Every Walking Dead Series, Ranked
Since 2010, The Walking Dead has stolen – and eaten – millions of hearts. From six spin-off series – not including a web series, an after-show debrief, and the video games that spawned following its success – audiences worldwide have fallen in love with the characters brought to life from the comics on screen.
Portraying the undead in a gritty, “real” light, the franchise not only performed impressively at awards shows but launched a handful of iconic careers, from Norman Reedus’ acclaimed portrayal of Daryl to Emmy-award-winning Steven Yeun’s iconic run with the beloved Glenn. Most true to the characters but at times straying from the source material, the original series has satisfied fans and new audiences alike. From spot-on casting to notably realistic and groundbreaking special effects, these stories of those battling the undead are visceral, heart-wrenching, and undeniably human.
In honor of the upcoming and latest spin on the franchise from AMC, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, here are all six TWD spin-offs that came before, ranked.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond
Set in Nebraska 10 years after the zombie apocalypse, The Walking Dead: World Beyond follows a group of teenagers finding their place in the world of the undead. Leaving their safe headquarters for the first time in their lives, the young protagonists must trek out to save one of their guardians. As young people who have never been exposed to the real world, this series leans into the young adult genre more than any other on this list, lacking the grit that franchise fans are more used to – and perhaps prefer. With the second and final season praised as a worthy ending to the series, we would say: don’t knock The World Beyond until you’ve tried it.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
A long way from home, Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) washes up on the shores of France, breathing a new life into the TWD universe. A bit more self-serious in tone, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon follows the fan-favorite Daryl as he navigates cultural barriers, walker variants, and a shaken France. Fans have praised the show for bringing back the beloved character while still exploring his new depths in a completely new environment, but it is a bit slower in pace, not quite matching the feel of the original series. No matter; Daryl Dixon gets a thumbs-up from us.
Fear the Walking Dead
From its start in Los Angeles to a resort hotel in Mexico, Fear the Walking Dead ventures for an artistic, moody take on the original series, following a dysfunctional blended family as they reinvent themselves to survive the impending collapse of civilization as the apocalypse commences. Though it recycles some elements from the original and is functionally the same structure, featuring an incredible ensemble cast – including Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Frank Dillane, Colman Domingo, and Lennie James, among others – and following the cast of characters as they learn to survive, the series provides a new crew and timeline for fans of the original to lean into. Despite being described by many as a little less iconic, the characters of Fear the Walking Dead bring a new range of folks into this undead universe for eight whole seasons, most of which have been praised by fans and critics alike.
Tales of the Walking Dead
Offering the most unique spin on the franchise, Tales of the Walking Dead is an anthology series that focuses on new and old characters amid various in points time during the undead apocalypse. The series starts with a bang, starring Terry Crews as Joe, a man who has been living in a bunker since the beginning of the apocalypse and emerges to meet a former online friend 700 miles away. The third episode is a fan-favorite in particular, showcasing comic character Alpha (Samantha Morton) as she tries to protect her daughter on their community steamboat. Though many fans have expressed a longing for a series that was more tied to the world they know and love, Tales of the Walking Dead never pretended to be anything it’s not. In our opinion, it still paid homage to the universe while trying out something completely new.
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Set in a devastated New York City, The Walking Dead: Dead City follows Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who are forced to work together in order to save Maggie’s kidnapped son. The cityscape is a new twist for the franchise, and the tension between the two leads is as palpable as it is morally dubious. Receiving positive reviews from critics and fans alike, Dead City brings a new and engaging take on two fan-favorite characters, dusting off some old troupes and laying the groundwork for perhaps something bigger and better rolled up their sleeve.
The Walking Dead
Surprise, surprise, The Walking Dead’s original series takes the #1 spot on our list. With 11 entertaining seasons – and no small feat at that juggling their television fans with the series originalists – the series endured controversial deaths, showrunner switch-ups, and shocking premieres. Despite all this, millions of fans stayed through to the end, speaking to the strength of the show, the characters, and their stories. After all, look at all of the good that came out of this show, even following its finale. There’s not much more to be said other than nothing beats the original.