The 10 Best Games Like The Last of Us

What are the best games like The Last of Us?

The Last of Us set the standard for cinematic storytelling, particularly around the relationship between Joel and Ellie.

This iconic duo is one of the most popular in gaming history, but they’re not alone in terms of their great companion dynamic.

In fact, if you’re itching for games similar to The Last of Us, we’ve got some great recommendations for you!

The 10 Best Games Like The Last Of Us

One of the biggest things we considered when creating this list was the relationships and mechanics between companion characters.

Since the character development between Joel and Ellie is such an intrinsic part of The Last of Us, we wanted to focus on games with similar elements.

So, if you’re ready to find your next favorite duo, here’s our list of the 10 best games like The Last of Us:

10. Uncharted 4

Kicking off our list is one of the best-selling PS4 games, published in 2016 by Naughty Dog.

Uncharted 4 is set several years after its predecessor, and it sees Nathan Drake coaxed out of retirement by his formerly missing brother.

With the help of his partner, Sully, the pair start searching for the whereabouts of Henry Avery’s pirate treasure.

Played from a third-person perspective, players have to explore several different environments in order to progress the story.

In combat, stealth is encouraged, but Nathan can also use a variety of weapons, including shotguns and rifles, as well as explosives.

There is also an online multiplayer mode that allows players to compete against each other in a variety of game modes.

Additionally, during different parts of the game, Nathan will be accompanied by his brother Sam, who is comparable to Ellie in terms of AI abilities.

While Naughty Dog may be done with Uncharted for now, it remains an incredible game and one that every Last of Us fan should play!

9. Beyond: Two Souls

Released in 2013, this action-adventure title is one of the best games like Detroit: Become Human, and it’s also perfect for TLOU fans.

This game follows Jodie Holmes and the incorporeal entity that is linked to her named Aiden.

Thanks to their link, Jodie has paranormal abilities that can be used to progress through the game’s story.

Players can also control Aiden, who can move through walls and objects, so long as they aren’t very far from Jodie.

Aiden can also possess certain characters, affect objects, or heal others, and players can also use him to conjure a protective shield.

Choices that players make throughout the game will determine how the story plays out and how relationships between characters develop.

There are 11 possible endings that players can achieve, and all of the different outcomes give this game a ton of replayability.

8. Metro Exodus

Like The Last of Us, Metro Exodus takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, only this one is filled with deadly Soviet mutants.

Along with being one of the best games like Fallout, Metro Exodus is perfect for fans of TLOU who love the unforgiving grittiness of the franchise.

Set in Russia following a nuclear war, this game follows players as they try to survive in the harsh environment and rebuild some semblance of society.

Aside from the mutants, there are also hostile humans to worry about in the large open world that dynamically changes with the seasons.

In this game, players control Artyom, who has fled Moscow to journey east with his allies on a train.

While there is plenty of action to be found in Metro Exodus, it emphasizes a slower approach with a priority on survival.

However, as a survival horror game, staying alive is much easier said than done, and more often than not, you’ll be completely on your own!

7. Telltale’s The Walking Dead

Lee and Clementine are almost as iconic as Joel and Ellie, and as such, TLOU fans should definitely check out this game!

Set during the Zombie apocalypse, this game follows Lee, a former criminal, as he takes on the role of protector for a young girl trying to find her family.

Unlike other games that emphasize action and puzzle solving, The Walking Dead is driven by its story and character development.

The story is determined by choices and actions during quick-time events that can change relationships or get people killed.

If you’re someone who loved watching the relationship develop between Joel and Ellie, you will definitely enjoy Lee and Clem.

We will warn you, though, that tissues are required for this game because it does have some extremely sad moments!

Following the first episodic game, there are three more to play through, all of which we would recommend.

Telltale Games really went above and beyond for this series, and every episode is filled with action, tension, and difficult decisions.

6. Bioshock Infinite

Bioshock Infinite is another game with an iconic duo, this time in the form of Booker and Elizabeth.

Throughout the game, players control Booker, who has been sent to the airborne city of Columbia to rescue Elizabeth, who’s being held captive.

Like Ellie, Elizabeth isn’t just a useless follower; instead, she helps out in many respects as players progress.

Most notably, she can manipulate tears in the space-time continuum, tying her to the city’s dark secrets.

In fact, she’s even been called the best AI companion in gaming, thanks to how engaging and helpful she is!

Aside from that, the story in Bioshock Infinite also stands out for being exceptional, especially its surprise ending, which caught many players off guard.

The combat also brings back a lot of gameplay from the prior Bioshock games but adapts it to suit the new enemies found in the floating city.

Infinite is certainly one of the best video games of all time in our book, and we highly recommend it to anyone who’s enjoyed The Last of Us.

5. Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil 2, which was remade in 2019, is a survival horror game set in Racoon City during an outbreak of zombies.

