Sometimes, picking up a standalone novel, doesn't quite hit the spot. Maybe all you want is to lose yourself in an intricate fictional world and pursue the same?? high you once experienced after reading a book series you stumbled upon years ago.

Well, the good news is you can experience that high again. The sheer number of brilliant multi-bo??ok narratives out there, especially in genre fiction, can provide you with a steady supply for your next fix. Still, knowing what to pick up next based on your preferences is just as important as the willingness t?o commit to these large literary tomes.

In this article, we've decided to put together a list of some of the best book series to read for adults, whether they belong to speculative offshoots like epic fantasy and sci-fi or even great works of drama from the classic?? back catalog and anything in between.

The Expanse by James S. A. Corey

There have only been a handful of great sci-fi stories following the genre’s golden age in the 20th century, and The Expanse by James S. A. Corey is definitely among them??. The story takes place in a not-so-near future, where humanity has colonized the Solar System. The book is about the political and interplanetary conflict that arises between these different factions leading humankind while opening the avenue for mysterious alien artifacts heralding long-lost technology.

The Expanse is what you’d call “hard science-fiction,�paying attention to intricate scientific details and trying to adhere to them as much as possible. There is also great characterization, and the worldbuilding is some of the best we’ve seen in genre fiction over the past two decades. And unlike many other contemporary book series, The Expanse is?? actually finished, and you can binge-read it in its entirety right now.

The Witcher Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski

Centering around the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski has left a lasting impact on fantasy literature. Grimdark, brutal, and pessimistic, the books may at first come off as a far cry from the best-selling and acclaimed video game, but the spirit of the tale and its world are the same. Sapkowski has some of the best character monologues in all of fantasy and perhaps even literature as a whole. If you’re a fan of character-centric fantasy books and have played The Witcher games, then do yourself a favor and pick up the book series that spawned them in the first pl?ac??e.

The Human Comedy by Honoré de Balzac

Now let's take a step away from the speculative landscape for a little bit. Often touted as one of the most ambitious sociolinguistic works in history, La Comédie Humaine paints the most extensive and detailed image of French society in the 19th century. To say that Balzac was prolific is a criminal understatement, and the 90 finished works comprising The Human Comedy are but a small testament to that.

It might take you a while to get through it all, and not everything in the collection is an inspired piece of writing, but overall, for many history and drama enthusiasts, it is as raw and as detailed as it gets. There are dozens of novels in The Human Comedy, which you can read through in the order of their? release.

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Recommending Sherlock Holmes feels like telling people to watch a classic movie that they’ve already heard about many times before, and perhaps even seen the remakes. Such is the importance of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work that reading through it almost feels like a rite of passage for people who love literature, specifically detective stories. Sure, I could’ve also included Agatha Christie and her Poirot books on this list, but there’s something about how Conan Doyle so deftly weaves a narrative together and writes about the human condition that even Christie �one of his innumerable admirers herself �fails to capture. The Sherlock Holmes canon consists of four novels and dozens of short stories, starting with 1887’s A Study in Scarlet and ending with 1927’s short story The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place.

Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson

Boasting one of the most ambitious narratives in all genre fiction, Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson is a 10-book epic fantasy series that deals with a host of compelling characters and their respective tales in the world of Malazan. It’s difficult to put the story in a simple premise, but we can say with a measure of certainty that Malazan Book of the Fallen will be st??udied many years from now as a pinnacle of literary achie?vement.

The books are difficult and confusing to get into, and many genre enthusiasts have come to jokingly refer to them as the �em>Dark Souls of literature,�a quip that’s certainly not los?t on members of our community, but if you ??bear with them, they will turn into some of the best books you’ve ever read.

The First Law by Joe Abercrombie

These days, most people’s go-to author for dark fantasy is George R.R. Martin, mainly known for his subversion of expectations in the face of J.R.R. Tolkien’s traditionalist approach. What many of them fail to realize is that someone is doing it better than Martin, and had his work garnered the attention of Hollywood moguls and got a television adaptation like Game of Thrones, it would already be more popular and beloved than the entirety of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Joe Abercrombie’s First Law is cynical, brutal, witty, and character-driven. But perhaps his greatest strength, which has immortalized t?hese books in my mind, is his mastery of scene-building and dialogue, unparalleled by any c?ontemporary writer.

Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy is the cornerstone of science-fiction literature. Douglas Adams�The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy took major influence from Asimov, while Frank Herbert basically wrote Dune as a commentary on Foundation. The story follows the twilight of a Galactic Empire,? where a scientist invents a branch of mathematics that can help him predict the future.

The tale is epic, the concepts are innovative (on account of Asimov himself being a scientist as well as one of the pioneers of hard science-fiction), and the nonlinear story keeps you on your toes all the way through to the end. Foundation is an essential read, even for people who don’t car?e much at all about science fiction.

Discworld by Terry Pratchett

No fantasy book series is as pleasurable and fulfilling to read through as Terry Pratchett’s timeless Discworld. If you’re out in the book market looking for a work that doesn’t take itself too seriously y??et is still packed with layered storytelling and satire that still manages to pack an emotional punch, then Pratchett’s unique prose and style of comedy is just right to scratch that partic?ular itch.

There are 41 novels in the Discworld universe, but don't?? let that number intimidate you because most of them are barely novel-length (barely pushing?? past 200 pages), unlike many other thick doorstop fantasy book series out there.

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Speaking of amazing science fiction books that you shouldn’t miss out on, The Murderbot Diaries by Martha We??lls definitely deserves a shout-out here. The story follows a half-human, half-robot cyborg who manages to override his programming and gain independence, but it primarily uses that independence to consume media. In time, the cyborg comes to develop feelings and emotional connections, which it finds rather inconvenient.

