Summary
The Last of Ushas been a staple of multiple gaming genres since its initial release in 2013and has been re-released on various platforms. Both parts of the series have been hugely successful on the PS5, setting a precedent for Playstation exclusives. While the games are fantastic experiences, they don’t have incredible replayability once completed.
As such, many gamers have found themselves looking for other games that capture the same feelings they felt while playingThe Last of Usfor the first time. This list looks at 7 examples of games on the PS5 that encapsulate certain elements present inThe Last of Us, from the writing to the gameplay, to the setting, and each one has its reasons to be played.
God of War Ragnarökwill be a familiar name to many, taking home numerous awards at The Game Awards 2022.Following the narrative ofGod of War(2018)the player takes control of Kratos, the titular god of war, as he continues his struggles with fighting the Norse pantheon and raising his son.
WhileGod of Waris a much more action-oriented game thanThe Last of Us, playing as a hack-and-slash action RPG, it has the same feeling of familial relationships asThe Last of Us.Just as Ellie and Joel grow close through the narrative of the game, Kratos and his son Atreus forge a bond in a changing world, finding themselves with each other in a beautifully crafted story.
Another sequel,Dying Light 2 Stay Human,is an action horror RPG where the player must survive the zombie apocalypse throughparkour and combat. WhileDying Light 2isn’t the strongest game on this list, it has a unique gameplay style and is thoroughly satisfying once the player gets used to it.
Dying Light 2isn’t a wonderful narrative experience likeThe Last of Usand is unlikely to make a player feel in the same way Ellie and Joel’s story does. However, the setting of the post-apocalypse gives it a similar air to that ofThe Last of Us,and won’t feel entirely unfamiliar to fans of the other franchise.
Dead Spaceis a remake ofpossibly the most popular sci-fi horror game of all time. The player takes control of Isaac Clarke, an engineer tasked with investigating the events that took place on the space station Ishimura. Making their way through the station, the player will encounter horrific monsters known as Necromorphs, and must diligently manage their resources as they attempt to survive.
The third-person gameplay, with elements of scavenging for any ammunition the player can find, while trying to avoid fighting as much as possible to conserve ammo, makesDead Spaceplay very similar toThe Last of Us. While the narrative ofDead Spaceisn’t as well crafted as that ofThe Last of Us, there is enough mystery and intrigue present in the game to keep a player invested for its entire runtime.
Both games in theA Plague Talefranchise areincredible historical romps through the chaos of a plague-ridden France. The first of the two,A Plague Tale Innocencegives the player control of Amicia and her brother Hugo, once children of the aristocracy now forced to flee the inquisition. Through a mixture of somewhat simple combat and surprisingly in-depth stealth mechanics, the player must find their way in a world that is collapsing.
The sibling bond between Amicia and Hugo is beautifully written, even if Hugo’s voice can get grating at times. The gameplay is fun, although it is the narrative that sets this game apart from the rest. WhileA Plague Tale Requiemis arguably the better game,Innocenceis required playing to get the most out of its sequel.
Alan Wake 2is the only game on this list that is arguably entirely non-apocalyptic. Following the writer Alan Wake, the player must find a way to escape a dark alternate dimension, through writing the story of an FBI agent solving the case, with the power of a flashlight and a gun. The second game in the series plays more like a survival-horror game than its predecessor, with more intense resource management.
While this entry is pretty far removed fromThe Last of Us, the survival-action-horror gameplay ofAlan Wake 2feels reminiscent ofThe Last of Us,with two playable characters with unique stories(as is the case inThe Last of Us Part II).Alan Wake 2is a very fun horror experience and is well worth playing for both those who loveThe Last of Usand those who don’t.
Yet another survival horror game,Resident Evil 4is the pinnacle of campy zombie video games. Once again, played as a third-person horror game in which the player must scavenge for ammunition, using stealth when running low on resources,Resident Evil 4is somewhat reminiscent ofThe Last of Uswith a greater focus on action and spectacle.
Just as Joel must protect Ellie inThe Last of Us,Leon must protect Ashley from the crazed villagers and horrific monsters present in rural Spain. While not all fans ofThe Last of Uswill like this entry,Resident Evilis one of the originators of the survival horror genre and the fourth game in the franchise is one of its best.
The final entry on this list is possibly the furthest apart fromThe Last of Usboth in setting and gameplay.Metro Exodusis a post-apocalyptic first-person shooterin which the player must survive in the harsh environment of a devastated Russia. Unlike the first two games in the series, which are both also worth playing,Exodusoffers the player a selection of small open-world sections in which to explore and scavenge.
While not specifically a zombie apocalypse, there are numerous non-human enemies in the game, thanks to theMetrofranchise taking place in the aftermath of a nuclear war. The desperate drive to survive, scavenging for ammunition in a world overtaken by destruction, makesMetro Exodusfeel kindred toThe Last of Us, yet different enough to be a worthwhile, unique experience.
