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.