The books are short, witty, and unbelievably compelling. Martha Wells has garnered a lot of acclaim and won many trophies for The Murderbot Diaries, turning her work into one of the most important sci-fi book series of the past few decades, especially when it comes to?? AI and human interaction with artificial intelligence. Reading and thinking about this concept in 2024 (what, with the advent of creations like ChatGPT) is more important than ever.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

I already warned you that this list was going to incorporate every possible combination of genres, so I figured, why not have a detective story set in modern-day Chicago but featuring magic and supernatural elements? The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher is a series of highly-acclaimed mystery urba??n fantasy centering around Harry Dresden, a wizard who works as a private investigator.

At first, you? might think, “How on earth would any of these tropes work together??�But then, you’ve not read Jim Butcher. Trust me when I say The Dresden Files features some of the best detective storytelling we’ve seen recently, and despite all the incongruities of its numerous components, it all works in the context of Butcher’s narrative. There have been 17 entries in the series so far, most of them novel-length, but the story of Harry Dresden is still unfolding, getting more and more epic with each installment.

The Leatherstocking Tales by James Fenimore Cooper

Now, this next pick might not exactly be recognizable as a series, but its second novel, The Last of the Mohicans, is among the most popular books in American literature. The Leatherstocking Tales by James Fenimore Cooper are set in the eighteenth century and deal with the upheavals of that period in the New World. The depiction of Native American culture and history, not to me?ntion Uncas as the “last of the Mohicans,�the sole survivor of an honorable ethnicity, is among the unmitigated strengths of Fenimore Cooper’s narrative.

There are many great historical fiction book series (like the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian or Outlander by Diana Gabaldon) but The Leatherstocking Tales rarely gets the attention it deserves. If you liked Michael Mann’s 1992 classic movie The Last of the Mohicans, then you should give the book series a read.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

This critically acclaimed fantasy trilogy by Philip Pullman came out in the form of 1995’s Northern Lights (known in the United States as The Golden Compass), 1997’s The Subtle Knife, and 2000’s The Amber Spyglass. In a lot of ways, His Dark Materials is a coming-of-age story of its main heroine, Lyra Belacqu?a, who lives in a world where everyone has a talking animal companion who represents their inner selves.

Pullman’s worldbuilding is exquisite and believable, and his story explores complex themes like religion, individualism, freedom, and morality. If you love Harry Potter, then His Dark Materials is the substitute you’ve been looking for, though many of its most ardent fans would argue that Pullman wr?ites the better story by far.

The Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown

While many would categorize Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga as science fiction, I’d describe it as a space opera more in the vein of Star Wars. The story takes place in a worl??d where humanity has colonized its star sys??tem, and society has been segregated into different colors. The Golds, for instance, are at the top and rule with an iron fist, while the Reds are little more than slaves.

We follow Darrow, who is a Red working in the dark caverns of Mars. Darrow believes in the idea that things will eventually get better for his class, but things go awry when Darrow’s wife, Eo, is executed for singing a rebellious song. Darrow is then recruited into the Sons of Ares, who want to topple the government. Red Rising is one of the ?most compelling and acclaimed book series of the past two decades, so don’t let that seemingly tired prem??ise throw you off.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Scott Lynch's spiraling fantasy series, beginning with The Lies of Locke Lamora, takes?? place in a fantasy world but the story puts a unique spin on the genre. We follow Locke Lamora, a con artist planning a grand heist in the city of Camorr, inspired by real-life Venice. The series is known for its intricate narrative, flowery prose, and extremely charismatic protagonist.

Many fantasy enthusiasts compare Scott Lynch to Patrick Rothfuss and his Kingkiller Chronicle. It's easy to see why, but just like his fellow author, Scott Lynch seems to be taking his sweet time writing the next installment in the series. So dive into it with the knowledge that you might be left hanging for quite a while. Still, the series, consisting of The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies, and The Republic of Thieves, is so brilliant that we can’t help but recommend it, even if the next book never ?gets released.

The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons

Lastly, we have to find a spot for The Hyperion Cantos due to its far-reaching influence on fiction. The sci-fi quartet is celebrated for several reasons, but none more than its deep philosophical themes that even go into poetry and mythology. The sto?ry takes place in the distant future, where humanity has spread across the galaxy and established an empire called the Hegemony of Man. The first novel, Hyperion, is similar to the famous Canterbury Tales, with seven pilgrims visiting the titular planet and journeying to the Time Tombs, a mystifying structure that moves backward in time.

This list has a bit of everything for everyone. But barring some obvious and popular choices that were purposefully excluded, there are no doubt many other great book series out there that we might have overlooked, so don't hesitate to share them with us and the rest of the readers? in the comments.

The post 15 best book ?series for a?dults to start reading right now appeared first on Destructoid.

The Expanse is easily one of the best space operas of all time, and there’s no shortage of ways to dive into the s??eries.

The novels by James S.A. Corey kicked off The Expanse all the way back in 2011. Since then we’ve gotten six seasons of a TV adaptation, a number of comic books, a TTRPG ruleset, and a five-chapter Telltale Games series. All of that hasn’t been enough to satiate my desire for more of The Expanse, and I know I can’t be alone. Fortunately there are plenty of other video games that manage to capture the overall vibe of Corey’s series, and if you’re working your way through another re-read, there’s a game that almost perfectly pairs with each book in The Expanse. 

