The Last of Us is one of gaming’s most powerful titles and franchises. At its core, the story is about a man and young girl finding a much-needed human connection that gives them something to fight and survive for. Joel and Ellie’s cross-country adventure introduces them to plenty of obstacles, which they are able overcome together. However, once the game is over, it’s hard to find similar titles that maintain its momentum.
Aside from the story, The Last of Us also features third-person shooter combat, exploration and zombie-like Infected that break up the gameplay with stealth and scares. Because of its unique premise and standout storytelling, not many games can match The Last of Us or its sequel, but these five games should be able to scratch that itch for fans.
Dying Light
2015’s Dying Light takes the basic ideas from The Last of Us and expands on them while being more personal through a first-person perspective. The game follows Kyle Crane, a Global Relief Effort agent, who enters the city of Harran after a zombie outbreak erupts. Freshly bitten, he has to take medication to stave off the infection while using his parkour skills to help around the city.
Like The Last of Us, Dying Light focuses on exploration and using items to craft stronger tools. There are also zombie variants to ensure that, as Crane traverses the city, danger could come at any time. Its gameplay is also less linear, allowing players to explore at their own pace, unlike The Last of Us, which works based on levels.
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2‘s remake takes everything great about the original and upgrades it for modern consoles. The game follows Leon Kennedy and Jill Valentine as they navigate the decimated streets of Raccoon City. As they try to survive, the two must fight against hordes of zombies and mutants.
Like The Last of Us, Resident Evil 2 is a third-person shooter. However, it focuses more on survival horror by giving players limited items and making the enemies difficult to defeat. It shares the horror and item management of The Last of Us and makes them a crucial part of the game. This title is perfect for those who loved The Last of Us‘ horror elements and are hungry for more.
Days Gone
Days Gone is comes across as unsuspecting until players dive into the story. On the surface, the game seems like yet another third-person zombie shooter, but the story of how far protagonist Deacon St. John will go to find his wife is as powerful as his character is controversial. The story has a similar tone and emotional weight as The Last of Us, but its sandbox map makes the action and scares are even grander.
The infected enemies of Days Gone also have their own variants that are even more deadly than those found in The Last of Us. While it seems like the heightened action diverts from the terror, the roaming hordes of zombies that chase Deacon make up for the lack of claustrophobic horror. Days Gone is great for players who want to double the action of The Last of Us.
God of War
2018’s God of War is all action and heart with none of the horrors. The soft reboot of the beloved franchise sees Kratos as a father again. However, it’s not easy as he struggles to leave the past behind and be a good father to his son, Atreus, as they travel to spread his wife’s ashes. The narrative is compelling, and the action is second to none. Players truly feel the power of a God as they decimate enemies with sheer brutality while commanding Atreus to assist in combat.
However, once the battle subsides, Kratos’ demeanor changes. Despite his gruff demeanor, Kratos is really a concerned father rather than the warrior fans have come to know. Just like Joel, Kratos is a man has lost a lot but learned to be a good and protective father, so gamers who enjoyed Joel and Ellie’s dynamic will enjoy that element of God of War.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Like The Last of Us, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a Naughty Dog creation that’s full of heart and action. Nathan Drake’s final adventure sees him searching for the lost treasure of the pirate Henry Avery. On this perilous journey, Drake puts the his closest relationships at risk.
Uncharted 4 expands on the gameplay of previous entries to be the series’ most immersive experience yet. Perhaps thanks to The Last of Us, it also streamlines the user interface and has a higher degree of realism in its weapons, combat and environments. While there are no scary moments to be found, Uncharted 4 has its fair share of hair-raising escapes and battles. This is the best title for players who want to see more of what Naughty Dog does best, proving the studio can tell incredible stories without relying on dark or edgy content.
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