Savannah, Georgia. Her babysitter is dead, and she’s stranded, scared, and vulnerable. Lee’s mission becomes clear: protect this little girl at all costs. And this bond between the two becomes the emotional heart of the entire game.

From the drugstore to the motel to the farmhouse, their relationship is tested, but Lee’s commitment to keeping her safe never wavers. Depending on how you play, Lee can also develop a strong bond with Kenny — a fisherman from Florida traveling with his wife and son. The way you shape Lee — whether as the group’s leader or as someone more reserved — is entirely up to you.

If played with care, there’s no doubt that Lee becomes one of the most compassionate and resilient characters in video game history. It’s no wonder he’s a fan favorite — and easily one of mine.

On a personal note, Kenny is also one of my favorite characters. I always tried to support him when I could, while still maintaining my own leadership role. Becoming Kenny’s best friend not only makes the experience more enjoyable — it also helps you out in the long run (wink, wink).

The Setting: Georgia in Ruins

As mentioned, the group moves through several key locations: a drugstore, a motel, a farmhouse, and eventually, a train that leads them to Savannah. The journey takes place in the heart of Georgia — and the game does a great job of constantly introducing new threats and environments along the way.

What I appreciate most is how well the game balances the danger of the walkers with the threat of other people. It doesn’t overdo either side — instead, it blends both elements in a believable, tense atmosphere.

By the time you reach Savannah, things feel even more dire. The city is overrun and falling apart. You’ll find yourself navigating through underground sewers, sneaking across rooftops, and making tough calls in dangerous places.

People might assume that in an apocalypse, the setting doesn’t matter because everything is destroyed. But here, it does. Staying true to The Walking Dead comic’s roots, keeping the story grounded in Georgia adds authenticity and weight to the narrative.

The Dialogue: Where the Game Truly Shines

Since this is a choice-based game, the dialogue had to be top-tier — and it absolutely is. I LOVE the writing in this game. There's a lot of intense shouting, emotional conversations, and heated debates that capture the chaos of living through the end of the world.

Lee and Clementine’s dynamic brings so much heart to the story, while Kenny adds humor, grit, and passion depending on the situation. Even supporting characters like Lilly, Carly, Larry, Ben, Vernon, and others bring depth and realism to the story. Every interaction matters, and what you say can (and will) come back later — for better or worse.

One of the coolest features of the game is how, at the end of each episode, it shows you the five biggest choices you made and how your decisions compared to everyone else who played. It’s a great way to reflect on your playthrough and see how others approached the same problems.

Final Thoughts: A Classic That Still Deserves Your Time

Telltale’s The Walking Dead is one of those games I’ll always come back to — partly for nostalgia, but mostly because it’s just that good. Later seasons of the series didn’t always hit the same emotional highs as Season 1 (we’ll get into that in a future blog), but that doesn’t take away from how incredible the first season is.

Yes, the gameplay is simple and leans heavily on story and dialogue, so if you're looking for high-action mechanics, this might not be your thing. But if you're in it for story, emotion, and unforgettable characters, you’re in for a masterpiece.

Final Verdict: 9/10