Just read Leviathan Wakes? Try ΔV: Rings of Saturn

Remember the Cant! ΔV: Rings of Saturn is a game that lets you relive the days when the crew of the Rocinante were simple ice haulers. It puts you in the cockpit of a 2D ship and gives you a top down view as you use real physics to pilot through dangerous situations. Prepare to flip and burn while mastering the many technical abilities you’ll need to become a successfu?l space miner. 

Just read Caliban’s War? Try Red Faction: Guerilla 

In Caliban’s War fighting breaks out on the surface of Ganymede, but Red Faction: Guerilla takes you to Mars instead. There it puts you in the midst of an insurgent battle and lets you take advantage of fully destructible environments as you wage ?war against the Earth Defense Force. The 2018 remaster is a great way to experience one of the best shooters of the PS3/Xbox 360 era. 

Just read Abaddon’s Gate? Try Prey

Humanity faces alien horrors in Abaddon’s Gate, and Prey forces you to do something similar. Developed by Arkane Studios, Prey is the perfect combination of FPS and sci-fi horror. As a survivor on the lunar-orbiting station Talos I, you must fight off violent alien creatures in fast-paced action while also trying t??o solve the mystery of what exactly happened to the rest of your shipmates. 

Just read Cibola Burn? Try Mass Effect

The human race has just begun its climb to intergalactic empire in Cibola Burn, but Mass Effect still manages to capture the *cough cough* expansive feeling of traveling across galaxies to connect with other human settlements. As an RPG it also lets you organically grow and connect with your own space crew in a way that no other game has quite managed. Expanse fans turning to Mass Effect ??will probably end up finding their second-favorite sci-fi series ??in the games. 

Just read Nemesis Games? Try Children of a Dead Earth

A new kind of space warfare has broken out by the end of Nemesis Games, and that deserves a new kind of battle simulator. Children of a Dead Earth boasts that it's “the most scientifically accurate space warfare simulator ever made,â€?and I see no reason to argue. If you want to truly dig into the ship engineering and orbital mechanics that goes into every pulse-pounding skirmish in The Expanse, then this is the one for you. 

Just read Babylon’s Ashes? Try Terra Invicta

By this point in the series there's an all-out war between the inner planets and the OPA. Terra Invicta sees humanity being attacked by aliens, but the game also has a focus on factions. The secret ??to victory in this strategy game is to consolidate power on Earth in order to construct a strong enough fleet to challenge the aliens that are flying toward us from the edge of the solar sy?stem. It’s a great depiction of a war that spans the entire Sol system. 

Just read Persepolis Rising? Try Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous feels quite a bit like the world of The Expanse just before Duarte launches his invasion in Persepolis Rising. Humanity has spread throughout the stars, and the game is essentially a flight simulator that gives you various jobs like mining, interstellar delivery, and pirate hunting to complete. The galaxy in Elite is actually the Milky Way, and all the small touches that make Elite’s simulation feel so real help make this ot??herwise simple game incredibly engaging â€?particularly in VR. 

Just read Tiamat’s Wrath? Try FTL : Faster Than Light

So many characters in Tiamat’s Wrath are forced to risk their lives sneaking through dangerous enemy space, and that’s the entire premise of FTL. In this roguelike you play as a crew, or really a ship, delivering important wartime intel across the galaxy. You’ll need to upgrade your ship and hire new crew members while navigating thr??ough space. At every turn you’ll encounter enemies that will try to shoot you down, board you, or otherwise put your mission to an early end. 

Just read Leviathan Falls? Try Stellaris

By the end of The Expanse, humanity isn’t just fighting themselves but the very godlike beings that once ended all advanced life in the galaxy. Stellaris is a 4x game that takes things to that scale. You construct an empire from the ground-up, spreading throughout the stars and encountering th??e mysteries of space while trying to grow your people into a prosperous civilization. This is the perfect space game for people who love the intense management of real-time strategy games with a dizzying array of routes to pursue. 

Just read Memory’s Legion? Try Starfield

Memory’s Legion is a collection of stories that encompasses the entire timeline of The Expanse. Because it focuses on a humans-only future where the species has spread out to the stars that are at least a little close to home, Starfield feels like a natural continuation of these stories. Thanks to being a Bethesda-style RPG, Starfield checks a number of boxes all while portraying a future that could have been an alternate version of The Expanse where humanity never di?scovered the pro??tomolecule and the secrets it unlocked. 

The post 10 best games to play if you love The Expanse appeared first on Destructoid.

The Expanse is one of the modern juggernauts of the science fiction genre books. This is in part due to the excellent ??space storytelling and near-realism from authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck under the pen name James S.A. Corey. However, this popularity and success are also because of the equally hig?hly recommended TV series.

If you’re missing The Expanse these days, here are 10 science fiction books we’ve enjoyed that come the closest to capturing the grounded and darker? tone of this beloved series.

Best science fiction books like The Expanse (Quick List)

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Hyperion Cantos

This sci-fi series from Dan Simmons encompasses four core books and a number of short stories. It is set up well enough that half the books feel like one series while the other half feels separate but connected. Hyperion Cantos also has one of the most flexible and weird storytelling systems, with writing styles changing between novels. For instance, the first book has a Canterbury Tales-style split between main characters while the second book is told through a series of dreams. Some of these parts, especially the divided point-of-view storytelling, are reminiscent of The Expanse’s style.

Lord of Light

Roger Zelazny came out with Lord of Light in 1967 as a collection of seven different short stories following a crew of humans who mutated their bodies to gain supernatural powers to survive in their new world. The heavy imagery and symbolism make for a complex tale with several different characters and ideas to keep up with. In this vein, it feels quite a lot like The Expanse with all of the rotating cha??racters and POVs you have to keep up with.

