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This game is, without a doubt, Telltale's best work. Better than walking dead I feel. A short adventure, but one well worth the visit.
While their WalkingDead games are great on their own, this has more creative agency that permeates throughout the experience. Not to say WD is uncreative, yet the zombie apocalypse narrative is a constant we've had for years, and one that won't truly ever go away. At most I find the relationship between Lee and Clementine to be the most interesting. While other characters of that series has a point, the central focus is those two without a doubt. So it's good, just not my thing. As well comparing the two, Wolf Among Us just objectively has a unique idea that while has been done before, hasn't been done as often or at the very least hasn't been done very well often. That is, blending fantasy creatures with a more modern civilization vibe.
While you play as 'the big bad wolf' of fables of old, and despite being grounded in a mix of real life and fairytale atmosphere, all the characters feel human even when they clearly aren't. Not only is it a detective narrative, it can be of a redemption arc, or a grim dive into how ruthless one can be on personal goals for answers, and the cost of being uncaring of others. The adventure is not only finding answers to the mystery at large, but it's also about defining how to act during hard trials. Trials that would make others into worse versions of themselves, now matter how well intended they are. Or an exercise into wanting to be the worst person ever if you wish lol.
While WD has characters that sometimes ultimately feel like throw'aways to me, here, it feels like everyone matters. Be their roles minor or not. What makes this stand out to me is how heartfelt it all is, and how cunning the forces you're put against are. As well, the overall atmosphere and tone.
Speaking of tone, the music, a phenomenal mix of classic instruments and synth balancing a distinct dance of being fantastical and depressing. Often bringing focus to many things properly, or bringing that serious somber but we can get things done kind of vibe. As well, I believe it takes place in 80s or 90s, so you'll be hard pressed to find many things of a techy nature.
Wolf Among Us is like being stuck in the rain by yourself, for a time. You feel alone, things don't feel right, you light a cigarette or enjoy whatever vice to whatever small degree you could while the world phases out you even exist, up until you're taken in by the company of someone unexpected, unsure to turn them away for knowing the hurt of trusting prior, but knowing you can't do things alone.
It's a narrative journey that will make you feel alone, but the same time not. On your way to uncovering what is going on hurting others, you'll find very realistic examples of struggle even fairytale characters will endure such as price inflation for things needed to keep their lives the way they want, addictions to things they know they must stop but are ultimately alone, or their attempts to recapture the past that made them so happy but are now a somber long distant dream losing themselves to their fears.
This game won't change your life likely, but, it'll make you think a lot about stuff. How you treat folk around you, how to act better in some cases, or to maybe understand some folk better.
Cause at the end of it all, you don't have to be as bad as folk think you are. Even yourself.