The Last Of Us: How To Play The Games That Inspired The HBO TV Series

2022 saw the premiere of HBO’s The Last of Us TV series, which was an instant success, garnering praise from both critics and fans, and boasting impressive viewership figures. After a bit of a wait, Season 2 finally dropped in mid-April 2025, maintaining the high ratings trend and receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback.

If you’re intrigued by the games that inspired this captivating show, here’s a roundup of everything you need to get started!

Table of Contents [hide]

  • The Last of Us (2013)
  • The Last of Us: Part II (2020)
  • The Last of Us Complete
  • The Last of Us Online and multiplayer
  • Accessibility Features
  • The Last of Us Season 1

The Last of Us (2013)

2013 saw Naughty Dog, then primarily recognized for its Uncharted action-adventure series, unveil the striking debut of The Last of Us.

Besides encountering infected adversaries, Joel and Ellie also clashed with various human groups during their cross-country trek throughout the United States.

The first season of “The Last of Us” followed the storyline from the initial game, with the emotional opening scene being one of the show’s most praised aspects. Additionally, the episode titled “Long, Long Time,” which delved into the past of characters Bill and Frank, was a fan favorite even though it wasn’t part of the original game. This additional content was well-received by viewers, including director Steven Spielberg, who wrote a heartfelt letter to showrunner Craig Mazin to express his appreciation.

Initially launched in 2013 for PlayStation 3, The Last of Us included an additional chapter titled “Left Behind” that was made available in February 2014. This extra content focused on the narrative of characters Ellie and Riley.

Over the years, Naughty Dog has released various versions of The Last of Us. In 2014, they launched The Last of Us Remastered on PlayStation 4. More recently, in 2022, a remake titled The Last of Us Part I came out for PlayStation 5. Additionally, they have also put together a comprehensive collection called The Last of Us Complete, which includes both The Last of Us Part I and a remastered version of The Last of Us Part II, exclusively for PlayStation 5.

Today, you have two options to enjoy “The Last of Us” series on your PS4 and PS5:

1. Purchase “The Last of Us Remastered” for $20 USD on PS4.
2. Subscribe to PlayStation Plus Premium at a cost that varies depending on your region, where you’ll be able to play the game as part of your membership.
On your PS5, opt for:

1. Buying “The Last of Us Part I” for $70 USD.
2. Accessing the game through PlayStation Plus Extra if you have a subscription.

The Heretic Prophet”.

As a fellow enthusiast, I’d like to share a bit of gaming news: If you’re a fan of physical media, you can grab The Last of Us Part I for your PS5 at Walmart for approximately $50. On the other hand, if you still have a PS4, you might find The Last of Us Remastered edition appealing, which is currently going for around $19. Enjoy the gameplay!

If you’re keen on playing The Last of Us on your PC, check out Fanatical – our sister site has The Last of Us Part 1 available for $60. At the moment, Fanatical is running a Level Up sale where you can grab a free game when your total spend reaches $15 or more!

The Last of Us: Part II (2020)

In 2020, we witnessed the continuation of the tale in “The Last of Us: Part II”. Five years after the events of the initial game, Ellie and Joel’s bond has grown tense, and a fresh antagonist named Abby emerges. Abby is on a quest for vengeance against Joel for the death of her father, which occurred in the first installment. Without giving away any spoilers, it’s worth mentioning that “The Last of Us: Part II” is renowned for its unexpected plot developments. The narrative and atmosphere become increasingly grim and dismal as well.

Meanwhile, the second season of the HBO TV series mirrors some parts of the game’s events, with showrunner Craig Mazin suggesting that the complete story may span over two seasons. Notably, HBO has already commissioned Season 3.

You can obtain “The Last of Us: Part II” in two ways: Purchase it digitally for $40 on PS4, or upgrade to the $50 version on PS5, which is a remastered edition. Please note that the game isn’t included with PlayStation Plus. However, subscribers to PlayStation Plus Premium can trial the game for two hours on PS5. Additionally, you can get both “The Last of Us: Part II Remastered” and “The Last of Us Part I” as part of the $100 “The Last of Us Complete” package.

Currently, The Last of Us Part II Remastered for PC is offering a 10% discount at Fanatical, our affiliated site.

The Last of Us Complete

Apart from the digital edition of The Last of Us: Complete Edition currently accessible, Sony will also release the game physically on PS5 within a SteelBook case for $110. You can pre-order it now through PlayStation Direct using the link provided, with the release date set for July 10.

This special edition contains the physical discs for remastered versions of The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II, as well as the Left Behind expansion. It also offers the American Dreams comics (issues #14) with unique cover art for this release. Additionally, you’ll find a set of four lithographic art prints and a heartfelt letter from writer/director Neil Druckmann.

The Last of Us Online and multiplayer

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve always been eagerly anticipating the online multiplayer version of The Last of Us that Naughty Dog was developing. They had boldly declared it to be their most ambitious project yet. However, destiny seemed to have other plans. In December 2023, Naughty Dog unfortunately had to scrap the project. They explained that juggling the creation of this online game with future single-player projects would require an unattainable level of care and attention, a challenge they felt they couldn’t meet without compromising the quality of either project.

As a devoted fan, I understand that to keep ‘The Last of Us Online’ thriving and provide ongoing content, Naughty Dog had to commit all their studio resources long term. Regrettably, this extended focus might delay or affect the creation of future standalone games.

Instead of The Last of Us Online being terminated, the studio is now focusing on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and an unnamed single-player game, leading some fans to speculate it might be The Last of Us Part 3. However, Naughty Dog has hinted that a third game would only happen if certain conditions are met, so we’ll have to wait and see.

Although a new online version of The Last of Us isn’t being released, the original game’s Factions mode servers continue to operate. This means you can still enjoy online play through The Last of Us Remastered. Note that the game’s servers on the PS3 platform are no longer active, but those for the PS4 and PS5 versions remain online.

Accessibility Features

If you’re finding yourself captivated by The Last of Us TV show on HBO but haven’t played the video games yet, it’s essential to note that you’ll initially require a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 system to experience these games. Unlike other action-packed titles such as Uncharted, The Last of Us emphasizes stealthy combat over an all-out shooting approach. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the game necessitates players to hunt and gather resources, with ammunition conservation encouraged or even required in certain situations. The games offer various difficulty levels and a variety of accessibility options to cater to players who might need assistance.

In The Last of Us: Part I and The Last of Us: Part II, there are extensive options for customizing gameplay accessibility. This includes adjusting control settings, magnifying specific game elements, and modifying aspects like motion blur and camera shake to suit individual preferences. For more detailed information on the accessibility systems in these games, you can refer to Sony’s guides linked below.

  • Read about The Last of Us: Part I’s accessibility features
  • Read about The Last of Us: Part II’s accessibility features

The Last of Us Season 1

Looking for a tangible version of the initial season of HBO’s The Last of Us? Amazon offers the full first season enclosed within a SteelBook case, approximately priced at $50. Although Season 2 is currently being broadcasted, once it concludes in May, fans can anticipate HBO to make it available on physical formats.

Keep checking back with TopMob for more deals on The Last of Us franchise.

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2025-04-29 21:41