Best Games Like The Last Of Us

Finding the best games like The Last of Us is a tall order considering how high of a bar it’s set for single-player games.

With that said, if you’re in the mood for another narrative-focused adventure with emotional stakes, we’ve got you covered.

In this list, we’ll highlight the best games like The Last of Us on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

We encourage you to check back in the future to see new recommendations for console and PC games like TLOU!

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Dying Light is one of the better zombie game series due to its abundance of tense story and gameplay moments tied to visceral first-person combat.

Like TLOU, the series sees you dealing with living and undead threats as the state of the world crumbles, leaving humanity desperate and untrusting.

If you’ve already played the original or want a more refined experience, we suggest starting with Dying Light 2 which stars a brand new protagonist.

The game offers streamlined parkour traversal complemented by a dynamic open-world and player-driven story chockfull of meaningful choices.

Next up, Alan Wake is a cerebral single-player game about a writer who sets out to investigate his wife’s mysterious disappearance while battling supernatural horrors.

Similar to TLOU’s Infected, the Taken are controlled by a dark force that has taken over the bodies of humans, animals, and even objects.

Gameplay-wise, the two have a lot in common, including third-person shooter combat and survival horror elements that force players to stay on their toes.

Anyone looking to play Alan Wake in 2023 is best off getting the remaster, which bundles the base game and its two expansions with enhanced graphics.

While it may not be a zombie game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order does follow a linear narrative with high stakes and memorable characters like TLOU.

Gameplay is reminiscent of third-person action-adventure games like Dark Souls, Shadow of Mordor, and Assassin’s Creed.

The addition of fairly linear open-world environments teeming with enemies, resources, and puzzles also makes it feel similar to TLOU.

We recommend picking it up even if you’re not necessarily a Star Wars fan, though you can expect a fair amount of challenge from Jedi: Fallen Order’s bosses.

The Last of Us fans will already be familiar with Uncharted seeing as both franchises were created by Naughty Dog, with Uncharted coming first.

Although the series primarily follows the adventures of Nathan Drake, The Lost Legacy bucks this trend by putting two of the series’ side characters front and center.

Together, the duo attempt to find the legendary Tusk of Ganesh in India while going head to head with a ruthless warlord and his army of insurgents.

In true Naughty Dog fashion, the game emphasizes open-world exploration, tricky puzzles, and third-person shooter combat.

2018’s God of War sought to give the character-driven action game a clean slate while continuing the spirit of the original hack and slash series.

The story follows Kratos, the titular God of War, as he and his son Atreus set off on a journey to reach the land of the giants, Jotunheim.

Along the way, they’re forced to battle an army of monsters, undead soldiers, and literal gods from Nordic mythology that continually pursue them.

Like TLOU, the game features visceral third-person combat, compelling characters, and linear open-areas for players to explore.

Ghost of Tsushima released in July 2020 and quickly joined the pantheon of beloved single-player PlayStation exclusives.

The story follows a Samurai as he fights to reclaim his homeland from Mongol invaders looking to conquer Tsushima Island.

At the start, Jin finds his stoic Samurai ways are no match for the Mongol’s aggressive tactics, forcing him to explore new “Ghost,” tactics.

Much like TLOU, this entails plenty of tense, stealth-driven sequences with third-person combat that requires you to use environments to your advantage.

The Resident Evil series of survival horror games have been around for a long time and are equally beloved, if not more, as The Last of Us.

Resident Evil 2 in particular holds a special place in many fans’ hearts and was remade for PC and console with updated graphics, gameplay, and story elements.

In it, players assume control of either Leon or Claire as they navigate zombie-infested hallways and tunnels rescuing other survivors and plotting their escapes.

Similar to TLOU, Resident Evil 2 places a big emphasis on resource management, puzzle-solving, and third-person shooter combat.

Days Gone is another first-party Sony exclusive that revolves around battling hordes of the undead, or rather “Freakers” as they’re referred to in the game.

In it, players take on the role of a bounty hunter trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world filled with aggressive monsters and equally dangerous humans.

Like TLOU, the game tells a mature story revolving around loss, pain, and grief over loved ones that have been lost in the face of a global tragedy.

Additionally, Days Gone features an in-depth crafting system, open-world exploration, and a vehicle for getting around.

If you’re looking for another narrative-focused single-player game on the same level as TLOU, look no further than A Plague Tale: Innocence.

