The Walking Dead Creator Calls Out Its Spin-Off That "Fell Short of Hitting the Mark"

By Dod Seitz

Published Apr 22, 2025

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Custom Image by Debanjana Chowdhury

Sometimes an idea sounds fantastic in theory but fails to live up to expectations in execution. This is the case with The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, a video game that had many promising elements but ultimately disappointed both critics and fans. Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead, recently acknowledged that the game did not meet the high standards set by the rest of the franchise, despite its potential.

In a fan letter featured in The Walking Dead Deluxe #111, a reader questioned the quality of Survival Instinct. Kirkman responded candidly, itting that while the game had potential, it ultimately fell short of its true potential. In his response, he explained that AMC was primarily overseeing the game's production.

"I think survival instinct had merits as a cool way of getting more Daryl, who is a popular character from the TV show, but in the end, I will it that it fell short of hitting the mark."

Kirkman did acknowledge the game's merit in offering more content for Daryl, one of The Walking Dead's best characters, but he didn't shy away from the fact that it wasn't the experience fans had hoped for. This ission from the creator underscores the game's lack of polish and the overall disappointment surrounding its release.

Kirkman's Candid Callout

Why Survival Instinct Failed

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In The Walking Dead Deluxe #111, one fan wrote in asking why Survival Instinct even happened in the first place. Kirkman responded by explaining that AMC had overseen the game’s production, while his team at Skybound focused on the Telltale Walking Dead series. He acknowledged that the execution was rushed, leaving behind nothing but shallow gameplay and a hollow story. The game clearly didn’t live up to the quality expected from the Walking Dead brand.

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The fan letter and Kirkman’s response shed light on how the production process for Survival Instinct unfolded. Many fans fail to realize that, despite Daryl's popularity, Kirkman doesn't own the rights to the character, but AMC does. They had control over how he was used in spin-offs, including video games. Meanwhile, Kirkman and his team were busy focusing on the more successful Telltale series, which offered a much more polished narrative experience. This difference in oversight likely contributed to the disparity in quality between Survival Instinct and other Walking Dead adaptations.

Survival Instincts Backlash

The Dangers Of Rushed Cash Grabs

The player looks down a crossbow in first-person view as walkers attack in the game The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct

The downfall of Survival Instinct serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of rushing a game to market for a quick cash grab. Critics and players alike noted the game's lack of polish and coherence, with some calling it a "lazy, cheap cash grab." In the rush to capitalize on the success of The Walking Dead TV show, the game ended up ranking among some of the worst games of all time. The failure to deliver a compelling experience left both fans and creators disappointed, ultimately tarnishing the legacy of what could have been a great addition to the franchise.

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Kirkman’s response serves as a reminder that, no matter how successful a property might be, the quality of its spin-offs matters. Rushed games or half-baked concepts can result in a tarnished reputation, even for the most beloved of characters. The creators are ultimately held responsible when a product fails to live up to its potential, as evidenced by the mixed reception of Survival Instinct. It stands as a reminder that the pressure to capitalize on a successful brand should never outweigh the need for careful planning and quality execution.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #111 is available now at your local comic shop.