74
MONSTER
In the near future on the outskirts of the asteroid belt, a bloody mutiny breaks loose on the Artemis. You take the role of XO Camina Drummer, where your choices determine the fate of the ship. What will you do with the truth, Bosmang?
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
Expand for full analysis
77
Critics praise The Expanse: A Telltale Series for its emotionally charged storytelling, deep character arcs, and dialogue-driven survival mechanics, with standout nods to its moral complexity and ties to the franchise’s universe. However, flaws emerge in its scaled-down scope, predictable choices, and underdeveloped political stakes, leaving some fans craving the TV show’s grandeur. While it shines as a compelling prequel for newcomers and die-hard fans alike, its ambition falls short of the source material’s high-octane politics.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
77
Positive Reviews (80-100)
61%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
36%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Critics praise The Expanse: A Telltale Series for its emotionally charged storytelling, deep character arcs, and dialogue-driven survival mechanics, with standout nods to its moral complexity and ties to the franchise’s universe. However, flaws emerge in its scaled-down scope, predictable choices, and underdeveloped political stakes, leaving some fans craving the TV show’s grandeur. While it shines as a compelling prequel for newcomers and die-hard fans alike, its ambition falls short of the source material’s high-octane politics.
Gameplay Mechanics
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67
The Expanse: A Telltale Series elevates exploration and narrative with zero-gravity innovation and branching choices, but repetitive mechanics, shallow puzzles, and control flaws undermine its potential, leaving it a mixed bag of progress and formulaic execution.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
67
Positive Reviews (80-100)
17%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
81%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
The Expanse: A Telltale Series elevates exploration and narrative with zero-gravity innovation and branching choices, but repetitive mechanics, shallow puzzles, and control flaws undermine its potential, leaving it a mixed bag of progress and formulaic execution.
Graphics and Visual Design
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79
Visually stunning space odyssey with lush environments and cinematic flair, but plagued by clunky character models, repetitive sets, and technical glitches—still a bold leap for Telltale’s visuals.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
79
Positive Reviews (80-100)
63%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
37%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Visually stunning space odyssey with lush environments and cinematic flair, but plagued by clunky character models, repetitive sets, and technical glitches—still a bold leap for Telltale’s visuals.
Music and Sound Design
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73
Praise for atmospheric sound design and emotional music elevates The Expanse: A Telltale Series, with standout voice acting (Cara Gee) and show-accurate themes, but technical flaws like poor mixing, glitches, and sparse scoring detract from the sci-fi immersion.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
73
Positive Reviews (80-100)
44%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
50%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
6%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Praise for atmospheric sound design and emotional music elevates The Expanse: A Telltale Series, with standout voice acting (Cara Gee) and show-accurate themes, but technical flaws like poor mixing, glitches, and sparse scoring detract from the sci-fi immersion.
Voice Acting
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84
Cara Gee’s blistering portrayal of Camina Drummer steals the show, with critics hailing her as a standout in The Expanse: A Telltale Series. The voice acting earns universal praise for its emotional authenticity and fidelity to the source material, though uneven supporting performances and occasional impersonators slightly undercut the experience. Despite minor flaws, the cast’s powerfully delivered dialogue and return of original actors solidify the game’s narrative strength, proving strong vocal work is key to immersive storytelling.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
84
Positive Reviews (80-100)
88%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
13%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Cara Gee’s blistering portrayal of Camina Drummer steals the show, with critics hailing her as a standout in The Expanse: A Telltale Series. The voice acting earns universal praise for its emotional authenticity and fidelity to the source material, though uneven supporting performances and occasional impersonators slightly undercut the experience. Despite minor flaws, the cast’s powerfully delivered dialogue and return of original actors solidify the game’s narrative strength, proving strong vocal work is key to immersive storytelling.
Technical Performance
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72
The Expanse: A Telltale Series delivers a polished, technically superior experience over past titles, with PS5 and Xbox Series X praised for smooth performance, stunning visuals, and responsive controls. PC sees improvement but struggles with clunky dialogue, awkward design choices, and minor glitches. While platform-specific quirks linger, the game marks a major leap forward for Telltale, blending refined mechanics with immersive storytelling.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
72
Positive Reviews (80-100)
41%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
59%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
The Expanse: A Telltale Series delivers a polished, technically superior experience over past titles, with PS5 and Xbox Series X praised for smooth performance, stunning visuals, and responsive controls. PC sees improvement but struggles with clunky dialogue, awkward design choices, and minor glitches. While platform-specific quirks linger, the game marks a major leap forward for Telltale, blending refined mechanics with immersive storytelling.
Replay Value
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66
Praise for The Expanse: A Telltale Series's branching choices and episodic design clashes with criticism of shallow decisions, underwhelming endings, and predictability, leaving replayability as a mixed bag—ideal for casual revisits but lacking depth for dedicated fans.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
66
Positive Reviews (80-100)
22%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
63%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
16%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Praise for The Expanse: A Telltale Series's branching choices and episodic design clashes with criticism of shallow decisions, underwhelming endings, and predictability, leaving replayability as a mixed bag—ideal for casual revisits but lacking depth for dedicated fans.
Overall Verdict
74
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
74
Positive Reviews (80-100)
56%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
44%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
A tale of two halves: The Expanse: A Telltale Series dazzles with rich storytelling, emotional depth, and faithful world-building, earning praise as a standout narrative experience. But its reliance on stale gameplay mechanics, rushed pacing, and underdeveloped characters undermines its potential, leaving fans divided—celebrated as a heartfelt return for the franchise, yet criticized for failing to evolve Telltale’s formula.
74
MONSTER
Reviews
65 reviews found90
GameSpot
Aug 1, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a masterclass in narrative design, providing a refreshing change from typical RPGs with its focus on character depth and meaningful choices.
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85
Movies Games and Tech
Sep 15, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Must-play game with minor frustration about short chapters
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83
Gaming Age
Sep 28, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a solid attempt to re-establish Telltale as the king of adventure games. It hits release deadlines, has a polished game, and will likely be enjoyed by fans of the show or Telltale's prior efforts.
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80
IGN Portugal
Sep 19, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a significant evolution in Telltale's game design, offering an emotional experience with stunning visuals and impactful choices.
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80
ZTGD
Sep 26, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a fantastic companion piece to The Expanse show, with strong storytelling and engaging gameplay. Fans of Telltale's previous work should not miss this series.
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80
Worth Playing
Aug 15, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Overall, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a strong return for Telltale Games, appealing to both fans of the genre and the TV show, with a promising start.
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80
PlayStation Universe
Sep 25, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a hugely enjoyable adaptation of the television show and books, with engaging characters and improved visuals. The final episode and plodding pace are minor drawbacks.
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80
GameOver.gr
Sep 23, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Overall, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is considered an excellent addition to Telltale's portfolio, standing out with its engaging story and improved technical execution.
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80
Cultured Vultures
Sep 26, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Overall, Telltale’s The Expanse is a successful reinvention of their mechanics, appealing to both fans of the source material and newcomers, despite some shortcomings.
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80
VideoGamer
Jul 25, 2023
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a compelling addition to Telltale's catalogue, with a strong narrative, engaging characters, and immersive design, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
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