The Gaming Teacher

Day 4 – Game You’d Show Aliens to Explain Humankind

What a heavy thing to consider! In pondering this, I decided to select a game that demonstrates many aspects of humanity, the good and the bad, and a range of emotions. The Walking Dead: Season 1 (2012) seemed an apt choice since I find my mind wandering back to the franchise every now and then.

Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead is, in short, a near-masterpiece. I say that while acknowledging that a gaming masterpiece, to me, isn’t necessarily mechanically or narratively perfect. However, I believe TWD will be remembered in gaming history for being an episodic adventure that got a lot right: pacing, mechanics, narrative, characterization, suspense, and player choice. The game has this weight to it that impacts player thought and emotion in ways lost on a lot of video games. If you haven’t played it, I highly recommend the first season and the rest of the franchise. Don’t read up on it, just experience it. And, if I’m pressed to show a game to aliens, at least this one doesn’t take 20+ hours. 😉

If you’re interested in my responses to the rest of the challenge, check out the first post here.