10 Thought-Provoking Video Games That Haunted You For Days

3. The Walking Dead

What is it about post-apocalyptic scenarios that makes them ideal for deep, moral choices? When Telltale announced their spin-off of the Walking Dead (mainly fueled by the popularity of the TV series), many wondered how well a point-and-click zombie game would work. Exceptionally well, it turns out. Through a mix of clever, player-driven gameplay and interesting story and character arcs, Telltale have revolutionised the point-and-click genre and brought it to the masses. Some were quick to write off The Walking Dead as a series of quick-time events (and to be fair, that is a big element of the game) but the real joy of the game is the way it ties the player into life or death decisions on a constant basis. You control one central character and dictate their path through the post-apocalyptic wastelands of Georgia, choosing their dialogue and picking which sides they take during key scenes. It's pretty intense stuff, considering all you're really doing is choosing a branching path. As a result, the emotional attachment to the series is key. Shaping Lee and Clementine is a vital element of the game and it's interesting to see the different paths people have taken throughout. There's some pretty harrowing decisions to be made and it's also possible to feel an immense amount of regret for making (or not making) certain decisions; not bad for a series of quick-time events. The Walking Dead has always been a series that makes the humans every bit as scary as the zombies - the game is another great example of this.