5 Best Video Games Like The Last Of Us

After creating video game properties like "Crash Bandicoot" and "Uncharted," Naughty Dog shifted toward a much more serious tone with the 2013 game "The Last of Us." The game is set years into an apocalypse caused by a fungal infection that turns those afflicted into ravenous, zombie-like monsters. Hardened survivor Joel Miller is tasked with escorting young Ellie across the ravaged United States to a faction that is interested in Ellie's immunity to the fungal spores. This involves Joel not only battling the infected to keep Ellie safe, but other humans, including sadistic cannibals, that are hunting the girl.

A tremendous success, Naughty Dog then produced the 2020 direct sequel, "The Last of Us Part II," while the franchise was later adapted into an HBO series. What's remarkable is that Naughty Dog took what is essentially a prolonged escort mission and turned it into an action-packed, emotional story embraced by gamers. And, of course, there are plenty of games that feature similar tropes and gameplay elements for fans to try out next. Here are the five best video games like "The Last of Us" to keep those partner-oriented thrills going.

Capcom had introduced partner mechanics into its "Resident Evil" franchise before with 2002's "Resident Evil Zero" but took it in a different direction with 2005's "Resident Evil 4." Returning protagonist Leon S. Kennedy, now working for the Secret Service, is dispatched to rescue the President's daughter, Ashley Graham. With his police escort in Spain brutally ambushed, Leon confronts the sinister, parasite-infested cult responsible for the kidnapping. Leon has to not only escort Ashley to safety, but find a way to purge the parasites implanted in both of their bodies before it's too late.

There's a strong argument that "Resident Evil 4" is the best game in Capcom's iconic survival horror series and we're not going to argue against it. Yes, escorting Ashley is an element that can make players rage-quit at times, but it doesn't detract from the overall experience. With this entry, Capcom found a way to seamlessly blend third-person action with genuinely tense and scary moments, maintaining a delicate tonal balance. While the original 2005 game and its subsequent remaster still holds up marvelously, check out the stellar 2023 remake of "Resident Evil 4" for thrills better tailored to modern sensibilities.

Before Telltale Games imploded in 2018, the company was a major presence in producing narrative-driven games based on popular franchises. One of the most successful properties translated into the usual Telltale style was "The Walking Dead," which received an episodic game series starting in 2012. Taking place in a world overrun by hordes of voracious undead, the story centers on the young Clementine, who is initially escorted by older survivor Lee Everett. Player choices affect how the story unfolds, while familiar faces from the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard surface.

Interestingly, the Telltale project wasn't intended to be based on "The Walking Dead," but another popular zombie franchise, "Left 4 Dead." Fortunately, in shifting to the different source material, the game utilizes "The Walking Dead" world well, beyond the inclusion of its established characters. The shift to action and more consequence-heavy decision-making also feels like a natural evolution of the Telltale style, something that grows more evident with each episode. Just like "The Last of Us" chronicles a girl growing up at the end of the world, so too does Telltale's "Walking Dead," in its own effective and familiar way.

The closest Naughty Dog got to capturing the partner-themed thrills outside of "The Last of Us" is with its 2017 game "Uncharted: The Lost Legacy." A spin-off story from the rest of the franchise, "The Lost Legacy" centers on usual supporting character Chloe Frazer as she searches for the mythical tusk of Ganesh. Joining Chloe is mercenary Nadine Ross. Together, they search for the legendary artifact in India's Western Ghats. Complicating this treasure hunt is militaristic insurgent leader Asav, who is searching for the tusk for his own purposes, aided by the franchise protagonist Nathan Drake's wayward brother Sam.

"Uncharted: The Lost Legacy" features the mix of action and platforming that the series is known for, albeit with a different protagonist. But where the 2017 spin-off most visibly aligns with "The Last of Us" is that Chloe isn't alone for much of the game. So much of "The Lost Legacy" is about the partnership between Chloe and Nadine as they work together against Asav and his small army. That, along with Naughty Dog's flair for cinematic flourishes, makes this the closest "Uncharted" gets to the emotional adventures of Joel and Ellie.

Long after the merciless Kratos dispensed with the mythic Greek pantheon in the original "God of War" trilogy, the series received a revival in 2018. The game reveals that Kratos has since relocated to Scandinavia, where he remarried and had a son named Atreus. After his wife dies, Kratos and Atreus try to honor her dying wish by scattering her ashes from the tallest peak in the legendary Nine Realms. This puts the father and son in conflict with the pantheon of Norse gods, igniting a new cycle of divine violence.

In reframing its narrative as a father and son story, "God of War" got an even bigger shot in the arm than just taking the action to Scandinavia. Seeing Kratos and Atreus grow closer together as they confront Odin and his godly kin gives the franchise a far richer emotional core. The combat has similarly been revamped, adding to Kratos' usual arsenal and keeping the gameplay feeling fresh. Both the 2018 "God of War" and its 2022 sequel "God of War: Ragnarök" take the franchise to new heights and emotional depths.

French game developers Asobo Studio launched the "Plague Tale" franchise in 2019, crafting a terrifying story set in some of their country's harshest hours of history. Taking place during the 14th century in the midst of the Hundred Years' War, Amicia de Rune and her family are targeted by the French Inquisition. Fleeing their home, Amicia and her younger brother Hugo find much of the surrounding area teeming with rats spreading the plague. In the first game, "Innocence," Amicia tries to keep Hugo from the Inquisitors, while the sequel, "Requiem," involves Anna and Hugo confronting a sinister cult.

The saga of Amicia and Hugo is one of siblings navigating a tricky relationship, especially after experiencing a shared trauma. The developers deliver an atmospheric vision of 14th century France while the gameplay feels intuitive and accessible. Of course, the main attraction are the swarms of rats, providing an unrelenting tension throughout both games that defines their horror elements. A thoroughly medieval tale, rich in history and familial drama, "A Plague Tale" provides great partner-based gaming.