In the era of DOS-based PC gaming, titles such as Commander Keen occasionally adopted an episode structure to fit the limitations of smaller, partitioned games that were required due to limited storage space on floppy disks.
In the mid-2000s, it became increasingly frequent for episodic gaming to emerge, notably with the arrival of game development companies such as Telltale Games. Even games designed as one whole encounter began adopting the episodic structure.
In episodic games, there are two significant benefits: Firstly, the game can be developed over a more extended period in stages, rather than all at once. This approach facilitates a smoother production process. Secondly, this structure enables players to enjoy the game in smaller, manageable chunks, making it easier for them to follow the story and engage with the content without feeling overwhelmed.
For completed games and those still ongoing, an effective storytelling tactic is to maintain user interest by presenting new episodes or chapters on a weekly basis, similar to television shows. Since this format gained popularity, both large and small games have adopted it, with some doing so as a stylistic choice and others to keep players hooked in the thrill of anticipation.
Out of all the games to go episodic I’ve tried, these are the standouts.
10.
Alan Wake
Meta Commentary Baked In
Alan Wake, as a video game, is designed to offer an insightful commentary and breakdown of serialized horror-mystery storytelling, much like binge-watching consecutive episodes of The Twilight Zone or Twin Peaks. In fact, it subtly references The Twilight Zone through the in-game television series called Night Springs.
In the process of weaving together the narrative, Alan Wake’s story is divided into six separate installments. Each episode continues from where the last one ended and even includes a brief recap at the beginning titled “Previously On” which adds an enjoyable touch. It was advantageous to pause between episodes, although it wasn’t strictly necessary if you were playing the game sequentially without breaks.
Despite being a standalone, full game, Alan Wake’s narrative style seemed to align perfectly with its overarching themes. It gave off an impression that the game itself was conscious of its episodic structure, deliberately organizing events in a manner reminiscent of weekly episodes on a television show.
9.
Asura’s Wrath
Like Watching A Shonen Anime
If you’ve spent your childhood years engrossed in Shonen anime like Dragon Ball Z, characterized by extended battle scenes spanning several episodes, then you’d likely be an ideal viewer for Asura’s Wrath with its 22 episodes packed with furious fisticuffs.
In simpler terms, Asura’s Wrath was designed as an interactive animated series. Each episode offers a brief introduction to the plot, followed by gameplay that feels like watching a movie. The gameplay, filled with action-packed sequences and quick-time events, leans more towards a viewing experience rather than traditional gaming.
Despite its unique structure, Asura’s Wrath is an enjoyable experience to delve into. The episodes effectively organize the action, ensuring that you’re always prepared for another thrilling action sequence. In fact, it was engaging enough to motivate additional downloadable content just to uncover the true ending in episodes 19-22.
8.
Deltarune
We’ll Wait As Long As It Takes
Picture this scene: On an ordinary autumn day in October 2018, all of a sudden, there’s a commotion on the internet about Undertale. “This is new to me,” I pondered, “what might be going on?
After visiting Toby Fox’s official site, I stumbled upon a non-labeled hyperlink leading to a cryptic file download. I initially thought it might be just a harmless joke, but to my surprise, it turned out to be the debut episode of an entirely fresh game titled Deltarune.
It’s not enough to simply state that Deltarune came out of nowhere; this would be an underestimation. In truth, its development began about three years prior to the release of Undertale.
In spite of the shadowdrop, it rapidly gained popularity online and the enthusiasm persisted for three years until episode two released. It retained the classic elements of Undertale that we’ve grown fond of, while presenting a unique flavor in its narrative and characters.
Currently, only the first two episodes have been released for viewing, but episodes three and four are set to follow shortly. Episodes five through seven will be released at a later time. Regardless of the timing, Toby Fox continues to captivate the internet with his work.
7.
Faith: The Unholy Trinity
More Mortis, More Problems
In some cases, independent (indie) games labeled as episodic might actually not have been originally planned that way; instead, they evolved into an episodic format over time.
For example, it’s unclear whether Faith was designed as a standalone, three-part series or three distinct games, but ultimately, it seems irrelevant when considering the overall consistency of the narrative.
Initially, Faith was discreetly introduced on itch.io back in 2017, where it gradually gained positive attention through casual conversations. Two years later, it coalesced into what is now known as The Unholy Trinity, with the complete version making its debut in 2022.
Besides making everyone curious about where the mischievous tale would eventually lead, the complete unveiling prompted people to replay the entire experience all over again.
By watching all three installments consecutively, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the storyline, especially if you put in the effort to defeat the hidden bosses in each part. Some series truly shine when all episodes are accessible, and I think Faith serves as a solid example of this.
6.
The Walking Dead
Growing Up Undead
Before 2010, Telltale Games primarily developed classic point-and-click adventure games, heavily utilizing intellectual properties salvaged from the remnants of LucasArts.
In 2010, there was a slight shift towards creating innovative adaptations of well-known films and series, with Back to the Future: The Game marking the beginning of this trend. However, it was The Walking Dead’s release in 2012 that significantly amplified this focus.
Before these Telltale episodes were released, I didn’t give much thought to The Walking Dead franchise. However, once the episodes began to drop, it soon consumed all of my attention.
As a devoted gamer, I can attest that Telltale’s The Walking Dead stands out as one of the most cherished narrative experiences in contemporary gaming, demonstrating the power and potential of an episodic structure. By streamlining puzzle elements and placing greater emphasis on story development, they managed to create a captivating saga that resonated deeply with many players.
