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Start by identifying how the adaptation relates to the games. If it retells one game’s plot, begin with that game and follow the developer’s stated sequence. If it uses the same universe with new characters, an accessible title can usually be your first. If it is a standalone story in a shared setting, choose the game whose tone and gameplay appeal to you; the show is not necessarily a prequel or tutorial.
First determine what kind of adaptation you watched
The right starting point depends less on release dates than on the relationship between the screen story and the games. Adaptations generally fall into three useful categories.
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A direct retelling of a game’s story
Some series reproduce the central characters, events and themes of one particular game. In that case, playing the source game first lets you experience the original pacing, interactive choices and world-building before seeing how the adaptation changes them. It also protects later game stories from being spoiled by jumping ahead.
When the publisher gives an official order, use it rather than assembling one from release dates or fan timelines. PlayStation’s answer for The Last of Us is explicit: play The Last of Us Part I, including its Left Behind expansion, and then play The Last of Us Part II. That sequence is designed to establish the characters and events that give the sequel its full weight.
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A new chapter in the games’ continuity
Other adaptations take place in the same fictional universe as the games but follow different characters or a new storyline. Previous games may add history and references, yet they are not automatically prerequisites. The Fallout television story is presented as part of the same universe as the role-playing games, while Bethesda says that “any Fallout game can be your first.” That is a recommendation to choose an approachable entry, not a demand to begin with the earliest in-world date.
A standalone story in a shared world
A show can also be deliberately self-contained while borrowing a game’s setting, themes or terminology. CD PROJEKT RED describes Cyberpunk: Edgerunners as a standalone, 10-episode story and characterizes it and Cyberpunk 2077 as two different stories in the same dystopian world. In this model, no particular game is established as required preparation. Start with the title whose combat, exploration and role-playing systems sound enjoyable, then treat connected references as optional discoveries.
Use this decision process before buying a game
- Look for an official relationship statement. Check the publisher or developer’s story, FAQ or adaptation page for terms such as “based on,” “set in the same universe,” “standalone” or “different story.” Those words are more reliable than a fan-made chronological chart.
- Identify the game’s narrative role. Ask whether the show recreates one game’s plot, adds a new chapter, or simply uses the same setting. A direct retelling usually has a clear source game; a shared-universe show may connect to several entries; a standalone story may not require any previous title.
- Check for a recommended order. If the rights holder names a sequence, follow it. An official order normally reflects character introductions, reveals and intended emotional pacing.
- Separate required context from optional lore. A game can contain background details that enrich the show without being necessary to understand it. Buy an earlier title for that added context only if you want its gameplay or history, not because a reference makes it compulsory.
- Choose an entry that matches your preferences. Consider whether you want cinematic storytelling, open-world exploration, tactical combat, role-playing choices, multiplayer systems or a shorter campaign. The most chronological entry can be a poor first game if its mechanics are dated or its structure does not suit you.
- Verify the exact edition and platform. Confirm that the title runs on your console or computer, whether an expansion is included, and whether a remaster changes the available content. Store listings and platform support change, so check the current official listing immediately before purchase.
When should you play in story order?
Story order is most valuable when the games form a continuous character-driven narrative. Playing a prequel after a sequel can reveal information that the earlier game expected you to discover gradually. Release order can also preserve the way mechanics and visual design evolved, but it is not automatically the best narrative route.
Ask two separate questions: “What happened first in the fictional timeline?” and “What should a new player experience first?” They often have different answers. A game released later may be a prequel, a remake may retell an earlier story with modern systems, and a live-service entry may be set decades before the original without functioning as an introduction.
For The Last of Us, the official recommendation resolves the issue: Part I, Left Behind, then Part II. PlayStation notes that Part II can be appreciated as a complete standalone story, but characters, themes and details carry deeper meaning after Part I; the sequel takes place five years later. That makes the recommended order a narrative choice, not merely a chronological one.
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The Last of Us: the clearest direct starting path
Start with Part I
The Last of Us Part I is the entry point identified by PlayStation for experiencing the story from the beginning. It introduces the central relationship, the post-pandemic setting and the conflicts that the sequel assumes you understand. The title is listed for PlayStation 5 and PC in PlayStation’s guidance. Confirm the current edition and system requirements on the official platform page because availability can change.
Play Left Behind as part of Part I
Left Behind is included with Part I. It is an expansion rather than a separate numbered game, and its events and character perspective add context to the main story. Treat it as part of the first game’s recommended package rather than searching for an unrelated standalone purchase.
Continue with Part II
After finishing Part I and Left Behind, move to The Last of Us Part II. PlayStation lists Part II Remastered for PlayStation 5 and PC, while also advising readers to check current platform and edition details. The sequel can be played in isolation, but doing so removes much of the context behind its characters and themes.
Difficulty and accessibility choices
Both games provide adjustable difficulty. PlayStation describes settings ranging from Very Light, which emphasizes the story and exploration, through Grounded, which is intended for a much more demanding survival experience. Accessibility options are also available. Choose the setting that keeps you engaged; a first playthrough does not need to use the hardest mode to be valid.