Dune Series

The Expanse may feel a bit more grounded in its science fiction at times than the legendary Frank Herbert’s widespread Dune series, but there is no denying the monumental Dune novels likely played some part in inspiring The Expanse’s creation. Everything from the wide set of characters to the intense focus on politics and society go together so well in both series. Not to mention, Dune has the unique benefit of both offering a novel and adaptation form, similar to The Expanse.

Remembrance of Earth’s Past Trilogy

Also known by the name of its first novel, The Three-Body Problem, this series from Cixin Liu takes place throughout human history as Earth discovers and engages with the Trisolaran alien race. That premise alone gives off The Expanse vibes. However, it is also similar in the fact it has its own ongoing TV series adaptation, which is quite engaging. Those who like both versions of The Expanse might enjoy this trilogy’s book and ??streaming versions??.

Ender’s Game Series

The first novel in this series, Ender’s Game, gives me the most Expanse vibes compared to sequels. Its smaller focus on a group of students at a military academy in space simultaneously allows for rich character development while also still containing massive twists for the universe as a whole. In this way, this sci-fi series reminds me of some of the earlier Expanse books. But all ??of the novels in this series from O?rson Scott Card are worth a read.

Chronicles of the Dread Empire Series

This science fiction series comprised of eight novels begins with A Shadow of All Night Falling from Glen Cook. This is a long series and an early one from the sci-fi author so it has a pretty slow pace and some awkwardness at times. However, if you get past all this, the world-building and character development is incredible, as it takes its time to truly invest the reader in its universe, much like The Expanse series.

Revelation Space

Science fiction doesn’t get more grounded than this first novel by Alastair Reynolds. With a background of a PhD in Astronomy and many years working at the European Space Agency, it masterfully bridges together three seemingly separate storylines?. This is all familiar for those who like The Expan??se and a highly recommended novel.

Culture Series

Iain M. Banks came out with this series, beginning with Consider Phlebas, in 1987. It focuses on the war between a utopian alien society and the other civilizations that surround it. The series spans thousands of years and each book pretty much acts as its own standalone tale within the overarching history. While it is far-reaching in its serialization, it stays just grounded enough to make everything believable in a similar vein to The Expanse.

Hainish Cycle Series

This series of sci-fi novels from Ursula K. Le Guin, beginning with the first book Rocannon’s World, takes place in a far future setting where humanity evolved in space, rather than just on Earth. This resulted in some rather wild and odd groups of people in the solar system, such as one colony that has dreams while awake. The exploration of the commu?nication between the various societies in space leads to one of the most gripping means of storytelling in the medium.

Altered Carbon Series

While this sci-fi series is heavy on the cyberpunk aesthetic unlike most of the novels on this list, its heart and central mystery feel perfect for fans of The Expanse. The first book centers on a former soldier who investigates the murder of a wealthy man amidst a society with immortality essentially reached. There are even some surprising elements of space colonies and aliens that will be welcome for The Expanse fans.

The post 10 science fiction books like The Expanse appeared first on Destructoid.

The penultimate episode of The Expanse: A Telltale Series is rather polarizing. In essence, the highs of the episode are probably the peak of The Expanse title so far, but the lows are equally as low. Episode 3 left us—as Cami??????????????????????????na Drummer—at an old abandoned mining station in deep space. Our oxygen is low and we're all alone after Arlen and Rayen took control of the Artemis and left us.

Drummer adventures back through the derelict station. in an attempt to find a communications panel to activate a beacon and hopefully get help. At the start of the episode, there is a power box puzzle similar to the ones in Episode 3, and then the episode turns into somewhat ??of a walking simulator. And I definitely mean it when I say "walking."

[caption id="attachment_403819" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The Expanse: A Telltale Series �Episode 4 (PC [Reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Deck Nine
Publisher: Telltale
Released: September 7, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

A rough start

A majority of the episode is walking through the station—with no ability to run—while Drummer hallucinates due to oxygen deprivation. To put it bluntly, this is by far the slowest and most boring part of The Expanse yet. Not only is it painstakingly slow due to the hindered movement speed, but it also just sort of rehashes everything that has happened so far. This wouldn't be so bad if we were in the penultimate chapter of a long game. However, in this case, our total playtime is literally only several hours. Some of the things the game is having us reli??ve, I literally experienced an hour or so ago in terms of gameplay.

Filler is definitely not necessary when we're talking about five one-hour-long episodes. Maybe there would be some intensity there if we didn't know the fate of Drummer. But seeing as The Expanse game here is a prequel to the show, we know Drummer survives this event just fine. Instead, the majority of the epis?ode just feels like filler meant to get us to the next episode.

Near the end of the segment in the station, Drummer has somewhat of a flashback where we get a little more information about her time working for Anderson Dawes before the show. It's a nice little nod to fans of the series, that gives us a little bit more inf??ormation. But, none of what happens is game-changing in any way in terms of story. And as far as gameplay, you literally just walk to each part of the room??, triggering another moment from her past.

Perhaps the worst part of this long section of the episode is that, graphically, your screen is ?blurry due to Drummer's oxygen deprivation. Unfortunately, I was unable to get any good screenshots of the episode for this reason.

All around me are familiar faces

Near the end of the episode, we finally reach the comms panel and activate the rescue beacon. Unfortunately, our saviors are in fact the pirates from Episode 2. Not quite the help we were looking for. Once taken on board, we also encounter another familiar face. Not familiar to Drummer, but familiar to fans of The Expanse TV series??. I won't say who it is, but I'm also not sure if the character's appearance really means too much. In the end, this may just be a cool nod to the fans, rathe?r than an impactful narrative.