Apart from leaving us eagerly anticipating what would happen next each month, the serial structure effectively showed the progression of time. The main characters Lee and Clementine noticeably matured and gained wisdom in every new episode, reflecting their growth over time. The format was well-received, resulting in an extra three seasons following a similar structure.
5.
The Wolf Among Us
An Excellent Introduction To Fables
Once Telltale gained success with The Walking Dead, there was a competitive rush among companies to discover the next major Intellectual Property (IP) that could be transformed into an episodic adventure format.
By a fortunate turn of events, the next major success is expected to emerge within a year from an obscure origin – “The Wolf Among Us”, which is inspired by the Fables comic book series.
For the very first time, I wasn’t familiar with Fables at all. Yet, upon playing the initial episode of Wolf Among Us, the intriguing idea of fairytale characters coexisting within contemporary New York City instantly captivated me.
My interest in the game was even more ignited as I delved deeper into the complex and winding mystery involving its main character, Bigby Wolf.
People were eagerly anticipating where the plot was headed, speculating about which characters might meet their end, and guessing who the real villain might turn out to be. It felt much like being a devoted follower of a popular HBO show.
Initially, plans called for a second season, but unfortunately, Telltale closed down before they could produce it. Fortunately, following Telltale’s comeback, work on the project has been reinitiated; however, as of now, there’s no known release date available.
4.
Siren: Blood Curse
Multi-Perspective, In More Ways Than One
The Siren series, one of Sony’s less frequently utilized game brands, originated on the PlayStation 2 as far back as 2003. This chilling horror franchise appeals to connoisseurs of Japanese horror, boasting an enigmatic narrative and grotesque creatures that will make your skin crawl.
2008’s Siren: Blood Curse, the concluding installment of the Siren series to date, showcased the most expansive ambitions in terms of gameplay and narrative among all the games in the series.
In Siren: Blood Curse, viewpoints play a significant role in shaping both the plot and gameplay. The narrative unfolds across twelve consecutive episodes, each revealing a unique perspective belonging to one of the characters, who simultaneously progress through their individual stories.
Watching each person’s unique viewpoint unfold, the broader ramifications of the narrative progressively reveal themselves.
In terms of gameplay, the unique feature of the Siren series is called Sight Jacking, which allows you to view a miniature first-person perspective from surrounding creatures to figure out their direction and steer clear of them.
It’s unclear if “perspective” was meant to be a repeated motif in both the story and the game mechanics, but regardless of whether it was planned or not, it turned out to be an impressively thoughtful decision by the designers.
3.
Life Is Strange
The Butterfly Effect
As Telltale Games earned substantial income from The Walking Dead series during the mid-2010s, other developers began hopping aboard the episodic adventure bandwagon.
One developer, Square Enix, sought a niche success to replenish their funds following the average response to Remember Me. What ensued was Life is Strange, a five-part narrative journey exploring the significant consequences of minor decisions.
In the overall narrative and day-to-day gameplay of Life is Strange, a consistent theme emerges: small decisions can have profound impacts on our lives and connections. Usually, we don’t ponder this idea, but when protagonist Max gains the power to rewind time and alter choices, it becomes strikingly clear.
Reflecting on it now, some parts of the conversation seemed a tad questionable, but in retrospect, it offered an intriguing miniature representation of the process of growing up.
The characters are quite reckless and immature, given their college age. However, they’re soon discovering that they can no longer escape the consequences of their actions, a reality that becomes more evident as the plot unfolds. This initial portrayal was compelling enough to spawn several sequels and spin-offs.
2.
Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse
The Freelance Police’s Strangest Adventure
Before the surge of The Walking Dead’s popularity, Telltale Games primarily thrived on fresh adaptations of well-known adventure game franchises. One of their most notable revivals, originating from LucasArts’ assets, was Sam & Max. Under Telltale’s leadership, this series saw three seasons released in an episodic format.
In the first two seasons, things were quite comparable, but it wasn’t until the third season, known as The Devil’s Playhouse, that they truly went all out.
Beyond the traditional “collect items and use them on other objects until something changes” gameplay style, Devil’s Playhouse introduced a variety of psychic abilities for Max, such as predicting the future and mind reading. This added an entertaining, multi-dimensional twist to the gameplay as you worked to replicate the situations depicted in his visions.
Instead, what sets Devil’s Playhouse apart is its stronger focus on a continuous narrative compared to earlier seasons. This story-driven approach has made each episode more engaging and kept viewers intrigued throughout.
In one instance, an episode got delayed by a day, which left me quite grumpy throughout school that day.
1.
Tales Of Monkey Island
Perfect For Fans And Newcomers
Talking about LucasArts intellectual properties, it’s worth noting that Monkey Island, a classic example in the point-and-click genre, was another significant license that Telltale Games managed to save from oblivion.
Rather than releasing its fresh interpretation of Monkey Island as a single game, it decided to split it into a five-part series called the Tales of Monkey Island, each part presenting an episodic adventure.
In the course of its adventure, the game Tales of Monkey Island navigated bumbling pirate Guybrush Threepwood through various islands and subaquatic settings. Along the way, it introduced fresh personalities and reintroduced beloved figures such as Stan and Murray.
The puzzles were nothing extraordinary, yet the narrative was creatively captivating, supported by exceptionally vivid and visually striking character designs and settings. I found myself especially enamored with Dominic Armato’s portrayal of Guybrush, as charmingly dim-witted as I had recalled.
Tales of Monkey Island was Telltale’s most successful release before they started working on big movie and TV adaptations like Back to the Future. Notably, it was also the last Monkey Island game we saw for quite some time, with Return to Monkey Island coming out in 2022, more than a decade later.
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2025-05-25 16:10