Fallout: choose an entry, then explore the timeline
Why there is no single required first game
Bethesda’s official guidance is direct: “any Fallout game can be your first.” The games share a setting, recurring ideas and historical references, but their protagonists and immediate stories are usually distinct. That makes Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout 4 plausible starting points for a player who wants a single-player role-playing campaign, while Fallout 76 offers an online-focused experience.
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Do not confuse chronology with accessibility
Bethesda’s in-world timeline begins with Fallout 76, set 25 years after the Great War of 2077. It then places the original Fallout in 2161, Fallout 2 in 2241, Fallout 3 in 2277, Fallout: New Vegas in 2281 and Fallout 4 in 2287. Those dates describe when the stories occur, not an instruction to play them in that order.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf you prefer historical context and can tolerate older interfaces, begin with the original Fallout and continue forward. If you want a more modern presentation, select a later entry that matches your preferred combat and exploration style. You can then return to earlier games for lore and alternate interpretations of the setting.
Match the game to the experience you want
- Choose a numbered single-player entry if you want a self-contained role-playing journey with exploration and dialogue choices.
- Choose an online entry only if you are comfortable with a persistent multiplayer structure and its different pacing.
- Choose an older entry when you value the series’ original design and do not mind dated controls or presentation.
The adaptation may prompt you to investigate the setting, factions or timeline, but it does not establish one mandatory purchase path. Start where the mechanics and platform fit your circumstances.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners: a connected world without a required prequel
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is described by CD PROJEKT RED as a standalone 10-episode story about a street kid trying to survive in a city obsessed with technology and body modification. The official description of the Edgerunners Update calls the anime and Cyberpunk 2077 “two different stories” in the same dystopian world.
That distinction answers the common question “Which game comes after season one?” The show does not function as a numbered chapter that must be followed by a particular game. You can play Cyberpunk 2077 to explore the setting in an interactive form, but the game’s protagonist, decisions and campaign are not presented as a continuation that requires the anime’s plot.
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The connection is intentional rather than accidental. The update tied game quests and items to the anime, so viewers may recognize references and seek out related content. Those links reward familiarity, but they do not turn the show into a compulsory tutorial. Choose the game if you want its open-world role-playing systems, first-person combat and branching missions; choose a different entry point if those systems do not appeal to you.
How to compare two possible first games
When a franchise offers several credible entry points, compare them against the questions below instead of declaring one universally best.
| Decision factor | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Narrative prerequisites | Does the game assume knowledge of a protagonist, faction or prior ending? | Starting with a sequel can spoil earlier reveals or weaken character motivation. |
| Continuity status | Is the adaptation a retelling, a new chapter or a standalone story? | This determines whether the show points to one required game or several optional ones. |
| Gameplay fit | Do you want linear survival, open-world exploration, tactical role-playing or online play? | A familiar setting cannot compensate for mechanics you dislike. |
| Learning curve | Are the controls modern, and can difficulty be adjusted? | A more accessible version may be a better introduction than an older chronological predecessor. |
| Platform and edition | Does the current release run on your system, and are expansions included? | Edition names and platform support differ, especially for remasters and PC releases. |
| Spoiler tolerance | Will the show or a later game reveal the earlier game’s central twist? | Preserving discovery may matter more than following fictional chronology. |
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Assuming every adaptation is a sequel
A shared setting does not prove that the show continues a game’s protagonist. Check whether official material calls the story standalone or identifies different characters. This prevents you from buying an earlier game solely to understand a plot that does not depend on it.
Following a fan timeline as if it were an official order
Chronology charts can be useful reference tools, but they may mix spin-offs, expansions and releases with different purposes. Give priority to a publisher’s recommended order when one exists. Otherwise, explain your own criteria—story continuity, modern controls or accessibility—rather than presenting a preference as a rule.
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Remasters, original releases and bundles may have similar names but different platforms and included content. Check the product page for the exact system, expansion list, subtitle or remaster label. For The Last of Us, the official guidance distinguishes Part I from Part II Remastered and identifies current PlayStation 5 and PC availability; verify those details again before purchase.
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Ignoring accessibility and difficulty settings
A demanding default does not mean the franchise is inaccessible. In The Last of Us, adjustable difficulty ranges from Very Light to Grounded, and accessibility options are documented by PlayStation. Review those settings before deciding that a game is unsuitable.
Expecting the game to reproduce the show exactly
Even a direct adaptation can reorder scenes, alter character details or use interactivity differently. Treat the game as its own version of the story. Differences are part of the reason to play it, not evidence that you selected the wrong starting point.
A quick checklist for your specific franchise
- Find the developer’s or publisher’s description of the adaptation’s continuity.
- Write down the title that the show directly adapts, if there is one.
- Use the official play order when the rights holder provides it.
- Mark earlier games as optional when they add lore but are not narrative prerequisites.
- Compare candidate games by story risk, gameplay, difficulty and platform.
- Confirm the current edition, included expansions and accessibility features before paying.
- Do not treat fictional chronology as a mandatory purchase sequence.
What to remember
There is no universal “game after the show.” A direct retelling usually points to its source game, as PlayStation’s The Last of Us order demonstrates. A shared-universe adaptation can leave several valid starting points, as Bethesda’s “any Fallout game can be your first” guidance demonstrates. A standalone story can invite you into a world without requiring a particular game, as CD PROJEKT RED’s description of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners demonstrates.
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Quick Recap
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