Fans might have been a little disappointed by the recent news that the much-anticipatedThe Wolf Among Us 2will no longer launch in 2023, butTelltale Gamesstill has many exciting things in the pipeline. An adaption of Neil Gaiman’sThe Sandmanmight not currently be one of them, but that doesn’t mean it won’t ever get a satisfyingly story-focused video game adaption.Telltale Gamesis one of the first studios that come to mind when thinking of quality comic book adaptions, and that’s one of the reasons why it seems an obvious choice to bring DC Comics' beloved series to players.
Telltale has dealt with a number of popular properties in the past likeGame of Thronesand theBorderlandsfranchise, and it made a name for itself when it came to episodic, stylish titles that were driven by decisions and primarily focused on narrative and character over action. The developer has had its share of troubles in the last few years, with the studio abruptly shutting down and filing for bankruptcy in 2018. However, LCG Entertainment thankfully acquired and revived the developer, andTelltale even recently announced that it had secured more fundingto help ensure the future of its current properties. This opens the door for more adaptions, and a few fans would love to seeThe Sandmanjoin the studio’s list of releases.
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Telltale’s Comic Book Credentials
Adapting popular IPs into video games isn’t always easy, especially when there’s a fervent fanbase to appease and a shift in medium to contend with. Not everyone is going to love the version of the characters that a developer comes up with, but Telltale Games was able to pull off a number of adaptions with relative ease. Not only were players pleased with the results on the whole, but a few Telltale titles went on to win critical acclaim and achieve commercial success likethe hit seriesThe Walking Dead.
Although Telltale’s run of episodic narrative games has covered everything from TV shows to other video game properties, the comic book adaptions have been particularly well-received.The Walking Deadwasa massive success, but 2016’sBatman:The Telltale Seriesalsobrought a fresh spin to the iconic character, andThe Wolf Among Ushelped bring DC Comics’Fablesto new audiencesas well. The art style, the format, and the gameplay loop of Telltale’s episodic releases seem to mesh particularly well with comics, so a version ofThe Sandmanseems like a no-brainer.
Why A Telltale Sandman Game Would Work So Well
Telltale Games has clearly proved that it’s a safe pair of hands when it comes to comic book adaptions, especially DC properties likeBatmanandFables. After the success ofNetflix’sThe Sandmanadaptationin 2022, not releasing a video game adaptation seems like a missed opportunity. There is plenty of rich source material to draw from, or a Telltale game could create its own unique story inspired by the comics asThe Wolf Among Usdid. However, a game that follows Morpheus' quest to rebuild his kingdom after he escapes his decades-long imprisonment would give players lots of opportunities to make decisions and determine what kind of ruler the Dream King becomes.
Establishing relationships with the other Endless and choosing what nightmares to create and what to task them with could also be interesting aspects of a Telltale adaption. The world is full of fascinating characters along with the potential to visit different realms and timelines, which offers lots of options when it comes to allowing players to explorethe world ofThe Sandman.
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