The Last of Us

THE LAST OF US is LEGENDARY POST-APOCALYPTIC ACTION-ADVENTURE VIDEO GAME FRANCHISE developed by NAUGHTY DOG (Sony subsidiary since 2001; also Uncharted, Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter). ORIGINAL THE LAST OF US released JUNE 14, 2013 on PS3 (remastered PS4 2014, remade as THE LAST OF US PART I 2022 on PS5/PC). Directed by NEIL DRUCKMANN + BRUCE STRALEY. Sold 17M+ COPIES + won 240+ Game of the Year awards including Game Awards / D.I.C.E. Awards / BAFTA / Golden Joystick — one of the MOST CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED VIDEO GAMES EVER. SETTING: post-apocalyptic USA 20 years after CORDYCEPS FUNGAL PANDEMIC (based on real ophiocordyceps fungus that infects insects; fictional evolution jumps to humans) collapsed civilization + turned infected humans into progressively worse INFECTED types: RUNNERS (fresh infected, still human-fast), STALKERS (older, sneakier), CLICKERS (mature, blind, use echolocation, iconic fungal head), BLOATERS (fully mature, tank-like, throw spore bombs), SHAMBLERS (Part II, acid), RAT KING (Part II boss). PLAYER controls JOEL MILLER (rugged smuggler, lost daughter Sarah in outbreak) escorting ELLIE WILLIAMS (14-year-old girl immune to cordyceps) across post-collapse USA from Boston Quarantine Zone to the FIREFLIES (revolutionary group) who believe her immunity could yield vaccine. COMBAT: brutal + realistic + resource-scarce; craft molotovs, shivs, health kits, nail bombs from scavenged materials; stealth-focused; enemies (Infected + human factions: FEDRA soldiers, Hunters, Fireflies, Cannibals) present distinct challenges. THE LAST OF US PART II (June 2020, PS4/PS5) — directed by NEIL DRUCKMANN, 4X BIGGER than Part I, 25+ hours main story, dual protagonists (Ellie + ABBY, who has narrative revenge arc against Ellie); most divisive game ever with CONTROVERSY over story choices (Joel's death opening + Abby's playable perspective); still won 300+ GotY awards including Game Awards 2020 Game of the Year + 7 total GA wins. Sold 10M+ copies. THE LAST OF US PART I REMAKE (September 2022, PS5 then March 2023 PC) — full ground-up rebuild in Part II engine, $70 controversial pricing but incredible technical showcase. THE LAST OF US PART II REMASTERED (January 2024, PS5) adds ROGUELIKE 'NO RETURN' mode + Lost Levels. Adapted into HBO's THE LAST OF US TV SERIES (Season 1 January 2023, Season 2 April 2025) starring PEDRO PASCAL (Joel) + BELLA RAMSEY (Ellie) + Nick Offerman + Bella Ramsey; created by NEIL DRUCKMANN + CRAIG MAZIN (Chernobyl); one of HBO's BIGGEST HITS. THE LAST OF US PART III currently in development at Naughty Dog (Druckmann confirmed 2024). Franchise widely considered ONE OF THE GREATEST STORYTELLING ACHIEVEMENTS in gaming.

Story-driven; no VP. Track chapter completion, artifacts/collectibles, safe combinations, workbench upgrades.

Win condition · Complete narrative campaign; multiple endings not player-driven (single canonical narrative).

Play on PS5 (Part I, Part II Remastered), PS4 (Part I, Part II), PS3 (original 2013), PC (Part I 2023 + Part II 2025 confirmed).

• The Last of Us Part I ($60 USD, PS5/PC)

  2022 full remake of 2013 original; incredible technical showcase

• The Last of Us Part II Remastered ($50, PS5)

  Includes No Return roguelike mode + Lost Levels

• The Last of Us Remastered ($20 PS4)

  PS4 remaster of original if you prefer older visuals

• DualSense controller (PS5)

  Utilizes haptic feedback + adaptive triggers exceptionally

• The Last of Us HBO show subscription ($16/mo Max)

  Live-action adaptation

• Stealth kills conserve ammo

  Shivs (Ellie unlimited in Part II) + strangles = free kills.

• Listen mode reveals enemy positions

  Use before engaging.

• Craft molotov for grouped Runners

  AoE burn effective vs weaker Infected.

• Save shotgun for Clickers/Bloaters

  Instakill on Clicker heads with shotgun.

• Grounded mode: no HUD, no listen, extreme scarcity

  For veterans; changes entire game feel.

Cordyceps

Fictional evolution of real fungus; caused pandemic.

Runner

Fresh infected; still visually human; sees + fast.

Stalker

Older infected; sneakier + hides.

Clicker

Mature infected; blind, uses echolocation; iconic fungal head; one-shot kills PCs.

Bloater

Fully mature; tanky, throws spore bombs.

Shambler

Part II; acid-covered bloater variant.

Rat King

Part II boss; fused mass of infected.

FEDRA

Federal Disaster Response Agency; military authoritarians controlling QZs.

Fireflies

Revolutionary group opposing FEDRA; want Ellie for vaccine.

WLF / Scars / Rattlers

Part II human factions (Washington Liberation Front, Seraphites, Rattlers).

• Game Awards 2020 Game of the Year (Part II) + 6 additional wins

  annual · worldwide · since 2020

• BAFTA Game Awards 2014 GotY (original) + 2021 Best Game (Part II)

  annual · UK · since 2014

• D.I.C.E. Awards multiple wins for both games

  annual · USA · since 2014

• 240+ GotY Awards for TLoU 1, 300+ for TLoU 2 (unprecedented)

  ongoing · worldwide · since 2013

• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇬🇧United Kingdom
• 🇩🇪Germany
• 🇫🇷France
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇧🇷Brazil
• 🇲🇽Mexico
• 🇯🇵Japan
• 🇰🇷South Korea
• 🇨🇦Canada
• 🇦🇺Australia

• Naughty Dog (developer)

  Founded 1984 · Santa Monica, California, USA

• Sony Interactive Entertainment (publisher, parent of Naughty Dog since 2001)

  Founded 1993 · Tokyo, Japan / San Mateo, California

• PlayStation Studios (Sony first-party umbrella)

  Founded 2020 · USA

• Naughty Dog — The Last of Us— Naughty Dog
• Wikipedia — The Last of Us— Wikipedia