HBO’s The Last of Us TV series debuted in 2022 and was a big hit, earning rave reviews from critics and fans alike and putting up big viewership numbers. Fans had to wait a while, but Season 2 debuted in mid-April 2025, also to giant ratings and a positive reception. If you’re interested in playing the games that inspired the TV show, this post rounds up everything you need to know.
The Last of Us (2013)
2013’s The Last of Us was a memorable new IP launch from Naughty Dog, which at that time was better known for its popular Uncharted series of action-adventure games. The Last of Us was darker and more serious than Uncharted, and it made a big splash when it arrived, earning rave reviews and selling well. The story focused on the characters Joel and Ellie and their journey together through a post-apocalyptic wasteland after a mushroom outbreak caused people to become infected and become inhuman.
In addition to squaring off against infected, Joel and Ellie fought against other human factions on their journey across the United States.
Season 1 of The Last of Us adapted the events of the first game, and the faithful adaptation of the game’s heartbreaking opening sequence was among the season’s most-celebrated moments. Season 1 is also remembered fondly for its “Long, Long Time” episode that dug into the backstory of the characters Bill and Frank. Although this was not in the game, it was embraced by viewers, including director Steven Spielberg, who wrote a personal letter to Craig Mazin to express his admiration.
The Last of Us was originally released in 2013 on PS3, with the expansion, Left Behind, coming in February 2014 and telling a story about Ellie and Riley.
Naughty Dog released multiple editions of The Last of Us over the years, including The Last of Us Remastered for PS4 in 2014, along with a remake, The Last of Us Part I for PS5, in 2022. Then there was The Last of Us Complete, comprising The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II Remastered, for PS5.
You can buy The Last of Us Remastered today on PS4 for $20 USD, or you can subscribe to PlayStation Plus Premium to play the game as part of your membership. On PS5, The Last of Us Part I is available for $70 USD, or can be played via PlayStation Plus Extra.
The Last of Us Complete, meanwhile, is priced at $100 and comes with The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II Remastered. This includes those games, along with the Left Behind prequel expansion, along with early-development versions of three levels called “Lost Levels.” Also included in the bundle is developer commentary, a free play mode for guitar, and character and weapons skins that can be unlocked through gameplay challenges. One of the skins allows players to dress Ellie up in Jordan A. Mun’s jacket from Naughty Dog’s upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
If you prefer physical media, Walmart has The Last of Us Part I on PS5 for about $50, while the PS4 edition of The Last of Us Remastered is going for around $19.
If you want to play The last of Us on PC, GameSpot sister site Fanatical has The Last of Us Part 1 for $60. Fanatical is currently hosting a Level Up sale that lets you get a free game when you spend $15 or more.
The Last of Us: Part II (2020)
The Last of Us: Part II, which came out in 2020, continues the story of Joel and Ellie, picking up five years after the events of the first game. Ellie and Joel’s relationship is strained, and a new adversary, Abby, comes to town seeking vengeance for Joel’s killing of her father in the first game. To say more would be to venture into spoiler territory, but suffice it to say, The Last of Us: Part II is known for its twists and turns. Things also get even more bleak and dark in terms of the story and tone.
The HBO TV series’ second season, meanwhile, adapts the events of this game, or at least some of them. Showrunner Craig Mazin has said it will take at least two seasons to tell the full story of the game, and HBO has already ordered Season 3.
In terms of how you can play The Last of Us: Part II, the game is available to buy digitally on PS4 for $40 or for $50 on PS5 for The Last of Us: Part II Remastered. The game is not included with PlayStation Plus, but subscribers to PlayStation Plus Premium can play a two-hour trial of the game on PS5. And as mentioned above, The Last of Us: Part II Remastered is available along with The Last of Us Part I as part of the $100 The Last of Us Complete package.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC, meanwhile, is going for 10% off right now on GameSpot sister site Fanatical.
The Last of Us Complete
In addition to the digital version of The Last of Us Complete that is available now, Sony is bringing the game to PS5 on a physical disc in a SteelBook package for $110. Preorders are open now through PlayStation Direct via the link below, and the launch date is July 10.
This is a collector’s edition that comes with physical discs for The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II Remastered. It also includes the Left Behind expansion, along with the American Dreams comics issues #1-#4, featuring new cover art for this version. It also includes a set of four lithographic art prints, and a thank you letter from writer/director Neil Druckmann.
The Last of Us Online and multiplayer
Naughty Dog was working on an ambitious The Last of Us online multiplayer game, at one point saying it was the most ambitious project the studio had ever attempted. But it was not meant to be. In December 2023, Naughty Dog canceled the game, saying it was impossible to craft both this online game and future single-player projects simultaneously while giving each project the right amount of care and attention.
“To release and support The Last of Us Online we’d have to put all our studio resources behind supporting post-launch content for years to come, severely impacting development on future single-player games,” Naughty Dog said at the time.
So the studio canceled The Last of Us Online, as it was called, and is now pouring its effort and attention into Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and another single-player game that hasn’t been announced yet. Could it be The Last of Us 3? It’s still too soon to say for sure, as Naughty Dog has said the stars would have to align for the team to make a third game.
While The Last of Us Online is not coming to market, the servers for the original The Last of Us game’s Factions mode remain online. So you can still play online from The Last of Us Remastered. The game’s PS3 servers are no longer online, but the PS4 and PS5 servers are still up and running.
Accessibility Features
If you’re enjoying The Last of Us TV series on HBO but have never played the games, you’ll of course need to buy a PS4 or a PS5 to begin with. The Last of Us games are known for their stealth combat as opposed to the guns-blazing approach of the Uncharted games and other titles of that ilk. The Last of Us taking place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland means players have to hunt and scavenge for materials and are guided to use ammo efficiently and sparingly in some cases. The games have multiple difficulty settings, and they also sport a range of accessibility options to help players who need a hand.
Both The Last of Us: Part I and The Last of Us: Part II have extensive accessibility features that allow players to remap and customize the controls, magnify certain game elements, and tailor things like motion blur and camera shake to their liking. You can consult Sony’s guides linked below to learn more about the accessibility systems in both The Last of Us games.
The Last of Us Season 1
If you’re in the market for a physical copy of the first season of HBO’s The Last of Us, Amazon has the complete first season in a SteelBook case for about $50. Season 2 is currently airing, but after the season wraps up in May, fans can expect HBO to release it on physical media.
Keep checking back with GameSpot for more deals on The Last of Us franchise.
