GameTimeline

Release & story order

The Walking Dead games in order

Use this page for walking dead games in order—the Telltale / Skybound episodic adventures starring Lee and Clementine, not the AMC TV show as the primary list. Release covers US ship windows from Season 1 through The Final Season, with 400 Days and Michonne as optional side chapters. Story follows the Clementine arc: Season 1 to Season 2 to A New Frontier to The Final Season. Essentials picks a Clementine-only path, the full Telltale set, or a Season 1 taste. VR spin-offs and Definitive remasters stay FAQ.

Updated September 2026

Pick your path:

Clementine arc Full Telltale Season 1 only Full release list Story order

Where to start

Pick Clementine arc for Seasons 1–2, A New Frontier, and The Final Season without Michonne, Full Telltale if you want every listed episode season including 400 Days and Michonne, or Season 1 only if you just want to taste Lee and Clem before committing.

  • First-timers → Clementine arc (skip Michonne until later)
  • Completionists → Full Telltale including 400 Days and Michonne
  • Time-poor → Season 1 only, then decide whether to continue

Release order

When each Telltale Walking Dead season or mini-series shipped in the US—Season 1 (April 2012), optional 400 Days DLC (July 2013), Season 2 (December 2013), Michonne (February 2016), A New Frontier (December 2016), and The Final Season (August 2018 start).

  • Newcomers → Season 1 first (or Definitive Series collection—see FAQ)
  • Full Telltale → include 400 Days and Michonne around their ship dates
  • Clementine-focused → S1 → S2 → New Frontier → Final Season; Michonne optional
  • TV show knowledge → helpful flavor, not required to understand game plots
Story order tips

Clementine’s continuous arc: Season 1 with Lee, Season 2 as she grows harder, A New Frontier where AJ and Clem reconnect through Javier’s story, then The Final Season as her endgame. Michonne is a side path—see FAQ rather than forcing her into the Clem spine.

  • Season 1 → Lee protects young Clementine; choices echo for years
  • Season 2 → Clem leads; 400 Days survivors may appear from your S1 save
  • New Frontier → Javier’s campaign links AJ and older Clem
  • Final Season → Clem and AJ endgame—play last on the Story path

Timeline

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When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. The Walking Dead (Season 1)

    The Walking Dead (Season 1)

    PCPS3Xbox 360MobileAdventureMainlineChoiceEpisodic

    Five episodes (plus later 400 Days) cast you as Lee Everett protecting young Clementine across Georgia’s early outbreak. Telltale’s 2012 breakout defined cinematic choice drama and remains the mandatory start of every Clementine path.

    Overview
    Episodic adventure with heavy dialogue stakes, QTEs, and choices that felt personal instead of RPG stat sheets. Proved licensed zombie fiction could lead with character bonds over shooter loops.
    In-game setting
    Opens the Clementine saga. Your Season 1 decisions feed Season 2 via save transfer when available. Story tab’s first chapter matches this entry.
    Should you play it?
    Mandatory start. Do not begin at Season 2 or The Final Season—Clem’s childhood and Lee’s choices are the emotional foundation of the whole series.
    Release date
    US Episode 1 launch April 24, 2012 (PC/PS3; other platforms followed). Prefer The Telltale Definitive Series if buying new—see FAQ.
  2. The Walking Dead: 400 Days
    Optional

    The Walking Dead: 400 Days

    PCPS3Xbox 360MobileExpansionOptionalEpisodic

    Standalone DLC anthology of five short survivor stories across 400 days after the outbreak, with an epilogue that can feed new faces into Season 2. Optional bridge—short, replayable, and worth it if you care about Season 2 cameos.

    Overview
    Compact multi-protagonist DLC that tested how side choices could ripple into the next season’s cast. Lightweight compared with full seasons but historically important for Season 2 continuity.
    In-game setting
    Play after Season 1, before or early into Season 2. Not required to understand Clem’s arc, but saves can introduce characters you meet later.
    Should you play it?
    Optional but recommended on Full Telltale paths. Safe to skip on a pure Clementine emotional binge if you accept thinner Season 2 side-cast context.
    Release date
    US digital release July 2, 2013 (often bundled with Season 1 complete editions). Included in many Definitive / collection SKUs.
  3. The Walking Dead: Season Two

    The Walking Dead: Season Two

    PCPS3PS4Xbox 360Xbox OneMobileAdventureMainlineChoiceEpisodic

    Five episodes put you in Clementine’s shoes as she survives harsher groups and harder calls after Season 1. Direct continuation—import your Season 1 (and 400 Days) choices when the platform supports it.

