Years after it first hit, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a solid example of how a prequel should work. The closure of the original Telltale studio left a hole in the genre, but this project with developer Deck Nine proves that these stories still have a place on our screens. It successfully channels the feel of the source material without the technical hurdles that used to hold these episodic adventures back. It is a strong step forward for a studio that understands why we care about hard sci-fi.
You don’t need to be an expert on the novels or the TV show to enjoy playing. I’ve always loved Cara Gee’s take on Camina Drummer, and seeing her take centre stage here as a standalone lead is a treat for anyone who likes their space drama grounded and morally gray. It is a tight journey that replaces the typical “save the world” tropes with a personal story about survival and loyalty.
Scavenging the void depends on your crew
The story takes place before the events of the show. You take on the role of Camina Drummer, the second in command on a salvage vessel named the Artemis. The crew is a mix of Earth, Mars, and the Outer Planet Alliance (OPA), a faction of people born in space who are often treated as second class citizens. This means political friction is always present in the ship’s hallways. What starts as a simple mission to scavenge a wrecked ship turns into a struggle over a treasure that major powers would kill to own.
This isn’t a story about politics. It is about the people you are trapped with in the vacuum of space. I spent a lot of time navigating the complicated relationships between the Artemis crew. There is the pilot, Khan, who hides a vulnerable side behind insults. You also deal with the Martian engineer, Maya, whose presence creates immediate hostility with the Belter crew members. You determine whether your crew survives the mission. Unlike older Telltale stories where death felt inevitable for certain people, the survival of your crew here rests on your shoulders.
Zero-G movement changes how you explore
Gameplay is where this game moves furthest away from the old studio template. You still have dialogue choices and quick time events for action. Exploration is now a primary part of the loop. You have magnetic boots for walking on walls. You also have a thruster pack for navigating large, open wreckages in zero gravity. Floating through a silent, destroyed ship while debris drifts around you is one of the most engrossing parts of the journey.
The exploration serves a purpose beyond the visuals. I spent way too much time hunting for scrap because it felt like something a Belter would actually do. Searching a wreck often yields salvage items for resale, but you might also find items that help your crew members. For example, finding a medical tool in an early episode can save a life later in the story. This creates an incentive to poke around every locker. The quick time events are the way the game handles combat. This might let down those looking for direct control. However, the timers are forgiving and keep the story moving.
The Belt looks industrial and lived-in
This is the best looking project Telltale has released. The move to Unreal Engine 4 improved the lighting and environment detail. The ships look used and industrial. They are covered in the grime you expect from a hard sci-fi world. The facial animations are a step up from the past thanks to better motion capture. This is key for a journey that relies on emotional nuance. I noticed that the characters convey as much through their body language as they do through the writing, which helps sell the hostility of the world.
Cara Gee’s performance as Camina Drummer is the anchor of the package. She brings the same intensity and unique speech patterns that made her a fan favourite in the show. The rest of the cast holds their own as well. The Artemis comes across as a real place with a history. The sound design handles the transition between the muffled audio of space and the sounds of your own breathing inside a suit. It all creates a sense of place that honours the franchise.
Whether you are walking through the galley or floating in the void, the audio work keeps you grounded in the setting. It is easily one of the most atmospheric games I have played in a long time.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series Is the Comeback We Needed
This is not a perfect journey. Some episodes are short and wrap up in an hour if you do not explore. The pacing can feel uneven in the middle. Some chapters focus on the grind of scavenging rather than the forward drive of the plot. There are moments where the camera can get a bit disorienting during zero-G sections in cramped rooms. These are small issues for a game that gets the fundamentals right. I found that taking my time to search for collectibles made the shorter chapters feel more substantial and rewarded my curiosity.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series proves that the choice-driven genre still has life. It respects your intelligence and offers meaningful consequences for your actions. It provides a striking look at a universe that many people love. Whether you are a long time fan of the Belt or a newcomer looking for a strong story, this mission is worth your time. It is a strong addition to the Telltale legacy that I hope leads to more entries in this style. I walked away from the final episode wanting to see exactly where Drummer goes next, which is the best praise I can give.
The Expanse: a Telltale Series
Summary
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a great return for narrative adventures that adapts the harsh sci-fi world of the source material. By moving away from stiff animations and superficial choices, Deck Nine and Telltale have created a journey where exploration and character relationships have a tangible impact. While the combat remains simple and some episodes are brief, the great voice acting from Cara Gee and the zero-G movement make this highly recommended for fans of the franchise and adventure games.
As always, remember to follow us on our social media platforms (e.g., Threads, X (Twitter), Bluesky, YouTube, and Facebook) to stay up-to-date with the latest news. This website contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission when you click on these links and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. We are an independent site, and the opinions expressed here are our own.
