The Expanse: A Telltale Series - Deluxe Edition

A solid addition to the Telltale roster that accurately captures its source material while falling prey to the faults of the studio's other licensed games.

Telltale's latest story-driven adventure may be its best yet thanks to creative environmental storytelling and a strong narrative that pulls no punches.

What remains to be seen is how the game’s meaningful choices will affect the story in later episodes. The plot of Episode 1: “Archer’s Paradox” doesn’t stray far from typical Expanse fare, but a revelation in a later episode seems poised to explore more of the show’s deeper themes of exploitation, injustice, and inequality.

So far, The Expanse: A Telltale Series makes for a compelling prequel to the show, but it remains to be seen if it'll manage to stick the landing once all its episodes are out.

Unfortunately The Expanse: A Telltale Series probably won’t stick with me like The Wolf Among Us or even The Walking Dead did. But there is still some fun to be had, and it’s proof there is the potential to add a little more gameplay to Telltale titles. I even think another proper Expanse entry that has a bit more meaningful of a story to tell could be perfect for the Telltale formula. If that happens, I hope the narrative doesn’t play it too safe next time.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series retains what made the earlier games such a success, for better or worse, and smuggles in upgraded visuals and a tight, well-told story. It's still classic Telltale at its core, but if you weren't a fan of those earlier games, this bold new direction isn't likely to make you a believer.

An entertaining finish that decisively delivers the consequences of your many decisions.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a return to form, though that form is almost out of style. Each of the five episodes takes an average of about two hours to complete if you’re hunting for all of the collectibles, so the amount of content is on the shorter end. But if you’re looking for solid writing and characters that fit well within The Expanse universe, this adventure is another chance to revisit the series and see Camina Drummer be a badass all over again. However, the dated mechanics and the game’s choice to be a prequel impair the effort.

Even as someone with no exposure to the show this is based on, the storytelling and characters are quickly compelling and interesting

The game is a great addition for fans of this universe, who will glimpse what might have happened before the first series. Newcomers will find specific dialogue and things strange and make no sense to them, and unfortunately, they won't get any explanation.