In this game, players control rookie officer Leon Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield as they work together and try to escape.

While it reimagines the 1998 title of the same name for modern audiences, it remains extremely faithful to the original game.

One of the biggest things that changed is the gameplay due to advancements in modern game engines.

Now, all characters and items, as well as the environment, benefit from 3D photorealistic rendering.

The camera can be freely rotated as well, and players are free to move in any direction without looking that way first.

Changes like that have helped bring this classic game to next-gen consoles and make playing feel much more natural than it previously did.

Best of all, players can choose to play as either Leon or Claire, with each providing a different point of view and story.

Once you beat the game with one, a “second run” will unlock, allowing you to play as the other option and see your previous choices reflected.

4. State of Decay 2

State of Decay is an open-world zombie game that forces players to try and survive and build a lasting community.

This game allows for up to four players to work together to set up a base and improve it with gathered resources,

A huge part of this game is being able to manage resources such as food, ammo, medicine, and building materials.

All of these can be obtained mainly by scavenging, though you can also trade for them with NPCs.

Every character in the game has their own fixed set of traits that provide advantages or disadvantages when performing actions.

Similarly, characters have morale that is impacted by events such as accomplishing tasks or near-death experiences.

Zombies are the biggest threats in the game, and there are different types, such as animalistic ferals and tough brutish juggernauts.

If you’re a fan of The Last of Us, consider this game to be a crash course in building and surviving in a zombie apocalypse.

It really puts into perspective how tough keeping a town like Jackson alive must be!

State of Decay really is one of the best survival games of all time, and it will definitely challenge all of your skills!

3. The Evil Within

The Evil Within is kind of a mashup between the best games like Dark Souls and Resident Evil, with survival elements thrown in for good measure.

This single-player game requires players to progress through 15 chapters while scavenging for supplies and figuring out when to run or fight.

Along with a number of traps that players have to avoid, there are also a number of terrifying enemies to keep an eye out for.

One is called Reborn Laura, a multi-limbed female creature that is absolutely horrifying to encounter.

Unfortunately, she’s not alone, as there is also Ruvik, the game’s antagonist, and The Keeper, a towering figure wielding a giant meat tenderizer.

Depending on the player’s action, the world can change around them, creating branching paths and altering locations.

Like The Last of Us, players have access to numerous weapons, including a shotgun, knife, and revolver.

However, these weapons can only down enemies temporarily, and to defeat them permanently, you have to burn them using your limited number of matches.

The Evil Within is a tough game to get through, but it’s totally worth it if you love TLOU.

2. God Of War

Released in 2018, this game follows Kratos hundreds of years after the destruction of the Greek pantheon.

Now in Scandinavia, Kratos has a young son, Atreus, and must fulfill his late wife’s wish of having her ashes scattered from the highest peak.

If watching the relationship between Joel and Ellie evolve was what you loved about TLOU, you’ll definitely enjoy this game.

When Kratos and his son set out, their relationship is centered on Kratos grappling with how to be a father and Atreus trying to make him proud.

Throughout the game, which is filled with epic battles, the pair gradually come to understand each other better, and their connection grows stronger.

We really have to praise the impressive writing in this game that made the relationship between these mythical characters feel so organic.

Like Joel and Ellie, Kratos and Atreus overcome extreme odds that help bring them closer together in a way that makes sense.

Best of all, even if you’ve never played a God of War game before, you can jump into this adventure and not feel lost!

1. A Plague Tale Innocence

Taking our number one spot is a game like Elden Ring, if all of the monsters in Elden Ring were tsunamis of rats.

A Plague Tale: Innocence is set in 14th-century France, and it follows Amicia and her sickly brother Hugo.

Together, the pair must flee from the French Inquisition as well as from the legions of rats that are spreading the plague.

Players control Amicia, who has to use a combination of stealth and a sling to evade enemies by distracting or stunning them.

While human enemies are a big problem, so are the literal waves of rats that Amicia and Hugo have to face.

Fortunately, they can be warded off using fire and often won’t venture into areas where there is a lit brazier or torch.

A Plague Tale will feel familiar for TLOU fans, as Amicia has to do whatever she can to protect Hugo.

Their relationship is also absolutely adorable, and it is expanded upon in the sequel, A Plague Tale: Requiem.

Summary

Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed our recommendations for games like The Last of Us and found some new ones to play! 

The Last of Us is a series filled with iconic characters, and its popularity has only grown thanks to the HBO TV series.

However, if you’re in the mood for something similar, you can’t go wrong with any of the games on this list!

Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best games like The Last of Us:

1. A Plague Tale Innocence
2. God Of War
3. The Evil Within
4. State of Decay 2
5. Resident Evil 2
6. Bioshock Infinite
7. Telltale’s The Walking Dead
8. Metro Exodus
9. Beyond: Two Souls
10. Uncharted 4

Have you played any of these games yet? Leave a comment below.