    Overview
    Shifted the camera to Clem as protagonist, proving the series’ heart was the child survivor, not only Lee. Darker group politics and permanent consequences deepened Telltale’s brand of dread.
    In-game setting
    Required after Season 1 on every Clementine path. Leads into A New Frontier’s time jump; Michonne can wait until after if you prefer the Clem spine first.
    Should you play it?
    Mandatory for Clementine arc completion. Skipping to New Frontier or Final Season wastes emotional setup and save-transfer payoff.
    Release date
    US Episode 1 launch December 17, 2013. Later console ports and collections vary—Definitive Series is the modern buy path.
  4. The Walking Dead: Michonne
    Optional

    The Walking Dead: Michonne

    PCPS3PS4Xbox 360Xbox OneMobileAdventureOptionalMini-seriesEpisodic

    Three-episode mini-series follows comic-inspired Michonne during a gap away from her usual group—boat horror, family ghosts, and brutal community politics. Side story: it does not advance Clementine’s main arc.

    Overview
    Short licensed detour that let Telltale spotlight a TV/comic icon without derailing Clem’s timeline. Tighter episode count than full seasons; tone stays grim and dialogue-led.
    In-game setting
    Release places it between Season 2 and A New Frontier. Story tab omits it from the Clementine spine—treat as optional side content (see FAQ).
    Should you play it?
    Fully optional for Clementine-focused players. Add on Full Telltale paths or if you specifically want Michonne’s mini-series. Safe to skip forever without breaking Final Season.
    Release date
    US Episode 1 launch February 23, 2016 (three-episode event through April 2016). Often bundled in Definitive collections.
  5. The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

    The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

    PCPS4Xbox OneNintendo SwitchMobileAdventureMainlineChoiceEpisodic

    Five episodes shift the lead to Javier García while older Clementine and AJ re-enter the plot with heavy prior-season scars. Season 3 of the Clem saga—required bridge into The Final Season even though you are not always playing as Clem.

    Overview
    New player-character perspective kept the series fresh while still hinging on Clem and AJ’s fate. Family crime-drama beats mixed with walker set pieces and New Frontier community politics.
    In-game setting
    Play after Season 2 (Michonne optional before or after). Directly sets up The Final Season’s guardianship stakes—do not skip if you want Clem’s ending to land.
    Should you play it?
    Mandatory on Clementine arc and Full Telltale paths. Skipping to Final Season alone leaves AJ/Clem context incomplete.
    Release date
    US Episode 1 launch December 20, 2016 (season ran into May 2017). Available in Definitive Series bundles.
  6. The Walking Dead: The Final Season

    The Walking Dead: The Final Season

    PCPS4Xbox OneNintendo SwitchAdventureMainlineChoiceEpisodicFinale

    Four episodes close Clementine’s story—Episode 1 shipped August 14, 2018; Skybound finished the season through March 26, 2019 after Telltale’s studio collapse. Play last on every Clementine path; this page dates the entry to the Episode 1 US launch.

    Overview
    Returned Clem to the lead for a boarding-school community endgame with AJ as her ward. Production famously completed under Skybound after Telltale’s shutdown—still a finished narrative arc.
    In-game setting
    Ends the Clementine Story spine. Import prior-season choices when supported. No further mainline Telltale Clem season follows.
    Should you play it?
    Mandatory finale after New Frontier. Not a starting point—begin at Season 1 if you are new. Worth finishing even if earlier seasons felt uneven.
    Release date
    US Episode 1 August 14, 2018 (PC/PS4/Xbox One/Switch); season complete March 26, 2019. Prefer Definitive Series for the modern collection.

FAQ

Clementine play order, Michonne and 400 Days, Definitive remaster tips, and how the games relate to the TV show.

Play order

Clementine arc: Season 1 → Season 2 → A New Frontier → The Final Season.

Full Telltale: add 400 Days after Season 1 and Michonne as a side mini-series (Release lists it before New Frontier). Essentials mirrors both paths.

Clementine arc

Yes. Michonne’s three-episode mini-series is optional side content. It does not continue Clementine’s plot. Play it for comic-flavored Michonne drama; skip it on any Clem-only binge without breaking Final Season.

Optional & editions

Usually yes if you are new in 2026. Skybound’s Definitive collection bundles the main seasons (and typically Michonne / related content depending on SKU) with updated presentation. Play order inside the collection still follows Season 1 → 2 → New Frontier → Final Season.

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.