The Walking Dead
- Platforms: PC
- Developer: Telltale Games
- Year: 2012
- Genres: Adventure
- Tags: Single-player, Steam Achievements, Full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, Family Sharing
- Operating systems: Windows, macOS
Price comparison
Prices as listed by the stores, updated 2026-10-25. The store price is final.
A five-part adventure horror series from Telltale, set in Robert Kirkman’s comic universe and built around timed choices.
Overview
The Walking Dead is a 2012 episodic graphic adventure from Telltale Games. It tells a five-part story set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s comic series, with Lee Everett at the center. He is a convicted criminal trying to get through a zombie apocalypse while looking after Clementine, a young girl who needs protection more than answers.
The game leans on decisions, dialogue, and environmental puzzles rather than constant action. Choices are timed in some scenes, and the results carry across episodes. That includes how other characters react to Lee, not just the immediate scene in front of him. It is a single-player game on Windows and macOS, with full controller support on Steam.
The structure is straightforward: interact with people and objects, solve what you need to progress, and make the kind of split-second decisions the situation demands. Minimal mode removes hints and choice notifications, so the game will say less about what your decisions are doing. There is also a rewind feature for revisiting earlier choices.
Why play it
- Five-part episodic structure
- Choice-driven story with carryover consequences
- Single-player adventure on Windows and macOS
- Full controller support on Steam
Quick facts
| Developer | Telltale Games |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Skybound Games |
| Release year | 2012 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Steam release date | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Steam categories | Single-player, Steam Achievements, Full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, Family Sharing |
| Languages | English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain |
| Minimum requirements | OS: XP Service Pack 3; Processor: 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent; Memory: 3 GB RAM; Hard Disk Space: 2 GB; Video Card: ATI or nVidia card with 512 MB RAM; DirectX 9.0c; Sound: DirectX 9.0c sound device |
| Recommended requirements | OS: Windows 7; Processor: Core 2 Duo 2GHz or equivalent; Memory: 3 GB RAM; Hard Disk Space: 2 GB; Video Card: ATI or nVidia card with 1024 MB RAM; DirectX 9.0c; Sound: DirectX 9.0c sound device |
Beginner walkthrough
Use the point-and-click setup
The game is played from a third-person perspective. You use an on-screen reticle to examine and interact with characters, items, and the environment. Progress comes from talking to people, using collected items, and solving environmental puzzles.
Expect timed decisions
Some conversations and key moments give you only a short time to choose. Those decisions can change how characters respond to Lee and can carry into later episodes. The game also includes quick time events in action scenes, and failing them sends you back to just before that moment.
Adjust the hint level if needed
Minimal mode turns off hints and choice notifications. If you want to revisit earlier decisions, the game allows multiple saves and a rewind feature so you can change outcomes and see different paths.
Key characters
- Lee Everett convicted criminal
Lee is trying to survive the outbreak while looking after Clementine, and the game’s choices revolve around his role as her guardian.
- Clementine orphaned girl
Clementine is the young girl Lee protects, and much of the story is built around keeping her safe.
Our take
Pros
- Strong focus on character and story
- Choices affect later episodes
- Environmental puzzles and dialogue progression
- Full controller support on Steam
Cons
- Single-player only
- Only Windows and macOS are listed
- Uses timed choices and quick time events
The Walking Dead is a choice-led adventure built around Lee and Clementine, with decisions that carry from episode to episode. It is less interested in action than in dialogue, tension, and consequences. If you want a story-first game with clear structure and some replay room, it fits that brief neatly.
Quick check
This check compares memory and disk space only. Compare your CPU and graphics card with the requirements above manually.Minimum requirements
Minimum: OS: XP Service Pack 3 Processor: 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent Memory: 3 GB RAM Hard Disk Space: 2 GB Video Card: ATI or nVidia card with 512 MB RAM (not supported on Intel integrated graphics) DirectX®: Direct X 9.0c Sound: Direct X 9.0c sound device
Recommended requirements
Recommended: OS *: Windows 7 Processor: Core 2 Duo 2GHz or equivalent Memory: 3 GB RAM Hard Disk Space: 2 GB Video Card: ATI or nVidia card with 1024 MB RAM DirectX®: Direct X 9.0c Sound: Direct X 9.0c sound device
FAQ
What kind of game is The Walking Dead?
It is a 2012 episodic graphic adventure from Telltale Games. It follows a five-part story set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s comic series, and it focuses on choice, dialogue, and environmental puzzles rather than action-heavy play.
Who do you play as?
You play as Lee Everett, a convicted criminal trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. The story puts him in the role of guardian to Clementine, a young girl he meets early in the outbreak.
How do choices work?
Some choices must be made quickly, especially in conversations and action scenes. Those decisions can affect how other characters respond to Lee and can carry across episodes, changing how the story unfolds.
What platforms does it support?
The listed platforms are Windows and macOS. Steam also lists single-player, Steam Achievements, full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, and Family Sharing.
What are the basic system requirements?
The minimum requirements list XP Service Pack 3, a 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent, 3 GB RAM, 2 GB of hard disk space, an ATI or nVidia card with 512 MB RAM, DirectX 9.0c, and a DirectX 9.0c sound device.
Does it include any options for replaying decisions?
Yes. The game allows multiple saves and includes a rewind feature, which lets you revisit previous decisions and explore different outcomes. There is also a Minimal mode that disables hints and choice notifications.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · More in the catalog · PC · T