The fate of the apocalyptic United States lay in the hands of a jaded smuggler and a teenage girl who may be the key to saving the world. The Last of Us first came out in 2013 and quickly surged in popularity. It not only has excellent graphics, but the writers weave a gruelingly emotional story that makes it nearly impossible not to become attached to the characters.

The highly anticipated sequel finally debuted in the summer of 2020. The release was not quite as universally adored as its predecessor, although it still attracted a lot of praise. Shortly after, the original game was remade as The Last of Us Part 1 for the PS5, before making its way to PC on March 28, 2023. Once someone is done experiencing or revisiting Ellie and Joel's story, they should check out these other great story-driven games like The Last of Us.

Updated March 28, 2023, by Mark Sammut: The Last of Us Part 1 is now available on PC, marking the first time that Naughty Dog's survival horror franchise has been ported natively to a non-PlayStation platform. If new or old fans are looking for something new to play after completing the title's campaign, they should check out these games similar to The Last of Us.

As Naughty Dog's other games are obvious recommendations, they will not be included.

10 Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023)

OK, Capcom's Resident Evil might not tell conventionally great stories, but these games tend to be fun in a b-movie type of way. While 2019's Resident Evil 2 and 2021's Resident Evil Village are both easy recommendations for survival horror enthusiasts, 2023's Resident Evil 4 Remake is arguably the best pick for The Last of Us fans.

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The 2005 original changed the third-person shooter genre forever, and it most likely influenced Naughty Dog's projects in some form or another. The remake retains most of its predecessor's magic while implementing a few smart tweaks that make the campaign a more consistent overall experience. Resident Evil 4's story might not reach the heights seen by Naughty Dog's masterpiece, but it does not have a single dull moment.

9 Detroit: Become Human (2018)

Though gamers might not traditionally put Detroit: Become Human and The Last Of Us in the same class due to the format of their gameplay, they can definitely appeal to the same fanbase. A deeply immersive game set in the near future, just like The Last Of Us, Detroit: Become Human focuses heavily on story and character development.

Through choices made in every chapter, the game allows players to genuinely watch the characters grow. Although a bit more gameplay-focused than some of Quantic Dream's other projects, Detroit: Become Human is still essentially an interactive drama.

8 Until Dawn (2015)

First released in 2015, Until Dawn is an action horror game centered around eight friends who gather at a cabin, and their struggle to survive the night. Throughout the game, the player is able to control all eight characters.

Every time that the point of view changes, players learn a little bit more about each of the characters. Similar to Detroit: Become Human, there are many story threads that a player can unlock based on dialogue and action choices made in the game.

7 Death Stranding (2019)

Developed by Kojima Productions after another project fell through, Death Stranding follows a porter named Sam Porter Bridges as he maneuvers life in the apocalyptic United States.

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The player is instantly immersed in an intricate science-fiction story. Most of the game is spent delivering cargo while avoiding the dreaded "beached things." Also known as BTs, these creatures wreak havoc with "void outs" and a destructive rain called "timefall."

6 Horizon Zero Dawn (2017) & Horizon Forbidden West (2022)

Two more PlayStation console exclusives, Guerrilla's Horizon introduced the gaming world to Aloy, an outcast living on a post-apocalyptic Earth that has caused humanity to revert to a tribal social structure. Also, there are dinosaur robots everywhere, which are not terrible alternatives to Clickers. Set in large open-worlds that twist familiar real-life locations, Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West have great world-building and lore, even if their stories are spread out due to the nature of open-world games.

The Last of Us is more character-driven than Guerrilla's games, but that does not mean the latter neglect this area either. Aloy is likable, and she is supported by a robust roster of secondary characters in both Horizon games.

5 The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series (2012)

The Walking Dead is a gritty, distressing look into the lives of survivors amidst the horrors of the zombie apocalypse. Telltale's common "choose your own adventure" style gameplay forces players to make heartbreaking choices that may lead to tragic consequences.

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The story centers around an ex-professor named Lee Everett, and Clementine, a young girl that he rescues. The father-daughter-like bond and the intense need to survive against unknown monsters should be familiar to fans of The Last Of Us.

4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

Continuing the story of Geralt, a legendary witcher, The Witcher 3 once again sets him on a journey to protect those few left that he truly loves. In this third installment of CD Projekt Red's franchise, Geralt prepares to face the Wild Hunt, a mysterious and menacing group of supernatural creatures that are after Ciri.

Although they do not spend all that much time together in the game, Geralt and Ciri's father-daughter dynamic is fairly similar to Joel and Ellie's. While both projects have fantastic writing, The Witcher 3's side quests are generally more unforgettable than its still very good main storyline.

3 Bioshock Infinite (2013)

This first-person shooter plunges fans into the steampunk setting of 1912 Columbia, an American city suspended in the air. Players play as Booker DeWitt, an ex-member of a detective agency. Drowning in debt and desperate, he takes on a job to rescue a very special woman named Elizabeth Comstock, which leads him on the adventure of a lifetime.

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BioShock Infinite's story, characters, and graphics come together to create a brilliant, anachronistic masterpiece. Even though the gunplay tends to be a bit more divisive than every other element in the game, it is still generally fine.

2 God Of War (2018) & God Of War Ragnarok (2022)

At the time of its release, 2018's God of War garnered comparisons to Naughty Dog's The Last of Us, and it is not difficult to see why. Both are third-person action games with stories revolving around a parent-child dynamic featuring a grumpy father figure and a kid forced to mature well beyond their age. While they touch upon similar themes, they are ultimately still vastly different experiences.

God of War is built upon a visceral melee combat system that grants players options in terms of builds and loadouts. Even though the 2018 game and its sequel are far more story-driven than any other entry in Santa Monica's franchise, they still emphasize gameplay and combat, more so than The Last of Us​​​​​​.

1 Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

Fans who thought that The Last Of Us was too short may want to get lost in the world of Red Dead Redemption. Developed by Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the prequel to its 2010 predecessor.

It takes 40 - 60 hours just to work through the main quest. This highly interactive open-world game follows an outlaw named Arthur Morgan. Never short on things to do, players can stray from the main game and complete countless side missions, heists, hunts, and develop relationships with NPCs.

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