The Ultimate Fusion: When The Walking Dead Collides with Among Us

The Walking Dead: Betrayal is an exciting new social deduction game, inspired by Innersloth's Among Us, that allows up to eight players to participate. Developed by Other Ocean Interactive and published by Skybound Games, players are tasked with collaborating to defend against the relentless undead while also staying vigilant for traitors within their group.

Skybound Entertainment, renowned for publishing popular comics like The Walking Dead, expanded its presence in the gaming industry with the establishment of Skybound Games in 2018. On the other hand, Other Ocean Interactive gained recognition for their social deduction game Project Winter, which was released in 2019 and has garnered a Very Positive rating on Steam.

Skybound Games and Other Ocean Interactive unveiled The Walking Dead: Betrayal through an announcement trailer on Wednesday. Marketed as a "A Project Winter game," anyone acquainted with Other Ocean Interactive's critically acclaimed social deduction survival game will recognize the similarities. In this game, survivors must work together, communicate effectively, cook, craft, gather resources, and fend off the ever-present threat of undead hordes. However, in a twist, hidden traitors will attempt to undermine the survivors' efforts by secretly eliminating them one by one. Nonetheless, death does not mark the end in The Walking Dead: Betrayal, as deceased players can return as undead walkers, seeking revenge.

The trailer for The Walking Dead: Betrayal begins with players embarking on a mission from their fortified safe zone to scavenge for supplies. Their expedition proves successful due to exceptional teamwork and communication. However, it doesn't take long before the traitors make their move. If traitors manage to isolate a survivor, they possess the means to eliminate them using firearms and close combat weapons. Nevertheless, to remain undetected, traitors may need to employ creativity. Examples showcased in the trailer involve planting bombs on supply containers or purposefully releasing packs of walkers to create a diversion. The new game is slated for release later this year, and an open beta will commence on August 10.

Given its widespread popularity, Among Us is often regarded as the quintessential social deduction game. For fans of Among Us who also have an inclination for zombie survival, The Walking Dead: Betrayal presents itself as a fantastic game choice. However, it's important to note that Among Us did not pioneer the social deduction genre, as it can be traced back to the party game Mafia from 1986. Early video game examples of social deduction include Space Station 13 from 2003 and "Trouble in Terrorist Town" from Garry's Mod. The common thread throughout these games is that a majority group, unaware of the hidden minority among them, must uncover and eliminate those trying to undermine their efforts.

While most social deduction games focus solely on human interactions, Project Winter expands on this concept by incorporating elements of wilderness survival and dangerous wildlife. In The Walking Dead: Betrayal, the threat level is amplified further by the presence of the franchise's iconic antagonists, the Walkers.

The Walking Dead: Betrayal launches on PC in 2023.