The Walking Dead series is just typical! We have way too many zombie games out right now but Flux Game Studio is releasing another one. In the game, you’ll control over a dozen characters controlling their fates. So, there’s a consequence-based system at the core of The Walking Dead: Destinies that determines the characters’ ending. Thankfully, the TV series’ storyline and lore are fantastic, with compelling characters abound. Mostly every reviewer at Player.com loved the show because of its pacing.
The twist is that this game allows players to change key moments of the series. Maybe you don’t want a character to die; The choice is up to you. Remember, the game’s events are only inspired by the TV series. Characters also have unique skill sets, motives, and weapons of choice. So, endings can be entirely engineered by players or so the studio claimed. The Walking Dead: Destinies is out on the PlayStation, Xbox, Microsoft Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch. Meanwhile, read about the best TV series based on video games.
Funny Story: How to Have Kids in Bannerlord: Easy Guide
Top 8 Characters in Walking Dead | Ranked by Their Endings
There are 8 characters in The Walking Dead: Destinies that we loved their endings; Similar to the characters in Resident Evil 4. This is although there are dozens of choices for gamers. We broke down their weapon choices, personalities, and more. The Walking Dead: Destinies didn’t receive a positive reception from fans of the series and critics alike. However, there are still some delightful moments and they’re experienced when you choose any of these characters.
#1: Daryl Dixon
Daryl Dixon favours two weapons, a crossbow and a knife, and he’s one of the original characters in The Walking Dead. Besides that, Daryl got his spin-off in 2023 following the conclusion of the series. The closest character to him is the protagonist in Stalker 2. Daryl is a compelling character because of his relationship with his toxic brother Merle. At first, he’s brash, surly, and impulsive, as per his brother’s instructions. So, many fans don’t immediately love his attitude but he matures and grows emotionally. Later on, he stands up to his brother, whose rage is destructive.
Daryl is a professional at hunting, observation, tracking, and navigation. He’s good enough at these jobs that Rick Grimes considers him his right-of-hand and brother-figure. However, Daryl’s ability to survive, kind of like a cockroach, is his defining character. That, and his uncanny aggression levels because of his tough background. He’s one of the two characters who survive the events of The Walking Dead: Destinies. This is regardless of your decisions throughout the events of the game. His undying loyalty and mental fortitude easily earn him the best character ending in the game. He’s simply built to survive.
#2: Rick Grimes
Rick Grimes is the first character that players will get to use in The Walking Dead: Destinies. He’s the Deputy Sheriff for King County’s police force, so he’s equipped with great knowledge of firearms and city survival techniques and protocols. In the series, Rick wakes up from a coma with no knowledge of the zombie outbreak. He should also be dead, which is why his friend and work colleague, Shane Walsh, was involved romantically with his wife. However, through sheer luck and a few barricaded doors because of Walkers, Rick survives.
Through his decisions, he guided many survivors to safety and shelter, but bad luck thinned down his group drastically. The game lets players completely control Rick’s decisions and, consequently, his fate. Sure, you can let the game unfold according to the events in the TV series but that’s like forcing the game to commit suicide. We wish the creators had tapped more into the power of the PS5. Try to survive in The Walking Dead: Destinies, which is actively trying to kill off the main character. Rick’s weapon of choice is a bat and revolver.
#3: Michonne Grimes (Neé Hawthorne)
Michonne Hawthorne is one of the most ruthless characters in The Walking Dead due to the loss of her toddler and boyfriend. She can be seen walking with the undead regularly through the use of camouflage. However, that’s after she has cut off their arms and jaws so the chances of being bitten are almost null. Fans love Michonne because she’s a seasoned swordswoman who can dispatch both human enemies and zombies. So, her katana isn’t just for show against slow enemies who are incapable of speech or any coordination besides forming a horde. Michonne also pairs her katana with a pistol to even the odds when fighting human enemies.
She befriends Andrea, which eventually leads her to Woodbury, which was created by The Governor. Michonne met up with Rick Grime’s group and joined them because it was better than a lonely existence. She later linked up with Rick and together they had a daughter by the name of Judith Grimes. Michonne can actively participate in Rick’s negotiations with The Governor, unlike in the TV series, where she was passive-aggressive.
#4: Shane Walsh
Shane Walsh was Rick Grime’s best friend and work colleague until the zombie outbreak. He’s also the one who sheltered Rick until he woke from his coma. For one, he managed to barricade the doors before leaving the hospital, so he’s not an evil man. However, his temper and aggression following the outbreak embittered him, which became evident after Rick regrouped with him. He had a romantic affair with his best friend’s wife, who dumped him as soon as her husband found her.
That was a power move, which disintegrated Shane’s control and power as the leader of the team. Eventually, he fought with his former best friend, even attempting to murder him because he felt he was being replaced. However, Rick, a known pacifist, eventually shoots Shane, who turns into a walker. Shane was later killed by Carl, Rick’s son. Due to the main protagonist’s subdued personality, many fans wondered what would have happened to the group if Shane was in charge instead. After all, his tendency for violence is extreme, evident in his weapons of choice, a shotgun and sledgehammer.
#5: Philip Blake (The Governor)
The Governor is a power-drunk narcissist by the name of Philip Blake, who’s also the leader of Woodbury, a fortified town that was later overrun by zombies. However, he scores points for his coordination, ruthlessness, and dedication to a better future for people. He’s one of the few villains in The Walking Dead: Destinies that players can control. According to the creators, The Governor is a megalomaniac who’s delusional enough to think of himself as a messiah to his group. His weapons of choice are an assault rifle and katana, though the former tool can be rather unwieldy in fights.
In the game, Philip Blake is a changed man but that’s entirely dependent on your choices. You can side with Rick’s group and prevent Woodbury from being destroyed by Walkers. However, watch out for betrayals, which will lead to The Governor being usurped as Woodbury’s leader. This twist is interesting as it’s different from the events of the canon. In the TV series, he’s a mass murderer who plays the role of antagonist for more than two seasons. Eventually, The Governor dies a disgraced fool who was killed by one of the people he swore to protect.
#6: Theodore Douglas (T-Dog)
Theodore Douglas didn’t get enough screen time in the TV series before the creators of the show killed him off. So, The Walking Dead: Destinies is a great opportunity for him to shine. T-Dog is cool as diamonds with a tough air about him but that doesn’t mean he’s angry. In fact, he’s a practical leader who only wants to see his group flourish and if peace is the obvious choice, he’ll actively practise it.
Theodore’s weapons of choice are his pistol and signature sledgehammer, which makes it evident that he’s capable of being a savage too.
To that end, T-Dog is capable enough to violently snatch Woodbury away from The Governor. However, all of your decisions would have to be antagonistic to get this ending so he may just survive past Season 3 this time around. Theodore Douglas was one of Rick Grime’s loved ones but the game teases us enough to imagine a reality where they had a showdown. The walkers in the game are reminiscent of the monsters in Silent Hill 2: Remake. However, the ideal reality is the one where he’s not mutilated by walkers and isn’t antagonistic enough to betray his former friends.
#7: Glenn Rhee
Glenn Rhee used a pistol and crowbar to decimate opponents, which are both lightweight options. We don’t blame him because of his petite, agile body frame. This means he’s not that capable in the frontlines but thankfully, his senses are sharp. For one, he has saved characters’ lives in The Walking Dead not once or twice. That’s because he shines as a supply runner, which is a role that avoids confrontations.
If you love stealth-based gameplay, then this is one of the best characters for that. Glenn’s story in The Walking Dead: Destinies faithfully follows the events of the first game. Funnily enough, that’s not a good move because Glenn’s death was untimely and some decisions in the game will once again lead to his death. On the bright side, Glenn romances Maggie after coming across her father’s farm.
#8: Carol Peletier
Carol Peletier suffers from depression for the most part but she later grows into a tough character. Her character development is exceptional because she trusted the wrong people many times and paid for it. Carol learned what was right and wrong by force so at the end of the TV series, she could throw the best punches around.
However, because she was a housewife before the outbreak, she didn’t get the necessary freedom to explore offensive skills. Instead, Carol shines in resource gathering, diffusing fights, and other tense situations. She’s a team player so only choose her if you’re not after more aggressive game experiences. However, she can still suffer a violent death in The Walking Dead: Destinies so tread carefully.
Our Final Say: The Game Is an Illusion
The Walking Dead: Destinies tricks players into thinking they have control over the characters. However, that’s just an illusion because only two survivors are alive after the game’s events, regardless of your decisions. In the meantime, you can play other games like Resident Evil 4 and The Walking Dead: Destinies. Additionally, the game isn’t the most visually impressive, even though it was released in 2023. Unreal Engine 5 has been out for more than a year and yet many studios aren’t taking advantage of it. We don’t blame them; Game development is an art and art requires hard work, talent, and dedication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Voices in The Walking Dead: Destinies the Same as the TV Series’ Cast?
No, The Walking Dead: Destinies’ characters are voiced by different actors and actresses. The list includes Matt Lowe, IronE Singleton, and Sarah Wayne Callies. There are more popular names on board but this game feels like an indie title the more you learn about it.
How Many The Walking Dead Games Are Available?
There are around six games in The Walking Dead franchise. The best games are from Telltale Games, easily being regarded as the studio’s best works to date. Flux Game Studio’s faithful approach might have worked if the studio had delivered on its claims. Currently, The Walking Dead: The Final Season is the best Telltale Games title on the market.
What Are the Weak Points of The Walking Dead: Destinies?
One of the complaints we have is that voiceovers aren’t faithful, despite the studio’s promises. At least they could have used different faces but now it looks like a knock-off. The animations aren’t realistic either and look nothing like the quality animations of the Resident Evil games.