We also finally come face-to-face with savage pirate captain Toussaint whom we evaded in Episode 2. She talks about wanting Drummer to join the team—which canonically we know does not happen—but also points out she tracked the Artemis and is following it. This, of course, is setting up a final showdown between Drummer and Arlen and Rayen. While cool, this really does nothing for the overall narrative of The Expanse, and it's hard to really care about the characters we have barely seen and t??hat did n?ot exist in the show.

Another odd point about this episode is that there weren't many choices. I found myself wondering near the end of the episode if there would even be a p?ost-episode screen that shows the community split on choices throughout the episode. In the end, there was, but the number and quality of choices we made in this episode were super-low compared to the previous episodes.

[caption id="attachment_403820" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The beginning of the end

As we conclude the penultimate episode and head into the finale, I find myself a bit disappointed. The adventure started strong with Episode 1, and I was very excited for the future. In the beginning, I was thrilled about the potential The Expanse: A Telltale Series had, and it seemed to be handling the story right. But every episode since has felt pretty lackluster. The connecting story revealed at the end of Episode 3 feels as?? though it's not going to progress any further ??with just one episode left.

And once again, we have to talk about length. Telltale titles and other narrative games have never been super long, but The Expanse is still way too short. Each episode has been about an hour, some a little less, and some a little more. But to say I've played about 4-5 hours through four out of the five episodes really makes me question the value. After all, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is priced at $39.99.

On September 21 we will get the final episode of The Expanse: A Telltale Series. At this point, I will write my final review and score for the series. With the direction we're headed at the end of this episode, I'm not optimistic. But, The Expanse has certainly surprised me before. My hope is that, in the end, this is a memorable addition to The Expanse universe. Unfortunately, my fear is that it will instead be a forg?ettable—and ho??nestly irrelevant—footnote in the story of Camina Drummer.

[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher. We’re saving the score for the final episode to encompass the complete experience.]

The post Review: The Expanse: A Telltale Serie??s �Episode 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

With Episode 3, The Expanse: A Telltale Series reaches the midpoint of its story. After the end of the second episode, we find Drummer and her crew piloting the Artemis toward the coordinates found on a data card in the first episode. Episode 3 begins with the Artemis a?pproaching the location of those coordinates: an old derelict space station.

Interestingly, this is one of the earliest created space stations. It was built shortly ?after the creation of the Epstein Drive, which allowed interplanetary travel in the solar system. This station existed before the term "Belters," and bef?ore the formation of the OPA. This station was home to some of the first humans to leave Earth and settle in space.

[caption id="attachment_399107" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The Expanse: A Telltale Series �Episode 3 (PC [Reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Deck Nine
Publisher: Telltale
Released: August 24, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

A monumental narrative episode that connects with the show

Until this episode, The Expanse: A Telltale Series has kind of been its own standalone experience in The Expanse universe. More specifically, it takes place before the events that unfold in the six-season television series. However, in Episode 3, the overall narrative actually connects?? with the show and gives us a more detailed look at the events leadi??ng up to it.

Honestly, I was curious if Deck Nine would end up doing this, but wasn't too sure if it would. After all, the events of The Expanse: A Telltale Series are canon in The Expanse universe. Part of me felt like it would just be its own separate standalone story that simply takes place using a character we came to love from the show. But let's be real here. If the goal is to make this a truly memorable ex??p?erience, it would probably have to connect to the show in some way. Now that it does, the story definitely feels more impactful and meaningful. I'm more interested in seeing where we go from here with the final two episodes.

[caption id="attachment_399125" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The gameplay loop continues

I had stated in my impressions of Episode 2 that I was afraid every episode would be exploring ship wreckage. For the first two episodes, that's what we were doing most of the time. Fortunately, we step foot in an actual space station for the majority of this episode, though exploring a structure in zero-G is obviously very similar t?o exploring wha??t's left of a derelict ship.

While Episode 2 introduced a laser-dodging gameplay mechanic, Episode 3 features a new puzzle. For several spots throughout the space station, you have to direct power via cables to connect a grid of power boxes. It's honestly very simple and not difficult at all; you just trace where which cable goes to the next box and activate it. Once again, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is primarily ??a narrative-driven experience. However, it is nice to see the developer try to throw in some new gameplay elements with each episode, no matter how simple they may be.

[caption id="attachment_399111" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Yep, my choices mattered

In Episode 2, it felt like my choices were starting to matter. But, in Episode 3, it's very clear that my choice?s do in fact matter. Two big things happened at the end of the episode that made me curious—did I affect this outcome? In standard Telltale fashion, at the end of each episode, you get to see how your choices compare statistically to the choices of other players. While it appears one of the big things that happened does in fact happen no matter what, it appears as though the other big thing can be prevented. Sorry for the lack of detail here, I don't want to spoil anything.

However, it gets even more interesting. Out of pure curiosity, I speed-ran through Episode 3 again, specifically trying to change the outcome. Don't worry, I still planned to use my original playthrough going into Episode 4. With these types of titles, I find it most interesting to live with your choices. But I was surprised to find out that despite changing things, I still had the same outcome. I could be wrong, but I think it was actually a choice I made at the end of Episode 2 that had an effect on the outcome in Episode 3, which is great.

[caption id="attachment_399128" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

A solid experience so far

As we head into the final two episodes, I'm overall feeling pretty happy with The Expanse: A Telltale Series so far. My only issue with it so far may be the length in comparison to the price point. The Wolf Among Us was $14.99 for five episodes that totaled close to 10 hours. So far, through three of the five episodes of The Expanse: A Telltale Series, I'm at a little less than four hours. And the price is $39.99, over double the price compared to The Wolf Among Us.