Set against the backdrop of the Black Plague, it follows a teenage girl and her brother who becomes infected with a mysterious illness.

Together, the pair set out to escape their pursuers while solving puzzles and navigating hordes of infected rats that fill the streets of France.

It’s a great recommendation for anyone who enjoys games with stealth-driven combat, third-person action, and emotionally-charged stories.

Red Dead Redemption 2 follows aging cowboy Arthur Morgan as he navigates a dying Wild West teeming with danger, violence, and moral ambiguity.

Similar to TLOU, the game features sprawling open-world environments with quests and side missions that flesh out the world and lead to unique discoveries.

In addition, both revolve around third-person shooter combat and give you the ability to ride a horse to get from one destination to another.

Story-wise is where Red Dead 2 and TLOU have the most in common, with both centering on morally complex characters dealing with pain and loss.

Although a Marvel superhero game may not seem like the best contender for this list, Insomniac managed to take the web crawler to new heights.

The Peter Parker on display in Marvel’s Spider-Man has gone through his fair share of trauma and uses that pain as a motivator for saving others.

It’s a great reimagining of the iconic web crawler that’s further complemented by fluid web-swinging traversal and action-driven third-person combat.

So if you’re looking for a PlayStation game that differs slightly from TLOU while still delivering in the story department, this is a fantastic option to consider.

Gameplay-wise, Far Cry games have little in common with TLOU seeing as one is balls to the wall action while the other is more methodical and measured in its combat.

However, Far Cry 5 stands out for its ambitious rural setting in Hope County, where an evil cult leader named Joseph Seed has risen to power.

You play as a sheriff’s deputy tasked with bringing down Seed and his cohorts when things suddenly take a turn for the worst.

The remainder of the game is spent building back up your forces and finding creative ways to dismantle Seed’s doomsday cult from the inside out.

While The Witcher is typically compared to other fantasy games like Skyrim, complete with swords, dragons, and magic, story-wise it has a lot in common with TLOU.

Additionally, there’s a certain apocalyptic feel to both games’ open-worlds that’s reflected by the character’s attitudes towards those around them.

Whereas TLOU is a third-person cover shooter, The Witcher 3 is more of a third-person action RPG where players combine swords and magic to smite foes.

If you’re the kind of player who seeks out critically acclaimed video games, you’ll find comfort in knowing that The Witcher 3 has won countless awards.

Since its 2013 reboot, the Tomb Raider franchise has taken a more narrative-driven approach to Lara Croft’s story while still providing plenty of action.

This has led to some of the best single-player games of the past decade, including the final entry in the rebooted trilogy, Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Much like Ellie in TLOU2, Shadow’s story casts Lara Croft in a darker light as she’s forced to operate within morally gray areas to achieve her goals.

As a result, our heroine becomes increasingly unhinged as the game progresses, exploring new hellish tactics that toe the line between stealth and aggression.

Beyond its story and characters, there’s still much to enjoy in The Last of Us’ gameplay, specifically taking out groups of zombies and enemy survivors.

Another game that delivers on the zombie survival front is State of Decay 2, which builds upon its predecessor in pretty much every area.

In it, you’re tasked with growing and managing a team of survivors while venturing out into the world in search of resources to keep your community alive.

Its story is admittingly weak compared to TLOU but the focus on scavenging and third-person combat with a pinch of stealth scratches a similar itch.

In Telltale’s catalog of choice-driven adventure games, few titles stand out as strongly as The Walking Dead.

Based on the comic by Robert Kirkman, the game’s story follows a former professor and convicted murderer freed from prison following a zombie outbreak.

Similar to Joel, your character meets a young girl who he decides to take under his wing and protect as the pair search for a new home.

Comprised of three seasons, two spin-offs, and one expansion, The Walking Dead is ripe with death, violence, pain, loss, grief, and other emotionally-charged themes.

Our last recommendation to TLOU fans is Beyond: Two Souls, which released the same year as TLOU and focuses on supernatural phenomena.

In it, you take on the role of a young woman as she’s guided by a mysterious force within to explore her past and use her psychic powers to shape the future.

Similar to TLOU, Beyond’s story involves a family tragedy that characters must navigate, with motion capture performances from Elliot Page and Willem Dafoe.

If you’ve been searching for another game that hits the same cinematic high notes as TLOU, Beyond: Two Souls and other Quantic Dream games will fit the bill.