If you want the emotional pull of The Last of Us alongside stealth, scarce resources, and real danger, start with A Plague Tale: Innocence. It is the closest match here for a story built around protecting a younger companion. For more conventional survival-horror tension, choose Resident Evil 2; for supernatural mystery, try Alan Wake 2; and for an infected open world, consider Days Gone. Each shares part of The Last of Us, but none recreates the exact same mix.
What makes a game feel like The Last of Us?
“Games like The Last of Us” can mean several different things: a close bond between characters, stealth and scarcity, infected enemies, cinematic storytelling, or a frightening survival-horror loop. Decide which part matters most before choosing what to play next.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Last of Us Part I – PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Sony Interactive Entertainment The Last of Us Part 1 Standard PlayStation 5 | $45.06 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts | $31.06 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Character relationship: Look for a story shaped by two people relying on each other.
- Survival pressure: Prioritize danger, resource management, and cautious encounters.
- Horror: Choose games where dread and vulnerability matter more than action spectacle.
- Pacing and setting: Decide whether you want a directed journey, an open world, an infected apocalypse, or a different kind of horror.
Best games like The Last of Us, by what you want most
| Game | Best fit | Setting and structure | How it differs from The Last of Us |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Plague Tale: Innocence | Companion-centered story and stealth survival | Historical fantasy; directed survival journey | Amicia protects her brother Hugo amid plague and supernatural forces; the setting and combat are different. |
| Resident Evil 2 | Classic survival-horror tension | Zombie outbreak; survival horror | More focused on horror pressure and survival combat than on a long companion relationship. |
| Alan Wake 2 | Personal story, mystery, and atmosphere | Supernatural horror | Not an infected-apocalypse survival story. |
| Days Gone | Infected threat and freedom to explore | Post-apocalyptic open world | Its open-world exploration and motorcycle management make it less directed. |
For a close companion-led survival story: A Plague Tale
Start with A Plague Tale: Innocence
Amicia’s central struggle is to protect her younger brother Hugo while the pair face plague, pursuit, and other dangers. Stealth and survival pressure are central, making A Plague Tale: Innocence the strongest match here if what you remember most from The Last of Us is the emotional responsibility of keeping someone else alive.
The game’s historical-fantasy setting and combat differ from The Last of Us, so think of it as a companion-story match rather than a duplicate. Focus Entertainment describes its world as “a desperate struggle for survival within a violent world twisted by otherworldly forces.” See Focus Entertainment’s official game page.
#1 Best Overall
- Enhanced visuals: Completely rebuilt from the ground up using Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 engine technology to improve every visual detail, The Last of Us experience has been faithfully enhanced with more realistic lighting and atmosphere, more intricate environments and creative reimaginings of familiar spaces.
- Fast loading: Initial loading times are near instant, and seamless after the first instance thanks to the PS5 console’s SSD – so you can pick up where you left off in the story and load specific encounters and chapters more quickly.
- Haptic feedback: DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback support for every weapon elevates combat encounters, and environments are brought to life through DualSense wireless controller haptic sensations of subtle falling rain, the crunch of stepping on snow and more.
- Adaptive triggers: All The Last of Us iconic weapons, including Joel’s revolver and Ellie’s bow, now deliver dynamic DualSense wireless controller trigger resistance and kickback on firing for deeper combat immersion.
- 3D Audio: Designed to make use of the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, Naughty Dog’s newly upgraded audio engine delivers richer soundscapes, bigger explosive moments and more visceral gameplay through compatible stereo headphones (analogue or USB) or TV speakers.
Continue with A Plague Tale: Requiem
Requiem is the official sequel, continuing Amicia and Hugo’s story. Its publisher describes stealth, weapons, tools, and supernatural forces as part of their struggle. Start with Innocence if you want the relationship and story arc from the beginning; the publisher’s official Requiem page presents it as the continuation.
For classic survival horror: Resident Evil 2
Pick Resident Evil 2 if the strongest draw is being trapped in a dangerous outbreak and having to survive. It is the clearest conventional survival-horror recommendation here, with zombies and survival combat rather than a story primarily organized around a long-term companion bond. PlayStation describes the series as “Steeped in survival horror and packed with action.” PlayStation’s Resident Evil series page.
Rank #2
- Flexible design
- High-quality material
- Durable
That difference is important: Resident Evil 2 is a stronger choice for horror tension, while The Last of Us places unusual weight on the relationship at its center. GameSpot’s comparison also frames the game around a zombie outbreak and survival.
Recommended Free Tools
For narrative-first supernatural horror: Alan Wake 2
Choose Alan Wake 2 if you want a personal, strange narrative and an unsettling atmosphere more than an infected-apocalypse setting. It is a story-led supernatural horror option, not a close match for the grounded survival premise of The Last of Us. Remedy lists Alan Wake 2 among its current titles and describes its broader work as story-driven. See Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 page and GameSpot’s comparison of games like The Last of Us.
Rank #3
For an infected open world: Days Gone
Days Gone shares the post-apocalyptic infected threat, but changes the pace and shape of the experience. Its open-world exploration and motorcycle management offer more room to roam than a tightly directed journey. Choose it when you want to spend time in a large-scale infected world; skip it as your first pick if what you want most is the close, focused companion-story structure. GameSpot discusses the differences in its games-like comparison.
More options for a specific kind of story or horror
These games broaden the list, but each serves a different preference rather than matching every part of The Last of Us. The distinctions below reflect GameSpot’s comparison; check official listings for platform and edition availability in your region.
- The Evil Within 2: Consider it for stealth-oriented horror.
- Dead Space: A science-fiction survival-horror direction.
- The Walking Dead by Telltale: A fit for emotional zombie storytelling.
- Tomb Raider: Offers survival-action mechanics.
- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy: A choice for cinematic adventure and character banter.
GameSpot’s comparison list covers these alternatives. Platform access, store availability, and subscription access can change by region and over time.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
