8 Games Like The Last of Us for Tense, Emotional Survival

After The Last of Us, play The Last of Us Part II, then A Plague Tale: Innocence, which also builds on a strong bond between two characters in a hostile world. If survival is what kept you hooked, Days Gone and Metro Exodus pick up where Joel left off. This list rounds up 8 games built on the same recipe: characters you will not forget, tension around every corner and ammo that is always too scarce.

Why The Last of Us hits so hard

The Last of Us Part I is the 2022 rebuild of the original game by Naughty Dog. You follow Joel, a worn-out survivor tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across a United States wrecked by an infection. It takes about 19.5 hours to finish according to players on IGDB, and every hour counts.

Its strength comes from two places. First, the relationship between Joel and Ellie, written with rare honesty, which gives weight to every scene. Second, the survival gameplay: you search every room, craft items out of scraps and choose between sneaking past or fighting. A good game like The Last of Us makes you care about its characters as much as it keeps you on edge.

How to pick the next one

If the emotion and characters stayed with you, go for The Last of Us Part II, A Plague Tale: Innocence, God of War or Telltale's The Walking Dead. If you want action and adventure, Uncharted 4, from the same studio. For raw survival in a post-apocalyptic world, Days Gone and Metro Exodus. And if the infected gave you chills, Resident Evil 4 leans further into horror.

1. 

   1. The Last of Us Part II

   2020 · Main story 23.5 h

   The direct sequel: longer, harsher and more ambitious. The gameplay is richer, the environments more open, and the story divides players as much as it moves them. Essential if you loved Joel and Ellie. If you want to know what you are signing up for, check how long The Last of Us Part II takes.

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2. 

   2. A Plague Tale: Innocence

   2019 · Main story 8.5 h

   In plague-stricken medieval France, Amicia has to protect her little brother Hugo. Rats swarm everything, light becomes your weapon and stealth is your daily routine. The bond between the siblings echoes Joel and Ellie directly. A shorter adventure, perfect to play right after.

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3. 

   3. Days Gone

   2019 · Main story 36 h

   A post-apocalyptic open world in Oregon where you play a biker surviving among hordes of infected. Those hordes, hundreds of enemies pouring in at once, are the highlight of the game. Freer than The Last of Us, with a bike to look after. For anyone who wants the same mood in a bigger space.

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4. 

   4. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

   2016 · Main story 14.5 h

   Same studio, Naughty Dog, in a lighter register. Nathan Drake goes on one last treasure hunt around the world, with spectacular action scenes and very polished writing. Less survival, more adventure. Ideal if you loved the cinematic side. See our games like Uncharted 4.

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5. 

   5. God of War

   2018 · Main story 30.5 h

   Kratos as a father. He sets off with his son Atreus through Norse mythology, and their relationship echoes Joel and Ellie's. Combat plays a bigger role, but the emotion is there. For anyone who wants a big parent and child story.

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6. 

   6. Metro Exodus

   2019 · Main story 16.5 h

   You leave the Moscow metro tunnels to cross a post-apocalyptic Russia aboard a train. It is a first-person shooter, but with real resource management, stealth and a heavy atmosphere. For players who loved scouring every corner for ammo.

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7. 

   7. The Walking Dead

   2012 · Main story 10.5 h

   Every Telltale episode in one package. You follow Clementine, a young girl growing up among zombies, and each of your choices shapes your relationships. Very little action, lots of dialogue and hard decisions. For anyone touched by Ellie who wants a story in the same vein.

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8. 

   8. Resident Evil 4

   2005 · Main story 24 h

   The 2023 remake of an action horror classic. Leon has to rescue the president's daughter from a Spanish village overrun by hostile villagers. More action and horror than The Last of Us, with the same tension when ammo runs low. More ideas in our games like Resident Evil 4.

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FAQ

What game is most like The Last of Us?

The Last of Us Part II, the direct sequel, is obviously the closest. Outside the series, A Plague Tale: Innocence takes the same idea of a strong bond between two characters surviving together, with lots of stealth and a very dark atmosphere.

How long does it take to beat The Last of Us Part I?

About 19.5 hours for the story according to players on IGDB, and about 21 hours if you want to do everything. The Left Behind DLC, included in Part I, adds a chapter focused on Ellie.

Should I play The Last of Us Part I before Part II?

Yes, definitely. Part II picks up after the events of the first game, and much of its impact comes from what you lived through with Joel and Ellie. Starting with the sequel would spoil both the story and the surprises of the first one.