The Expanse: A Telltale Series Review – A Telltale Deep Dive

Introduction: Returning to the Void

Few fictional universes carry the sheer gravitational weight of The Expanse. Spanning a Hugo Award-winning series of novels, a critically acclaimed six-season television show, and a collection of comics, it stands as a titan of modern science fiction, revered for its hard sci-fi realism and dense political world-building. Stepping into this cosmos is the resurrected Telltale Games, a studio synonymous with choice-driven narrative, now launching its first genuine title—developed with Deck Nine—since its high-profile collapse and revival.

Let's be clear: this game knows its audience. It succeeds not by reinventing the narrative adventure, but by delivering a concentrated dose of fan service so potent it feels like a mainline injection of lore. The result is a compelling prequel that meticulously fleshes out the backstory of fan-favorite Camina Drummer. However, this laser focus on servicing the faithful means it sometimes trades narrative innovation for canonical reverence. It’s an essential experience for followers of the franchise and a solid adventure for newcomers, but one that ultimately lands as a well-crafted expansion rather than a revolutionary chapter.

For the full context of Drummer's future, check out our The Expanse TV Series Guide.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series

Play the prequel. Make the hard choices that shaped Camina Drummer. Includes all 5 episodes.

1. A Prequel with Purpose: The Story of Camina Drummer

A prequel in a universe as dense as The Expanse is a high-stakes proposition. A great one must enrich the existing narrative, adding meaningful context to characters fans thought they knew without fracturing the canon. Telltale's decision to explore a chapter of Camina Drummer's life long before the events of the television series proves to be a masterstroke, providing a story that feels both new and essential.

The game situates players in the hardscrabble life of a younger Drummer, brought to fierce life by a powerful performance from her original series actress, Cara Gee. Here, Drummer is not the formidable Belter leader we know, but the Executive Officer of the Artemis, a scavenger ship operating on the fringes of the solar system. The plot ignites when the crew, facing dwindling supplies and rising tensions, stumbles upon the derelict wreck of the UNN Urshanabi. What seems to be the score of a lifetime quickly spirals into a conspiracy involving a powerful, secret weapon known as the "MK Core." The discovery triggers a brutal betrayal by the ship's Earther captain, Cox, forcing Drummer to take command and navigate a series of life-or-death choices that will determine the fate of her crew.

This narrative is the very definition of purposeful fan service. Witnessing her captain sacrifice her for personal gain and a fellow Belter turn on her for the same reason forges the iron-clad pragmatism that defines her leadership in the series; it is the origin story of her deep-seated belief that loyalty must be earned in blood and action, not given freely. By placing players in Drummer's mag-boots during these formative traumas, the game provides the crucial backstory that informs her entire television arc. The story stands on its own as a tense sci-fi thriller, but its true value is in how it recontextualizes a beloved character, moving from a well-told story to the mechanics of how we experience it.

2. The Telltale Formula, Refined

Telltale Games built its reputation on a distinct formula: narrative-driven gameplay where player choice dictates the story's direction. The Expanse adheres to this foundation but elevates it with thoughtful refinements and a game-changing new mechanic that grounds the experience firmly in its source material. The result is arguably the most immersive game the studio has produced.

The core gameplay loop will be familiar, but the execution feels more sophisticated. Story-changing decisions feel less like telegraphed, binary choices and more like organic forks in the narrative. The iconic "… will remember this" notifications often appear unexpectedly, a testament to the more subtle and nuanced writing. This refinement creates a smoother narrative flow, allowing players to become fully absorbed in the story without being pulled out by obviously signposted moments.

The most significant innovation is the introduction of free-roaming exploration in zero gravity. As a scavenger, Drummer frequently explores derelict ships and debris fields. Players can fly through the void using a spacesuit or activate magnetic boots to walk on any surface—walls and ceilings included. This feature is more than a novelty; it is a brilliant mechanical answer to the static, often corridor-bound nature of previous Telltale titles, trading claustrophobic rooms for the terrifying, liberating expanse of the void. Floating through silent, wreckage-strewn darkness powerfully enhances player immersion, making the world feel tangible and real.

Finally, the game benefits from an improved episodic release structure. With new episodes dropping every two weeks, the pacing mimics a television series, maintaining narrative momentum and preventing the long, story-breaking gaps that plagued some of the studio’s previous titles. These refinements, both large and small, combine to create an experience that feels like the next evolution of the Telltale model, perfectly suited to the characters who inhabit its world.

3. Life Aboard the Artemis: Characters and Conflict

Introducing a new cast into a beloved franchise is a significant challenge. For a story to resonate, these newcomers must feel authentic to the world and compelling in their own right. The game's most surprising success is its new cast, a believable crew for the scavenger ship Artemis brought to life by top-notch voice acting and sharp writing that makes their interpersonal conflicts feel like a direct reflection of the series' broader tensions.

The crew of the Artemis is a diverse collection of personalities from across the solar system, each with their own motivations and allegiances.

Each character is well-defined, and the excellent vocal performances make them feel like a genuine, lived-in crew struggling to survive. But the brilliance of the cast lies in its composition. By placing Earthers, a Martian, and Belters on a single, cramped ship, the game creates a microcosm of the solar system's primary political conflict. The distrust, prejudice, and simmering resentment between the Inner Planets and the Belt are not just background lore; they are the fuel for the shipboard drama. This makes the personal betrayals and factional conflicts aboard the Artemis feel weighty and authentic, perfectly echoing the core themes of The Expanse universe before we reach our final conclusion.

The Expanse: The Complete Series [Blu-Ray]

See where Drummer's story leads. The complete 6-season saga on Blu-Ray.

4. The Final Verdict: A Must-Play for Fans

The Expanse: A Telltale Series may not be a groundbreaking revolution in game design, but its value lies in the masterful execution of its intended purpose: to expand a rich and beloved universe for its dedicated fans. It is a confident and polished return for Telltale Games, one that understands its source material intimately and delivers an experience that feels both respectful and additive. The game's primary strengths are clear and exceptionally well-delivered.

• A Compelling Character Study: The game successfully fleshes out the backstory of Camina Drummer, providing essential context for her journey in the main series. It’s a focused, personal tale that has a real impact on the broader saga.
• Refined Narrative Gameplay: By improving upon the classic Telltale formula with more subtle choices and adding immersive zero-gravity exploration, the game offers the most fluid and engaging experience from the developer to date.
• Authentic World-Building: The new characters and the conflicts aboard the Artemis serve as a perfect microcosm of the political and social tensions that define The Expanse, making the world feel consistent and alive.

The final 7/10 rating reflects a game that perfectly achieves its goals, even if those goals are more focused than ambitious. For any fan of The Expanse, this is an essential experience, delivering exactly the kind of deep-dive lore and character development that the community cherishes. While it also serves as an effective entry point for newcomers, its true brilliance is in how it enriches the existing canon. For fans, it is an essential chapter. For Telltale, it is a confident, if not revolutionary, return. Highly recommended.

📌 FAQ