Not taking the length and price into consideration, this has been a fun trek through the universe of The Expanse. And, I feel like it's about to get even more interesting as we head into the back ??half of the story.

In two weeks we will take a look at Episode 4. And on September 21 we will reach the conclusion of The Expanse: A Telltale Series with the final episode.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher. We're saving the score for the final episode to encompass the complete experience.]}

The post Review: The Expanse: A Telltale Series? �Episode 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series picks up right where the first episode left off. Things were in a bit of disarray, so the opening moments of The Expanse: A Telltale Series Episode 2 are a bit hectic. However, Camina Drummer is now the captain of The Artemis, which means our choices should now matter more than ever. Even though we're technically still in the f??irst? half of the series, by the end of the episode I certainly feel like things are moving forward.

[caption id="attachment_395756" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The Expanse: A Telltale Series �Episode 2 (PC [Reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Deck Nine
Publisher: Telltale
Released: August 10, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

A familiar gameplay loop

I have to admit, Episode 2 is very similar to Episode 1. We start out onboard the Artemis, before encountering a ship debris field. We navigate the wreckage, find a few hidde??n i??tems, then finish out the episode back on the Artemis. Don't get me wrong, the narrative moved forward in Episode 2. But with each of these episodes only lasting about an hour and a half so far, I'm starting to worry a bit.

Listen, I understand...this is The Expanse. It makes sense that we've spent all of our time in the depths of space so far. But, that doesn't make it a fun gameplay loop. Space looks just as beautiful as it did in the first episode, but navigating the derelict ship felt a bit too much like I had just done the same thing. It would be cool if we get to explore a station at some point, or even maybe visit Earth, Mars, or even another planet. Even though that's highly unlikely given the overarching narrative of The Expanse, I do think it would be cool to do.

A?bout halfway through th?e episode, there is a new gameplay element in which you have to navigate the wreckage while dodging the lasers from drones that are searching for you. It's nothing game-changing, but it is nice to see Deck Nine trying to add some new gameplay mechanics into a narrative-focused title.

[caption id="attachment_395755" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Choices do seem to matter

While I seemingly made some big choices?? in the first episode, I wasn't sure if they were actually going to end up mattering or not. Furthermore, I went out of my way to complete som?e "side missions", obtaining various items my crew had requested.

To my surprise,  the choices I made actually seemed to impact what happened throughout this episode, which is great. Also, it seems like going out of my way to gather those extra items also made a difference too. For example, in Episode 1 our medic had requested a new laser crystal for our surgical device on the Artemis. I was able to find it and in Episode 2 someone required a surgical procedure. The procedure was? seemingly effective specifically because I found the laser crystal. I am a bit curious about what would have happened had I not found it.

As a side note to The Expanse fans, this is definitely the Camina Drummer from the show. As I said in my impressions of Episode 1, Cara Gee knocks it out of the pa??rk. I'm really glad they were able to get her to reprise the voice of Drummer. There are a few choices you have to make throughout this episode, and they certainly felt like Drummer options. At the end of the episode, we catch up with our crew on the Artemis. We really get to see the effects of?? Drummer being captain, which I'm sure is setting up future episodes.

In two weeks we'll take a look at Episode 3 at which point I think we'll have a good idea of the direction The Expanse: A Telltale Series is taking.

The post Review: The Ex??panse: A Telltale Series �Episode 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

After a five-year hiatus, Telltale has returned with The Expanse: A Telltale Series. With all the drama surrounding the company's bankruptcy in 2018, followed by its acquisition by LCG Entertainment in 2019, it's fair to have some doubts. Furthermore, Deck Nine are the developers. While they have experience with narrative-driven games, will this even feel like a Telltale game? Well, I can tell you that answer is yes. And while I'd never dare try to dethrone The Wolf Among Us, I will tell you this: The Expanse is shap?ing u??p to be one of the best Telltale Games titles yet.

I should start by saying I am a huge fan of The Expanse. The SyFy/Amazon Prime series is genuinely in my top three TV shows of all time, maybe even number one. I have to admit that when I first discovered the details behind The Expanse: A Telltale Series I was a bit worried. With it taking place before the show, how could I really care about the story? Furthermore, I loved Camina Drummer in the show, but could a narrative-d??riven experience focused on one of her adventures really hold my interest over five episodes? Thankfully, my concerns were allayed early o?n in Episode 1.

[caption id="attachment_393844" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The Expanse: A Telltale Series - Episode 1 (PC [Reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Deck Nine
Publisher: Telltale
Released: July 27, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

Long live the Belt

In The Expanse: A Telltale Series you take on the role of Camina Drummer, XO of The Artemis, a scavenging ship skirting the uncharted edges of The Belt. Drummer is voiced by Cara Gee, who played her in the show, and she absolutely continues to prove she's perfect for the role. If you are expecting some good ol' Belter Creole, don't worry—there's ??plenty of it, Beratna.

The ship's captain discovers the wreckage of an Earther ship near Ju??piter. Based on the fact the ship is out here alone and there's no ?public record as to why it would be out there, the captain thinks there has to be something valuable on board. The crew sets course for the wreckage, setting up the events that will pan out over all five episodes.

Like any Telltale game, there's a big? emphasis on choices mattering. With this being just the first episode of five, most of the story threads haven't had time to result in any sort of consequences for my actions, which is understandable. However, at the end of the episode I had to make what certainly felt like a meaningful choice. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure I made the right one—only time will tell.

