After shutting its doors in 2018, that era ofTelltale Gameshad come to a close and the time of large IP-based episodic games had seemingly ended. However, that did not last long sinceTelltale Gameswas quickly relaunched under LCG Entertainment. Now, the studio is hard at work on the long-awaitedThe Wolf Among Us 2and an episodic series based onThe Expansealongside theLife is Strangedeveloper. While these titles are a ways off, it seems like it could be a return to form for Telltale and usher in a new wave of IP-based episodic adventures.
Many projects that were in the works at Telltale Games were canceled when the studio closed down, if not beforehand. WhileThe Wolf Among Us 2was revived, there has been little news on whether the studio will be able to finish itsStranger Thingstitle. Perhaps one of the biggest blows was the cancellation of the second season ofGame of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series. The first season was received decently by fans and many wanted to see the adventures of House Forrester continue, but it seems there are currently no plans for a second season. With the release ofHouse of the Dragonon the horizon, now would be the perfect time for the studio to get the license back (as it no longer owns it) and return to Westeros.
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Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series Held Promise
Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Seriesreleased in 2014 and told a story alongsideGame of Thrones. It followed the northern house of House Forrester during the events of season three leading up to the end of season four. The house never made an appearance in the show, but was based on a brief mention in the fifthA Song of Ice and Firenovel,A Dance with Dragons. Players took control of five members of the house through six different chapters that forced players to make decisions that would affect the future of the house.
Alongside the members of House Forrester, many characters fromGame of Thronesmade an appearance voiced by their on-screen actors.Characters like Jon Snow, Cersei Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, and even Ramsay Snow/Bolton would show up throughout the series. These characters would serve as connections to the show and would be antagonistic or helpful to the members of House Forrester. With the addition of these characters, the game felt like watching another season of the show.
Overall, the game’s story had promise and the reception was decent enough to warrant an improved sequel. The choices that the player had to make could lead to drastic consequences and would leave the player stressing over if they made the correct choice. It was also considered very faithful to the source material and agood addition toGame of Throneslore.
Before the closure of Telltale Games, there was a second season planned. The second season went into development in 2015, shortly after the release of the final chapter of season one. However, due to behind-the-scenes issues, the season was put on hold in 2017. In 2018, the studio ended up closing down and there has been no indication that the second season will ever see the light of day, while the first season has since been delisted from digital platforms.
Telltale Games Needs to Make a Second Season
While Telltale Games is still on shaky ground and trying to deliverThe Wolf Among Us 2,a return to Westeros is a mustfor the studio at some point. The way that it tells stories is the perfect fit for Westeros and many fans are eagerly awaiting more adventures around House Forrester. Since its release,Game of Thronesaired its final season which proved very controversial and Westeros went on a brief hiatus. However, it is coming back in full force with the new prequel seriesHouse of the Dragon,which makes it a perfect time for the gaming industry to return to the universe too.
First, Telltale Games needs to deliver the projects that are currently in the pipeline and getGame of Thrones: A Telltale Games Seriesback on storefronts. After it accomplishes that, it should really consider returning to the fantasy land and delivering anotherhigh-stakesGame of Thronesstory. There is a severe lack of Westeros-based video games, and Telltale came the closest to capturing the feeling of the show. A second Westeros outing fromTelltale Gameswould surely repeat that success and give fantasy fans something to check out.
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