6 Potential Projects That Telltale Could Tackle Next

Ever since The Walking Dead, Telltale Games has taken a series of existing IPs and adapted them into vastly interesting multi-episode experiences. From Batman to Back to the Future, they've consistently impressed. Through all of these adaptations, they’ve proven themselves to be both excellent storytellers and world-builders. With their next project being Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, it’s exciting to think about what may come after that. Considering the wide array of IPs that could match well with the Telltale format, it’s difficult to narrow it down. However, with this list, we believe that each of these would be an excellent next step in their studio’s future. In terms of how these picks were decided, it really came down to three simple criteria: Is the world interesting enough to explore thoroughly? Are there fresh and original stories available to tell? Can it work as a game that isn’t gameplay-focused? These 6 selections both meet those criteria and would fit that story-focused mould that Telltale Games has specialized in over the last couple years. Better yet, these adaptations could better enrich the lore of the IPs that are adapted and increase exposure for that particular series. It's easy to see why there'd be plenty of incentives with a Telltale adaptation of any IP, but we feel that these 6 would be a pretty good fit. 6) Metal Gear Solid Oh yes, this list starts with a franchise that is much loved AND narrative-heavy on its own. That being said, it’s hard to deny it’d be a little interesting being able to shape the personalities of both Big Boss and Solid Snake. These two characters are iconic on their own, but the opportunity to feel like you’re an essential part of developing their personalities would be an immediate draw for many potential players. Along with that, it would help remedy the issue MGS has had with the game’s overlong cutscenes. Typically, throughout the series, there are a healthy amount of cutscenes that range from a few minutes to the infamous 40 minute un-skippable ending for Metal Gear Solid 4. With the Telltale adaptation, players will get the opportunity to participate in these conversations and respond in-game to their liking. Making those cutscenes interactive will help make each one not feel like an information dump, which tended to be a longstanding issue with many of MGS’s cutscenes. Longtime fans may miss the stealth gameplay, but if TT can find a way to work with Kojima on telling new stories within that universe, it could easily be something special. 5) The Flash The Flash is one of those heroes that it’s a little surprising that he's yet to have his own video game. However, after some thought, you realize that making a completely open world game about the Fastest Man Alive would have plenty of challenges before it would be a release-worthy experience (just ask Bottlerocket Entertainment). That being said, if you make a story-based game where the always interesting characters in the Flash universe get a chance in the spotlight, it could work out quite well. The Rogues, Eobard Thawne, Gorilla Grodd could all be available to interact with in new and interesting storylines. The beauty of Telltale is that they could use the comic book aesthetic AND be accurate to the source material while creating something entirely new. With Flash, there’s plenty of potential for great visuals, awesome characters and villains, and full control of an everyman, lovable protagonist like Barry Allen. There are also plenty of stories to tell about the World’s Fastest Man - just take your pick. Besides, Telltale already has one adaptation of one Justice League member, so why not add another? 4) Westworld HBO’s latest hit show was a great success, with the first season resonating with both critics and audiences thanks to its complex story, interesting characters and multi-layered (in more ways than one) world(s). Many fans, then, would likely be eager to get more Westworld content as soon as possible, but seeing as how HBO has stated that the next season won't arrive until at least 2018, maybe Telltale could try and make that wait a little more bearable? TT has already taken on shows like Game of Thrones, where they’ve successfully displayed both complex storylines and multiple subplots in a clear and comprehensive way. Although Westworld has its own unique complexities, TT’s abilities to convey plot and characters shouldn’t be underestimated. Besides, Telltale excels in all areas that a Westworld adaptation would need to succeed, which means this could certainly prove to be a great dev-IP pairing that both HBO execs and the series' fans can appreciate. 3) Tales From The Borderlands Season 2 Tales from the Borderlands had no business being as good as it was, but due to the exceptional collaborative effort from the writers at both Gearbox and Telltale, it went beyond expectations. The way that these characters fit so perfectly into the Borderlands universe while still providing an engaging and hilarious story for both series fans and non-fans alike was definitely impressive. Each episode was endlessly personality-filled, perfectly toned and superbly voice acted. Even with all the great critical success though, TT has yet to confirm any additional seasons for the series and Gearbox hasn’t mentioned if it will affect Borderlands 3. Currently, the future is unclear, but if Telltale can work something out with Gearbox, a second season of Tales would be an excellent next step. Continuing Rhys and Fiona’s story would be a great choice as many people want to see where Season 1’s cliffhanger ending proceeds. Also, this was easily one of Telltale’s most successful new ventures, so there’s certainly a fanbase that would love to support new installments. Ultimately, though, it'll depend on whether or not Gearbox plans to utilize these characters in their main series. However, considering the way that the writers were able to place new characters into an already-established world effectively, establishing another group of personalities in this world seems totally possible. 2) The Wolf Among Us Season 2 Another Season 2 on this list, but this is one that's sorely needed (and isn’t exactly guaranteed to happen). The Wolf Among Us served as an adaptation of the Fables series of books where fairy tale characters get placed in the R-rated real world. The first season brought players into an incredibly unique setting with fresh, original characters behind every corner. Along with that was a greatly intriguing mystery that stretched across all five episodes, remaining engaging all the way to the credits. Telltale rarely confirms any additional seasons too far in advance (with Walking Dead being an exception), but with another outing of Game of Thrones confirmed, TWAU should be the next extended series. The IP receives very little representation outside of the Fables graphic novels and these games help preserve that great sense of variety in TT titles. That's not even mentioning the cliffhanger ending that Season 1 ended on. Out of Telltale’s already existing library, The Wolf Among Us is certainly the most deserving of a fresh set of episodes. They've got an excellent protagonist and a memorable cast of characters, all within a unique setting. That's without even mentioning just how much of this game's world remains unexplored. Come on TT, there’s got to be more mysteries in Fabletown for Sheriff Wolf to solve. 1) Watchmen If Telltale wants to try something new, then why not work with the most influential graphic novel of all-time? Considering that the only other adaptation of the 1987 book was Zack Snyder’s underrated film, it's time that it received another adaptation, right? Watchmen is one of those novels that's undoubtedly difficult to do proper justice, but the developer definitely has what it takes. Having an entire team of Telltale-caliber writers dedicated to making this a worthy adaptation sounds like a perfect setup. Plus, the world of the Watchmen is so rich and interesting. The alternative timeline 80's setting is unique and would stand out from previous TT settings, not to mention that the realistic depiction of the main heroes would provide a fresh twist on the typical comic book adaptation. Even though one of their members is a legitimate god among men, he too faces his own problems that are out of his control. The Comedian, arguably the worst actual human being in the group, also retains the most realistic perspective on the world. Then there's Rorschach, the man who always sees life in black and white, good vs. evil, no compromises allowed. The property has so many multi-layered characters to dig into when given multiple episodes that span several hours for each. This is also an IP that would be incredibly difficult to make a standard game out of. There are so many ways that developers could structure a game with these characters, many of them likely being incorrect or improper. Instead, if it’s given the Telltale Games format, much of the challenges are removed. Gameplay won't be as much of a concern as it would focus on Watchmen’s biggest strengths: characters and story. In addition, several Telltale games have already used multiple protagonists (Tales, Game of Thrones) and done so to great success. With the rumors of a Watchmen HBO show dying down, this is the far more feasible option. The IP has terrific stories (both old and new to tell) and the developer could have a massive hit on their hands if they do it properly. Simply put, Watchmen and Telltale could easily be a match made in heaven.