If you're a fan of an intense, chaotic post-apocalyptic game with a rich story, chances are you're familiar with Naughty Dog's 2013 smash-hit The Last of Us and its 2020 sequel, The Last of Us Part II. The plot centers around two rugged survivors, Joel and Ellie, and their strange, yet beautiful father-and-daughter-like bonding.
However, as well-received and well-loved as this definitive franchise is, some games may top The Last of Us for any number of reasons. Today we'll check out a few zombie & horror games that might actually be better than The Last of Us, and five ways The Last of Us tops them all.
10 TLOU: Scare Factors
Being a post-apocalyptic survival horror game, it's only natural that The Last of Us knows how to scare its players. From hidden Infected creatures sticking on the wall to the chillingly eerie Seraphite's whistling, The Last of Us has an abundance of scare factors to make anyone jump out of their seat or rage quit, and it makes full use of its kit to that end.
9 Outlast & Outlast 2
However, The Last of Us is miles behind compared to Outlast or Outlast 2 in terms of scare factors. Although this may not be a typical zombie game, it's still worth noting that Outlast has a whole buffet of elements with which it can give you constant nightmares.
Unlike The Last of Us, where you can shoot your way out to the finish line if you have enough ammo, Outlast puts you into a more vulnerable role. You're an investigative journalist with a night vision-equipped camcorder trying to make it through the night. The only choices you have are to hide, run, or die.
8 TLOU: Free-World Roaming
The Last of Us and its Part II sequel feature plenty of iconic locales. From Pittsburgh to Tommy's Jackson settlement in Wyoming, The Last of Us has a vast map ready to be explored, especially during your Seattle chapter with Ellie.
In fact, Part II was designed as an open-world game at first. Initially, the game would take place in Jackson and give some sense of freedom to explore the city. Unfortunately, this idea was scrapped as the writers developed the storyline and felt like it wouldn't suit Ellie's character arc.
7 Dying Light
If you're looking for a better open-world zombie game, then consider Dying Light. Even though it's not as big as Grand Theft Auto V, Dying Light's medium-sized map is enough to give you the freedom to roam around the dead city of Harran and explore its hidden references.
Story-wise, Dying Light lets you control Kyle Crane, an undercover agent, as he becomes entangled between continuing his mission or helping out the remaining survivors.
6 TLOU: Rich Story
The Last of Us is one of those games that gets you emotionally hooked. It tells the story of Joel and how he goes from calling Ellie his 'cargo' to his 'baby girl,' while Part II largely deals with the consequences of protecting Ellie and focuses on her own journey. It's the story of how far one could go to protect (or avenge) their loved ones.
Aside from its graphics, The Last of Us' deep story is the standout feature of this game. The character development feels crisp, alive, and powerful, but pulls no punches in showcasing the brutal realities of the world it takes place in.
5 The Walking Dead
Telltale's The Walking Dead interactive game is likely the leading contender with The Last of Us in terms of evocative storytelling. The first season centers around Lee Everett, a former historian (and a convicted killer) stuck in the midst of the zombie apocalypse with a little girl named Clementine. After that, TWD focuses more on Clem and her growth into a tough, badass survivor for the next three seasons.
On the other hand, The Last of Us Part II was criticized for inconsistency and a plethora of plot holes. Like Joel and Tommy, some characters are sloppy, clumsy, and really out of their arc.
4 TLOU: Relatable Characters
Unlike most zombie games where you take roles of high-profile agents or soldiers, The Last of Us centers around Joel. He's not an ordinary everyman protagonist who's always right, but rather a controversial character with a skewed and somewhat crooked moral compass.
But behind all that, Joel is just a man who wants nothing but the best for his loved ones, no matter what he has to sacrifice in the process. Joel is so candid, and it's what makes players resonate with this character so much.
3 Resident Evil 7
Following the lackluster welcome to Resident Evil 6, Capcom took a step back to return to the franchise's original horror roots in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. RE7 is the only Resident Evil game to not feature any original character as its lead hero or heroine.
In fact, Resident Evil 7 tells the story of Ethan Winters, a small-time engineer trying to find his missing wife in the middle of a no-man's land. Seeing how far one could go to protect someone they love is practically always a solidly relatable concept to weave a horror story around.
2 TLOU: Challenging Infected Creatures
The Last of Us has plenty of unique Infected types according to their infection stage. Ranging from an easy Runner to the bloated, conjoined, and disgusting-looking Rat King, all Infected creatures in The Last of Us are more than ready to keep you panicked.
Also, if you're a fan of challenges, try "Grounded" difficulty - where you won't get to use the 'listening mode,' making the playthrough a struggle for the ages.
1 Resident Evil 2 & 3: Remake
It's only been one night since the start of the catastrophe in Raccoon City, but these undead creatures have already been evolving in the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes. These nightmarish creatures can be frustrating to beat and terrifying to face, from T-virus zombies and lickers to William Birkin's mutation and Mr. X.
On top of that, finding ammo and weapons can be painful because of how perplexing the game's puzzles can be. It's challenging on so many levels that you'll definitely need all the luck you can get.