AMC has confirmed that The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3 will premiere on July 26, 2026, which isn’t that far away. If you have followed Maggie and Negan to Manhattan, then you have probably already watched AMC’s entire franchise, perhaps even multiple times, and maybe even finished Robert Kirkman’s comic book. Consequently, you might be looking for something new to pass the time, and The Walking Dead video games might just be perfect.
The franchise, simultaneously, has too many and too few games, depending on whether the mobile and online-only releases are taken into account. For this article, we will only be covering the console or standard PC releases, which amount to a fairly manageable number. If you are looking to get started with this part of The Walking Dead, here are all the games you can play.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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The AMC TV Universe Tie-Ins Games (Perfect For Dead City Fans)
The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct
- Prequel to The Walking Dead TV show
- You get to play as Daryl
- It isn’t very good
- Digital versions were delisted about a decade ago, so your best bet is to pick up a PS3 or Xbox 360 physical copy. Fortunately, they aren’t very expensive.
The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct should be the easiest game to recommend to any fans of the original TV series, just for the fact that the prequel features one of the most popular characters, Daryl, as its playable protagonist. Norman Reedus even voices Daryl, and Michael Rooker returns as his brother, Merle. While that is arguably enough to justify giving this a try, I would recommend keeping expectations relatively low, as this is probably the most disappointing game in the franchise. Honestly, the only reason I didn’t describe it as the “worst Walking Dead game” is just because I haven’t played all the mobile releases.
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Set in Georgia right after the outbreak, Survival Instinct lives up to its name by being a relatively brutal survival sim. Resource management, vehicle upgrades, and NPC management are all central mechanics that add a level of immersion. Unfortunately, the gameplay, graphics, and AI are all fairly underwhelming, and the game is often frustrating rather than fun.
The Walking Dead: Destinies
- Based on the first four seasons of the TV show
- Make decisions to alter moments
- Readily available on modern systems like the PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC (via Steam)
- It isn’t very good
Out of every game in this article, The Walking Dead: Destinies has the coolest concept. The game not only lets fans play through famous moments from the show’s first few seasons, but it also lets them make pivotal decisions that can create “what if” scenarios. Sadly, Destines doesn’t really manage to make much out of that concept, and it is mostly a mission-based action-stealth game where players embody characters like Rick and Michonne, all of whom control largely the same. Like Survival Instinct, Destines incorporates some immersive elements in the form of resource management and camp leadership, where you have to try to keep the group’s morale high.
The Walking Dead: Destines very much feels and looks like a budget release that didn’t have the resources to fully actualize its interesting core idea (or iron out the bugs). Still, it can be kind of charming in an entertainingly bad sort of way, and die-hard fans will probably get a kick out of seeing how the alternative routes play out.
World War Z x The Walking Dead (DLC)
- Requires World War Z as the base game
- Just came out in 2026
- Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and Negan are playable
- Three episodes
- Decent
This crossover’s existence makes complete sense, although its 2026 debut was a bit surprising considering World War Z was released in 2019 and the original The Walking Dead series ended in 2022. Still, this DLC is the best Walking Dead “game” related to the AMC universe, and it is arguably the only one that I would 100% recommend playing to somebody who already owns WWZ.
The campaign features three episodes, aka maps, and tells a brand-new story that mostly feels like a celebration of The Walking Dead on the whole. Fans can play as Michonne, Rick, Daryl, or Negan, and the last one is particularly fitting considering Dead City is alive and cooking. Gameplay-wise, the DLC is mostly just WWZ, albeit with slower zombies that fit the TV show’s universe. Therefore, it is just great co-op zombie fun.
The Walking Dead: Onslaught
- Virtual Reality only
- Playable on PSVR besides PC
- Set between seasons 8 and 9
- Play as Rick, Daryl, Michonne, or Carol
While World War Z x The Walking Dead is the most fun release, The Walking Dead: Onslaught is the best AMC-related game, which isn’t saying a lot considering the competition. Still, this VR game is an enjoyable trip if you are mostly craving fast-paced action that doesn’t have much substance.
Onslaught has a pretty cool dismemberment system that can make combat really satisfying at times, even if the physics don’t always feel great. The original story isn’t anything to write home about, and mostly works as fanservice, but it is still neat to join the cast at this point in the show’s run. Compared to most other Walking Dead games, Onslaught isn’t particularly stressful or frustrating, and it has a blockbuster feel to it. Good option if you want to just have a bit of fun.
The Immersion Gold Standard
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 1 & Chapter 2: Retribution
- Virtual Reality only
- Supports most standard headsets, including Meta Quest 3s
- Essential for any survival zombie fans who have the hardware to play them
If we are talking strictly about which Walking Dead game(s) have the strongest overall gameplay, Saints & Sinners would definitely take the top spot, as they are two of the best survival horror VR games (which is no easy feat). The story across both chapters centers around the same survivor called The Tourist, who gets caught up in a war between two factions in New Orleans. The second chapter even throws a serial killer into the mix.
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There is nothing wrong with the story, but Saints & Sinners is primarily about its gameplay systems. Set in open-zone areas, players are free to explore to their heart’s content, even if the areas are relatively small. The first-person combat is incredibly satisfying and tactile, requiring players to act appropriately for each weapon. Crafting is a major part of the equation as well, and Chapter 2 really ramps up the options (and is more action-heavy in general).
The Walking Dead Video Game Masterpiece
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series
- Consists of four seasons, the Michonne spin-off, and the 400 Days special episode
- Set in Robert Kirkman’s comic universe, not AMC’s
- Playable on most modern systems either natively or via backward compatibility
- The best Walking Dead game by a country mile
Dead City fans, you probably will want to focus on the games that are part of the TV show’s continuity, or at least exist within that universe. However, if you decide to only play “one” game, The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series needs to be it. Yes, technically, this is really about 5 games stitched together, but think of it like a new The Walking Dead show set in an alternate timeline featuring some of your favorite characters, albeit tweaked.
Even though the quality fluctuates on occasion, when taken on the whole, The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series is a masterclass in character development, player choice, and world-building. As with most Telltale games, the gameplay is relatively minimalistic, offering some light exploration, QTEs, and dialogue trees. That might not sound like a lot, but the episodes do a fantastic job of making your choices feel important. Although they aren’t always as impactful as they might seem, they lead to genuine branching paths that can alter the story significantly.
Quirky Walking Dead Spin-off Games
Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead
- Specifically inspired by AMC’s The Walking Dead
- Available on most modern systems
- Not DLC, so standalone release
Bridge Constructor is a somewhat weird fit for a zombie apocalypse, but this crossover works well enough for what it is. Characters like Daryl and Eugene show up, and they get to build traps that can crush zombies and protect survivors.
The Escapists: The Walking Dead
- Set in the comic’s universe
- Rick is playable
The Escapists is a fairly popular indie series, and this spin-off takes a stab at replicating the story of The Walking Dead. It is a solid enough time for what it is trying to be, which is a pixel-art survival game with strategic prison-break style mechanics.
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