Similar to previ??ous Telltale titles, the choices are often not easy. It's not, "Do you want to save a puppy or drop it down a volcano?" In fact, in most cases, you can even guess what sort of consequences may arise from each choice. From there, it's up to you to decide what you think is the lesser of two evils. I'm excited to see how much player decisions actually shape the game, because it always felt a bit hit-or-miss i??n previous Telltale games.

Doors and corners, kid

Graphically, The Expanse is the best-looking Telltale game to date. Even though there's still the somewhat cartoony style, it looks very clean. Some of the sections of The Artemis are surprisingly detailed, and the vast expanse (hehe) of space looks incredible. Deck Nine really knocked it out of t??he park in this regard—deep space has never looked so beautiful. Furthermore, character facial animations of come a long way. It's fun to see Drummer react to an intense situation or bante??r with her crew, and actually react to it accordingly.

This is definitely still a story-driven game, but the gameplay itself has big improvements as well. Running around as Drummer feels a lot smoother and less restrictive than I remember in The Walking Dead �The Final Season. There's also a system to float around in zero-G space that reminds me a lot of the similar zero-G segments in Dead Space.

Also, there are even little side missions you can tackle while progressing through the chapter. I've yet to see if they will actually influence the game in any way, but they are a nice addition. While exploring the wreckage of the Earther ship I managed to find a laser crystal for The Artemis' medic, and a cigar for the pilot. There's even a mission log on the bridge of the ship so you can check your active mission. I also came across several areas where I could pull out my blow torch and slice through a panel to retrieve some salvage. Every time I did my crew would commend me for doing? so, but I'm not sure just yet if there will be a practical use for the materials.

[caption id="attachment_393870" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

I'm excited about the future, beltalowda

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with The Expanse: A Telltale Series �Episode 1. With episodic content, we really won't have a full appreciation for The Expanse until the entire story is told. New episodes will release every two weeks, so The Expanse should be complete in September. What I do know, is this is a very strong start to t?he adventure. I'm very excited to see what's in store for Drummer and the ??crew of The Artemis.

If you are a fan of The Expanse TV series, this should be a no-brainer purchase for you. Any more The Expanse material is worth checking out. That being said, this story takes place before the show, so it's not necessary to have watched it to enjoy this entry. Sure, you might not recognize a couple of easter eggs, but the narrative itself is its own. This first chapter does a great job of setting the stage for the remaining four episodes. Regardless of your previous experience, The Expanse: A Telltale Series �Episode 1 is a fun experience in a beautiful universe.

The post Review: The Expanse: A Telltale Series – Episode 1 appeared first on Destructoid.

New episodes will arrive every other week

Telltale Games is premiering the first episode of The Expanse: A Telltale Series this summer. The first? installment will go live on July 27, with more e??pisodes to follow in the weeks after.

The Expanse series will be episodic, with five episodes in total. After the first drops on July 27, each?? episode will follow two weeks after? each other, putting the targeted end date in September.

There's a standard edition for $39.99, or a Deluxe Edition for $44.99 that will give 24-hour early access on PlayStation or Epic, and also future DLC. Yes, Telltale confirms DLC is on the way, though it doesn't clarify w??hat s?hape that will take.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzG5WI5ak1g

All part of the churn

This new Expanse series arrives from the revived Telltale Games, under LCG Entertainment. While it's rolled out games like the Shadow Edition of the Batman Telltale series, The Expanse is one the studio has been building up to for a while, in collaboration with Life is Strange: True Colors developer Deck Nine.

Telltale also confirmed that The Wolf Among Us 2, its follow-up to the previous Fable adventure, is delayed into 2024. The shift is to avoid crunch, and move from Unreal 4 to 5, according to an IGN interview at the time.

This will be an interesting one to watch, to see what the new Telltale is putting out. Deck Nine's involvement certainly has me intrigued, as True Colors was a really solid entry in the Life is Strange series, and I'm a fan of The Expanse too. Opting fo?r an episodic structure similar to what old Telltale popularized has me curious about its reception, though. At the very least, it will be weeks between episodes rather than months.

We'll see if the sci-fi drama's gradual rollout works. The Expanse: A Telltale Series premieres on July 27 for PlaySta??tion 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC?? via Epic.

The post ??The Expanse: A Tel?ltale Series kicks off its episodic run in July appeared first on Destructoid.

Gear up for launch next year, Belters

The Expanse: A Telltale Series is setting a course for launch. The sci-fi narrative adventure set in The Expanse universe is aiming for a sum??mer 2023 release window.

The Telltale series showed up today, as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live 2022. The series will follow beloved Belter captain Camina Drummer, in a prequel set before the events of The Expanse show.

In the gameplay shown today, we got a look at some of the zero-G navigation and space sections. Looks like there will be the usual quick-time events, as well as some tough ??choices to make.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdU8hhftinE

The Expanse: A Telltale Series is being developed by Telltale and Deck Nine, the makers of Life is Strange: True Colors. Today, the team set? a release window of next summer in 2023.

The post Telltale’s The Expanse looks to take off in summer 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Just caught in the churn

Gamescom Opening Night Live is less than a week away, which means we're steadily seeing which games are pre-announcing their show appearance. Today, showrunner Geoff Keighley and Telltale Games confirm that the latter's The Expanse series will show off a first look at gameplay ?during the showcase.

The Opening Night Live stream is airing on Twitch and YouTube, on August 23 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. The show's expected to run for two hours, with over 30 games on stage to show.

//twitter.c??om/telltalegames/status/1559933630104752128

The new Telltale series is from the reformed Telltale Games, which was bought and revived after the first Telltale Games had to shut its doors. This new Telltale, under LCG Entertainment, is the one working on The Expanse: A Telltale Series alongside fellow narrative g??ame studio Deck N?ine and Alcon Interactive Group.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=13h1mxJUZjc

No risk, no reward

I am pretty curious to see what this combination has in store for The Expanse. While the new Telltale is fairly fresh, Deck Nine proved its mettle with Life is Strange: True Colors, a really phenomenal entry in the series.

