The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a 2023 Episodic Game produced by Telltale Games (their first since the company's resurrection) and Deck Nine, set in the universe of The Expanse a few years prior to the first season. The series centers on Belter Camina Drummer (voiced by Cara Gee, who played Drummer in the series), who is currently the XO of the scavenger Artemis after having had a falling out with OPA leader Anderson Dawes.
The game consists of five episodes:
- Episode 1: "Archer's Paradox", released on July 27, 2023.
- Episode 2: "Hunting Grounds", released on August 10, 2023.
- Episode 3: "First Ones", released on August 24, 2023.
- Episode 4: "Impossible Objects", released on September 7, 2023.
- Episode 5: "Europa's Folly", released on September 21, 2023.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series contains examples of the following tropes:
- An Arm and a Leg: The player has the option of having Drummer cut off Rayen's leg to save both him and a supply vault.
- Borrowed Biometric Bypass: Drummer cuts off a hand from a dead UNN officer to open a fingerprint lock.
- Chekhov's Gun: Drummer is concerned by Virgil having so many prosthetic limbs on hand. If she chooses to sacrifice Rayen's leg, they'll come in handy.
- If Drummer sacrificed Rayen's leg and visits the medical bay after Khan's operation, she will now be in awe that the crew needed two prosthetics in the space of a week.
- Ink-Suit Actor: Drummer is designed after her voice actress, Cara Gee. Justified as Gee played Drummer in the live action series.
- The same applies to Julie Mao, who is voiced by and modeled after Florence Faivre, who played her in the show.
- Killed Off for Real: Most of the cast can potentially die.
- Cox can be spaced by Drummer at the end of Episode One.
- Maya can be spaced with Drummer at the end of Episode Three, but only Drummer has a helmet, so she dies.
- Drummer can kill Rayen at Tor's request while boarding the Artemis by crushing his head with her mag boot.
- Khan can die after the fight with the pirates.
- Make It Look Like an Accident: Cox tries to roast Drummer alive by calling her to the ship's thruster and starting the engine. Drummer does NOT take it well, naturally.
- Mysterious Past: There's obviously something big in Virgil's past that led him to ship out with the Artemis. Cox knows, but isn't telling.
- Downplayed with Khan, who also has an unknown reason for being on board, but while Virgil's past is presumably a secret due to its nature, Khan's past is a secret because she's an ornery old lady who keeps to herself and doesn't like talking to people.
- Sadistic Choice: During the salvaging of the Urshanabi, Rayen's leg gets pinned under a vault containing valuable supplies. Drummer has to choose between losing the vault (which might make the difference in keeping the whole crew alive) or amputating Rayen's leg.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: There is a lot of tension among the crew of the Artemis, mostly due to Cox having failed to live up to his promises that they would only need a few jobs to become rich enough to retire. At the start of the first episode, both supplies and morale are extremely low.
- Thrown Out the Airlock: The game opens with Arlen and Rayen throwing Cox into the airlock. At the end, Drummer can choose whether to space Cox or throw him in the brig.
- Episode Three: Drummer is spaced at the end of the episode, albeit with a spacesuit on so she survives. Depending on the player's choices, Maya may also be thrown out with Drummer, only without a helmet. She doesn't survive.
- Episode Five: Drummer kills Toussaint by opening the airlock while they're both in it, only Drummer has her helmet on and Toussaint doesn't.
- What a Piece of Junk: Deliberately invoked by the Artemis. It doesn't look like much (so it won't be as attractive to pirates) but it's well maintained and in good condition.
- You Are in Command Now: After Drummer either spaces Cox or throws him in the brig, she takes command of the Artemis. This seems to throw her for a loop and Episode One ends with Khan repeatedly asking "Captain Drummer, what are your orders?".
