Finding the exact the walking dead game release date is kinda like trying to track a walker through a Georgia swamp. It’s messy. Most people think there's just "the game," but we're actually looking at a decade-long sprawl of episodic heartbreaks, VR survival sims, and some truly weird mobile experiments.
If you're looking for the big one—the Telltale series—it all started on April 24, 2012. That was the day A New Day dropped and basically changed how we talk about choice in games. But the story didn't end there. Not even close.
The Telltale Era: A Timeline of Tears
The Telltale games weren't released all at once. They were episodic. This meant back in 2012, you'd play for two hours and then wait months to find out if your favorite character survived. It was brutal.
Honestly, the release schedule was all over the place. Season One wrapped up in November 2012, but then we had the 400 Days DLC in July 2013 to bridge the gap. Season Two followed quickly, kicking off in December 2013 and running through August 2014. Then things got quiet. We didn't get A New Frontier (Season 3) until December 20, 2016.
The biggest drama, though? The Final Season. It started on August 14, 2018. Halfway through, the studio literally collapsed. Skybound Games had to swoop in like a hero in a Western to finish the last two episodes, finally releasing the series finale on March 26, 2019.
Every major Telltale release date
- Season 1: April 24, 2012
- 400 Days (DLC): July 2, 2013
- Season 2: December 17, 2013
- Michonne (Mini-Series): February 23, 2016
- A New Frontier: December 20, 2016
- The Final Season: August 14, 2018
- The Telltale Definitive Series: September 10, 2019
What about the new games?
People are still searching for a new the walking dead game release date in 2026 because the franchise refuses to die. Just like the walkers.
Right now, the buzz is all about crossovers. We just saw a massive collaboration between The Walking Dead and World War Z that hit platforms in January 2026. It’s not a standalone narrative game like the Telltale ones, but it’s the most significant piece of interactive TWD content we’ve had in a minute.
If you’re a VR fan, you’re likely thinking of Saints & Sinners. The first chapter dropped January 23, 2020. The sequel, Retribution, had a staggered release starting December 1, 2022, on Meta Quest 2, before moving to PSVR2 and PC in early 2023.
The Destinies Disaster and Future Rumors
We have to talk about The Walking Dead: Destinies. It released on November 17, 2023, for consoles and December 1, 2023, for PC.
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The idea was cool: what if Shane killed Rick? What if the story changed? But man, the execution was... rough. It’s widely considered one of the most disappointing releases in the franchise's history. Since then, developers have been a lot more tight-lipped about future projects.
There are persistent rumors about a "Season 5" or a Clementine spin-off. Skybound Games actually shut these down a few years back, but the fans don't give up. With the Daryl Dixon and Dead City shows doing so well on AMC, it’s almost certain we’ll see a new game announcement eventually. Expect any major new title to be teased at a Summer Game Fest or The Game Awards before we get a concrete date.
How to play them all today
If you’re just getting into it, don’t buy them individually. It’s a waste of money. Grab The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series. It released on September 10, 2019, and includes all four seasons, 400 Days, and the Michonne mini-series. It also has the "Graphic Black" art style which makes the older seasons look way more like the comics.
For the best experience, follow this path:
- Play the Telltale Definitive Series first. It's the emotional core of the whole thing.
- Get a VR headset for Saints & Sinners. It’s legitimately one of the best VR games ever made, even if you don't care about the show.
- Check out the World War Z crossover if you want pure action.
Stop waiting for a "new" release date to start your journey. The best stories in this universe are already out there and playable right now. Just make sure you have some tissues ready for Season One's ending. You'll need them.