The story will follow Camina Drummer, who Expanse fans will remember as the all-around-badass Belter?? from the series. It takes place prior to the events of the series, following Drummer's search for a mysterious treasure on the ??fringes of the Belt.

While IP adaptations were Telltale's go-to during its original run, The Expanse is a new franchise for the company. It's also one that could, in my opinion, really benefit from a narrative-focused approach. The tensions and politics of the Solar System playing out in verbal standoffs through Telltale's systems???????????????????????????? could be a good time, if done well. We'll learn more at Gamescom Opening Night Live.

Telltale is also working on The Wolf Among Us 2, which we got a look at earlier this year. That's set for sometime in 2023.

The post The Expanse: A Telltal?e Games Series will get a gameplay f??irst look at Gamescom ONL appeared first on Destructoid.

I'll believe it when I see it

Last week's Game Awards were full of lots and lots�and lots of announcements, but one that particularly stood out to me was the trailer for Telltale Games' return with their new title The Expanse. It's a bit jar??ring to see the studio's name nowadays, like it's the zombified corpse of a once dear friend.

When I was a little baby gamer who really loved story-focused games but didn't have the mechanical skills to play anything else, Telltale was my go-to. From the tough but lovable characters in The Wolf Among Us to the kickass licensed soundtrack from Tales from the Borderlands, they're still some of the most stylized narrat?ive ?experiences you can find in games today.

Telltale was beloved not only by me, but basically the entirety of the gaming community, so I think I can speak for just about everyone when I say we were devastated to hear that the studio was shutting down in 2019. I also watched the Noclip documentary about the breakdown of the studio, which made ??the heartbreak of it all the more palpable.

If you aren't familiar, Noclip is a production company that makes crowdfunded documentaries about games. In May of 2019, they released a near hour-long film interviewing some of the former Telltale employees about the company's final days. They speak of back??breaking crunch, poor leadership who bit off more than the studio could chew, and the constant looming threat of layoffs and closures. Many of the employees were completely blindsided by the news that the studio went under, who were told that they only had thirty minutes to gather their things and exit the building after the meeting.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-2nNksMBpg

Anyone who was on social media at the time of Telltale's closing, though, will remember the outpouring of love and support for the ??former Telltale developers on social media. Plenty of game companies made posts directed specifically at those affected by the closure, as they could provide them jobs at their own studios. Even the release of the Noclip documentary was cathartic, as one developer wrote in the comments on YouTube: "As another Ex-Telltale dev, thanks for this. This provided so many of us with some serious emotional closure, thank you."

So I was shocked to hear in December of that same year that Telltale would potentially return with a second Wolf Among Us game. Surely they had rallied up everyone who had been fired and reformed the team to keep going, right? Nope. The name and rights of the studio had in fact been sold to LCG Entertainment, a new holding company that had been formed in an attempt to revive the brand. "There is still a huge fanbase of Telltale players and that's one of the main reasons we decided to make this investment, said LCG co-head Brian Waddle, while at the time only hiring back a few, ?if any at all, of the previous Telltale developers.

In fairness, there's a chance that LCG has in fact brought the former devs back on board, but there hasn't been much coverage of the topic since the initial media storm died down. So that brings me to my main point: as far as we know, henceforth all of the Telltale games?? we're going to get will be? with a team that is at best mostly new to the brand, and that makes me skeptical beyond all belief. Recapturing the magic of the originals is difficult enough as is, but that's made even more difficult when you're missing major players that made our favorite games what they were.

I'm not saying that a new group of people won't be able to make awesome games, it's just that something about Telltale's return leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Maybe it's the part of me that was also hurt from a project I cared about getting shut down with little warning, but something feels wrong about the previous devs being unceremoniously? let go, just for all of their work and assets to be sold to the highest bidder, who can then use that to ride the coattails of the name that they worked so hard to build. It'll be hard to enjoy something new if it feels like it was?? built on top of the graveyard of the thing I loved.

That initial hit of dopamine when we see our favorite developer's name flash across the screen can be addicting, but every once in a while I want us to stop and think about how that name got there in the first place. I want us all to be able to play amazing games all the time, but I also want them to be created in? the healthiest, happiest, least-exploitative way possible, and regardless of the sketchiness of the current Telltale situation, the evocation of its name alone should be enough to make us stop and think.

Besides the labor practices, I also just want them to make good games that are fun to play and pay homage to the Telltale formula while also iterating on it. We've ?launched into a new console generation since the studio's shutdown, and the fans and the namesake deserve only the best if we're going to do this again. If we must revivify the corpse of Telltale, then by god, just make it good.

One encouraging moment we also got from The Game Awards, though, was a trailer for the narrative adventure game Star Trek: Resurgence from a new indie studio called Dramatic Labs, whose team is comprised of former Telltale employees. If th??ey weren't able to be rehired by the LCG, it's heartening to see that these devs are still out here making the types of games that they love. I'm glad they can return on their own terms.

The current team at Telltale recently released a short update, but it was cryptic at best, and focused entirely on the games rather than the teams making them. From where we stand, there's really no way to know the full story, unless some of th??e former or current devs speak out more substantially. Part of me is curious to give the new titles a try when they come out, but until then I'll definitely be taking everything they say with a grain of salt. Shutdowns can happen out of nowhere.

The post I’m skeptical of Telltale’s return appeared first on Destructoid.