He’s there and then he’s gone. If you started your journey into the apocalypse with Rick Grimes on AMC, seeing Glenn in The Walking Dead game for the first time feels like a fever dream. It’s 2012. Telltale Games just dropped Episode 1, "A New Day," and suddenly, there he is—the pizza delivery guy we all love, but he’s wearing a different hat. Literally.
Most people remember Glenn Rhee as the heart of the TV show or the guy who met a brutal end at the business end of Lucille. But his appearance in the Telltale universe is a weird, canon-adjacent slice of history that actually bridges the gap between the comic books and the games. It’s short. It’s kinda awkward. Honestly, it’s one of the most underrated moments in the entire series because it sets the stakes for Lee Everett’s journey before we even knew how bad things would get.
Why Glenn in The Walking Dead game matters more than you think
When you first meet him, Glenn is scavenging in Everett’s Pharmacy in Macon. He’s young. He’s resourceful. He’s also incredibly naive compared to the hardened survivor he becomes later.
Telltale’s version of Glenn is based strictly on the comic book continuity, not the show. This is a crucial distinction. In the comics, Glenn is younger and a bit more of a "loner" before he finds the Atlanta camp. In the game, he’s the one who uses a radio to coordinate with Lee, showing off those early signs of the tactical genius that eventually makes him indispensable to Rick’s group. He’s basically the bridge. Without Glenn’s help in that first episode, Lee, Clementine, and the rest of the Macon survivors probably would’ve been walker meat before they even cleared the parking lot.
He represents hope. In a game that quickly becomes famous for its "everyone you love will die" philosophy, Glenn is the one character players know will survive, at least for a while. It’s a bit of a meta-shield. You feel safe when he’s on screen because you know his story doesn't end in a drug store in Georgia.
The Macon connection and the radio
Remember the motel? Glenn is the one who volunteers to go back into the "hot zone" to get gas and supplies. He’s brave, almost to a fault.
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The interaction between Lee and Glenn is fascinating because they’re both "good men" trying to navigate a world that has stopped making sense. Glenn’s presence provides a bit of levity. He’s fast, he’s smart, and he’s got that signature red cap. But the game doesn’t let you keep him. Telltale had to play by the rules of Robert Kirkman’s universe.
The big departure: Why he actually left Lee’s group
A lot of players were pissed when Glenn decided to bail. "Wait, I just spent two hours bonding with this guy and now he's leaving?" Yep. That's exactly what happened.
Glenn’s exit is a direct tie-in to the start of the comic series. He hears a broadcast or gets word that friends are in Atlanta. He feels a pull to go back and check on people he knows. It’s a classic Glenn move—putting himself at risk for the slim chance of helping someone else.
If you look at the timeline, Glenn leaves Lee’s group just days (or even hours) before he eventually runs into Rick Grimes in that alleyway in Atlanta. It’s a seamless handoff. Telltale used him to ground the game in the established world, then moved him off-stage so Lee and Clementine could develop their own legendary status without being overshadowed by a "celebrity" survivor.
Was it really him?
There’s always that one person in the forums arguing it’s a different Glenn. It’s not.
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- The Voice: Voiced by Nick Herman, this version sounds younger and more frantic than Steven Yeun’s portrayal.
- The Look: The outfit is a 1:1 match for his first appearance in The Walking Dead #2.
- The Motivation: His drive to reach Atlanta is the smoking gun.
The gameplay impact of Glenn’s presence
Mechanically, Glenn serves as the tutorial for the game’s "stealth" and "coordination" elements. Think back to the motor inn. You have to use the radio to distract walkers while Lee moves between cars. Glenn is your eye in the sky.
This was revolutionary in 2012. Most zombie games were about shooting things in the face. Telltale’s Glenn in The Walking Dead game segments were about thinking, timing, and sweating over a walkie-talkie. It set the tone for the rest of the season. It taught you that survival isn't about how many bullets you have, but who you can trust on the other end of the line.
Honestly, the chemistry between Lee and Glenn was so good that it’s a shame we didn’t get more. Imagine a world where Lee joined the Atlanta camp. Can you picture Lee Everett meeting Rick Grimes? The power dynamic would have been insane. But Glenn leaving was necessary for the "found family" dynamic between Lee and Clem to take center stage.
Addressing the misconceptions
One of the biggest myths is that your choices can save Glenn or keep him in the group longer. You can’t.
Telltale is famous for the "illusion of choice," and Glenn’s departure is one of those fixed points in time. Whether you’re nice to him or a total jerk, he’s heading to Atlanta. He’s got a date with a tank and a sheriff's deputy. Some players thought that if they didn't help him at the motel, he might stay. Nope. He just leaves feeling a bit more sour about the state of humanity.
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Another misconception is that his appearance was just fan service. While it definitely helped move copies, it served a narrative purpose: it validated Lee as a "good leader." If a guy as competent as Glenn respects Lee, then the player feels like they’re doing something right.
How to experience Glenn's story today
If you’re looking to revisit this, you don't just play any episode. You need Season 1, Episode 1.
- Get the Definitive Series: The graphics are polished up (the "Graphic Black" style), making the comic-book aesthetic pop.
- Pay attention to the dialogue in the pharmacy: There are small nods to his life in the city that flesh out his character more than the early comics did.
- Watch his movement: Notice how he moves differently than the other survivors—he’s lower to the ground, more agile. It’s a great bit of character-specific animation.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you've already finished the game and you're craving more of that specific "early apocalypse" vibe, don't stop at the credits.
- Read the Comic "Special": There is a Glenn-centric one-shot comic that covers his life right before he meets Lee.
- Compare the versions: Watch the first episode of the TV show and then play the first episode of the game. Seeing the two "first meetings" (Lee vs. Rick) back-to-back shows how much care Telltale took to make their Glenn feel authentic to the source material while still being a unique character in the game's world.
- Check out the 400 Days DLC: While Glenn isn't in it, the style of storytelling—short, impactful character studies—is exactly what made his cameo work so well.
Glenn’s time in the Telltale universe was brief, but it remains a masterclass in how to use a legacy character without breaking the story. He wasn't just a cameo; he was the bridge that let us know Lee Everett’s story was just as real, and just as heartbreaking, as anything Rick Grimes ever went through. It makes the world feel bigger. It makes the tragedy of what happens later feel even more inevitable.
If you’re jumping back into the series, keep your eyes peeled in Macon. That kid in the red hat is going places—even if those places are eventually going to break your heart.