CheckpointDB fit
IGDB rating92 / 100
Main story15.5h
Released2013
PlatformsPlayStation 3

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Joel, a ruthless survivor with few moral lines left to cross, lives in one of the last remaining Quarantine Zones. These walled-off, oppressive cities are run by what’s left of the military. Despite the strict martial law, Joel operates in the black market of the city, smuggling contraband for the right price. Joel is asked by a dying friend to look after Ellie, a fourteen-year-old girl with courage beyond her years. What starts out as a simple job to deliver Ellie to another Quarantine Zone, soon transforms into a profound journey that will forever change Joel and Ellie. As they journey across a post-pandemic United States, Joel and Ellie will encounter different factions of survivors that have each found a unique way of dealing with the infected humans, the lack of supplies, and the threat of other survivors. As Joel and Ellie struggle to persevere, they must learn to trust each other and work together in order to survive the realities of this new world.

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CheckpointDB editorialCurator context

The Last of Us is a triumph of interactive narrative, proving that video games can deliver emotional resonance on par with the finest cinema. Naughty Dog crafted a devastating, brutal vision of a post-apocalyptic America, but the true focus is entirely intimate: the growing bond between Joel and Ellie. The writing and performances are spectacular, capturing the messy, complex reality of surviving in a world that has lost its humanity. Gameplay is tense and desperate; every bullet and scavenged resource matters, forcing players into uncomfortable, gritty encounters where stealth and improvisation are essential. The game refuses to offer easy answers, leading to one of the most provocative and debated endings in entertainment history. It is a haunting, beautiful, and emotionally exhausting masterpiece that cemented Naughty Dog's reputation as the premier storyteller in the gaming industry.

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Core fitAction-Adventure › Survival Horror
Commitment15.5h main path · HLTB
Series contextThe Last of Us Series

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