The Escapists Spin-off Meets The Walking Dead

On this week's episode of Whoa What Wait You've Licensed What To Make a Spin-off of Your Game? comes word that prison-escaping craft-o-RPG The Escapists [official site] has been romancing zombie world comic book The Walking Dead and is expecting a bouncy baby in less than nine months. They plan to give the wholly uncreative name The Escapists The Walking Dead. No, really. Just the two names smashed together. Yeesh, parents these days.

The spin-off will see Rick Grimes trying to keep his pals alive while escaping scary places.

Publishers Team17 detailed the premise in yesterday's announcement:

"In this unique game, recreated entirely in the charming 8-bit pixel art style of The Escapists, Rick is in charge of a band of survivors featuring many of the original comic book cast. He must secure the safety of the group by seeking out a safe escape route from each area, and manage several dangerous tasks to keep as many of the group alive as possible. The game faithfully matches the timeline of the comics and so as the player makes progress in the game they play through locations that mirror the progress of the band of the survivors taken from the award-winning comic's epic story."

Okay then! It's weird, but that's licensed games for you. The original Escapists is an action-RPG of sorts about an inmate trying to bust his way out, learning skills, crafting items, completing quests, and beating folks up to secure an escape route. I assume this is like that, but with zombies.

While the original Escapists was made by Mouldy Toof Studios, Team17 are developing this one internally as well as publishing.

The Escapists The Walking Dead (honestly! that name!) is due some time this year. Here's the first trailer, which I assume shows off the first level: