11 Games Like The Last of Us that Will Test Your Survival Skills
The Last of Us is a masterpiece crafted by Naughty Dog and released in 2013. It has redefined action adventure and survival horror, presenting a world full of post-apocalyptic challenges and unforgettable characters. In this game, you'll control Joel, accompanied by Ellie, in search of a cure for the infected world.
Due to its success, Naughty Dog took only a short time to create The Last of Us Part II, a sequel where the bond between Joel and Ellie, a central theme in the first game, starts to change. This part focuses on Ellie's evolution as a stronger, independent woman, shaping the narrative and adding depth to other characters' interactions, like her friend Abby.
For fans seeking experiences similar to The Last of Us, we have a list of titles with gripping narratives, elements of survival, and immersive worlds. Whether your interests lie in unraveling zombie outbreaks, embarking on treasure hunts, or uncovering supernatural elements, this compilation promises a diverse gaming journey.
11 Games Like The Last of Us that Will Test Your Survival Skills
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Release Date: May 14, 2019.
Publisher: Focus Entertainment.
Developer: Asobo Studio.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series XS, Amazon Luna.
Metascore: 81.
A Plague Tale: Innocence delivers a dark and atmospheric journey with an environment that echoes the world of The Last of Us. You control a young girl, Amicia, who tries to escape from a city full of threats with her little brother, Hugo.
The siblings will face several dangers, from hostile villagers to swarms of diseased rats, in a world set in medieval-era France, where a plague ruined the lands, and the rest of humanity is in a state of paranoia.
I enjoyed the story but found the puzzles easy, including the final boss fight, where I could beat him with just four tries. Still, overall, I rate this game 9/10 thanks to the narrative and the emotional bond between the siblings.
A Plague Tale: Innocence features:
Solve puzzles using the environment and resources at your disposal.
The game's story combines an emotional novel with cinematic graphics.
You can encounter intelligent and reactive enemies with dynamic AI.
The game enhances the tension and atmosphere thanks to an immersive soundtrack.
A Plague Tale: Innocence Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series
Release Date: Sep 10, 2019.
Publisher: Skybound Games.
Developer: Telltale Games, Skybound Games.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, Kindle Fire HDX.
Metascore: 82.
In this definitive series developed by Skybound Games, The Walking Dead immerses you in a dangerous world where your choices shape the narrative and determine the characters' destiny. This series weaves an emotional story in a zombie apocalypse world, centering the experiences around the unfolding story.
The series offers around 50 to 54 hours of gameplay and multiple paths. I played for about 30 hours and noticed that your choices matter and have real consequences. Once, I accidentally killed one character, thinking I was choosing a friendly option, so don't make this mistake and make wise choices.
In addition, The "graphic black" art style breathes new life into every episode, unifying the series and highlighting the progression of the narrative and visual elements.
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series features:
The video game is filled with plot twists.
Get to know a diverse cast and their struggles for survival with its character-driven story.
The game features a comic book art style.
Your decisions shape the story and the fate of the characters with a choice-based narrative.
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
Bioshock Infinite
Release Date: Mar 25, 2013.
Publisher: 2K.
Developer: Irrational Games.
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, GNU/Linux.
Metascore: 94.
This adventure title invites gamers to explore the vibrant airborne city of Columbia, filled with colorful characters and mysteries. You can control Booker DeWitt on a mission to rescue Elizabeth, utilizing unique Vigors abilities and navigating through dynamic environments using Sky Rails.
I started playing this game thinking only about shooting things and having a good time, but with such an immersive story, I ended up experiencing emotional feelings, just like in The Last of Us. So, the worst part of the game is when it ends.
Bioshock Infinite developer, Irrational Games, created a whole BioShock saga that was a total hit in the gaming community, offering similar experiences to The Last of Us, like a rich story, detailed environments, and memorable adventures.
Bioshock Infinite features:
This game offers extensive weapon customization and upgrade options.
Challenging enemy variants.
The game captivates with its visual design and immersive soundtrack.
Like Elizabeth's Tear and Vigors, the characters have powerful abilities.
BioShock: Infinite Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Release Date: Aug 7, 2020.
Publisher: PlayStation PC LLC.
Developer: Guerrilla.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows.
Metascore: 89.
Horizon Zero Dawn transports you to an open world filled with robotic wildlife. Set in a simultaneously futuristic and prehistoric landscape, you control Aloy, a young orphan who shares The Last of Us Ellie's same curiosities: her past and the world's story.
The game's story unfolds in a post-apocalypse, where remnants of a technologically advanced civilization lie buried, and tribes with varying cultures inhabit the land.
The side quests aren't just simple tasks, as they still offer back lore. I also could choose many weapons to fight while Aloy guided me around the game.
Horizon Zero Dawn celebrates the open-world genre, allowing you to craft items, gather resources, and engage in combat with robotic and human enemies.
Horizon Zero Dawn features:
Master the use of a bow and arrows in dynamic combat scenarios.
Experience changing weather conditions that affect gameplay.
The video game features breathtaking landscapes and detailed character models.
Aloy's abilities can be customized to suit different playstyles.
Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition Global Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Release Date: Oct 26, 2018.
Publisher: Rockstar Games.
Developer: Rockstar Games.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Google Stadia.
Metascore: 97.
Set in 1899, Red Dead Redemption 2 brings the lives of Arthur Morgan and his gang as they navigate society's challenges on the cusp of civilization.
Similar to The Last of Us, this game offers a living, breathing world where every detail contributes to an unparalleled sense of immersion. This title has third-person shooter combat and the possibility to ride a horse around the open world.
With its unforgettable cast of characters, each with stories and motivations, this title showcases Rockstar's skills in storytelling and world-building.
The first time I played RDR2, I found it dull and slow, and the missions were quite same-ish, but the game grows on you as it progresses. By the end of the main chapters, I was deeply attached to the characters and the gameplay. I'm about to complete my second playthrough, and I can proudly say this is a masterpiece and a 10/10.
Red Dead Redemption features:
Experience the life of an outlaw with the Van der Linde gang.
Engage in a variety of missions, side activities, and random encounters.
Red Dean Online offers a multiplayer experience.
Your actions and decisions shape Arthur's morality and affect the world around him.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Global Rockstar CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
Dying Light
Release Date: Jan 26, 2015.
Developer: Techland.
Publisher: Techland.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, PS5, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series XS, Nintendo Switch.
Metascore: 74.
Dying Light offers an exhilarating experience. It combines first-person shooter and a survival horror genre, immersing you in a post-apocalyptic world invaded by zombies where your choices will shape the narrative, adding depth to the game.
This open-world zombie game stands out with its integration of parkour, allowing you to move through Harran with agility. You control Kyle Crane, a secret government operative on a mission to retrieve data about a virus that has transformed the population into zombies.
It was challenging to handle parkour in the first hours of gameplay, but once I got used to it, I could avoid hundreds of zombies. I can't deny I was killed more than once, but in short, it's a fantastic game.
Dying Light features:
Search for resources and craft weapons and tools.
You'll encounter different types of zombies.
Play with friends in co-op mode and tackle challenges together.
The Dynamism between day and night increases the level of difficulty.
Dying Light Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
God of War
Release Date: Jan 14, 2022
Developer: Santa Monica Studio.
Publisher: PlayStation PC LLC.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4.
Metascore: 94.
God of War is a monumental success in the action-adventure game genre, weaving between intense combat and profound character development. The story takes place in the enchanting realm of Norse mythology and centers around the emotional journey of two protagonists, Kratos and his son Atreus.
The game's combat mechanics and semi-open world structure offer a rich experience, ensuring every bit of the journey is filled with discovery, challenge, and revelation. The relationship between Kratos and Atreus serves as the game's emotional core, exploring familial bonds and redemption.
Having played other God of War titles, I can say the tough man who hits things with his swords and axe stereotype is left behind in this game. I could perceive humanity, pain, regret, and many more emotions that made me fall in love with this title.
God of War features:
You can explore Norse gods and mythological creatures' world.
Master the use of the Leviathan Axe in combat.
Solve environment puzzles to progress in the game.
Experience the evolving father-son relationship.
Follow a narrative that combines action, emotion, and mythology.
God of War Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
UNCHARTED 4: A Thief's End
Release Date: May 10, 2016.
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment.
Developer: Naughty Dog.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, PS5.
Metascore: 94.
Developed by Naughty Dog, this next game is part of the Uncharted series, which offers action and adventures with excellent storytelling.
In UNCHARTED 4: A Thief's End, you are immersed in an adventure played by Nathan Drake, a treasure-hunter character. This great game combines action and exploration, enriching cinematic experiences with stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.
The nice balance between action-packed sequences and storytelling makes UNCHARTED 4: A Thief's End a favorite game among gamers worldwide, solidifying its status as a masterpiece in the Uncharted franchise.
I recommend playing this game on hard difficulty because I felt the moderate difficulty level was slow and too easy.
UNCHARTED 4: A Thief's End features:
Explore diverse environments, from dense jungles to ancient ruins.
Solve intricate puzzles to uncover hidden secrets.
Engage in fast-paced combat with the third-person perspective.
The game offers a multiplayer mode.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection Global Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
Release Date: Jan 25, 2019.
Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Publisher: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series XS, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna.
Metascore: 91.
Resident Evil 2 is a remake released in 2019. It’s a survival horror game that immerses you in a city infested with zombies. You can assume the roles of Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, going through the chaos and facing formidable threats. Every corner turned is filled with a horror element and could lead you to a zombie outbreak, challenging your ability to stay alive.
This RE 2 combines classic horror with modern gameplay mechanics. The environment is highly well crafted and involves memorable characters with a gripping story, enhancing the intense experience.
You can play both protagonists' perspectives, revealing different aspects of the narrative. The game also encourages multiple playthroughs, offering high replayability and much new content to unlock. Capcom's dedication to preserving the spirit of the original title while adapting modern gaming helped make Resident Evil 2 Remake such a success among other games worldwide.
I must highlight that this game continues to feature challenging puzzles, such as the one in the clock tower where I had to spend an hour searching for a gear necessary to ring the bell and retrieve a box. In short, it is complicated and entertaining at the same time.
Resident Evil 2 Remake features:
The game has limited resources.
Solve complex puzzles to progress and uncover secrets.
The remake has a story expansion upon the original narrative and characters.
The game offers multiple endings.
Resident Evil 2 Remake Global Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
State of Decay 2
Release Date: May 22, 2018.
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios.
Developer: Undead Labs.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series XS.
Metascore: 66.
This survival game stands out from many games featuring zombie apocalypse survival. In State of Decay 2, you are part of a community, regularly switching between unique characters, each with their skills and abilities.
These characters, with fellow survivors, embark on a mix of random missions, allowing players to kill zombies and bring back resources to upgrade the base and survive.
When I played this game for the first time, I was trapped for a whole night without even realizing it. I liked the regular addition of content and the numerous ways provided to take care of my community.
The Last of Us' fans will appreciate the emphasis on character-driven narratives and leadership tough choices. State of Decay 2 goes beyond mere survival, allowing you to create and shape your own stories in a world about to become extinct.
State Of Decay 2 features:
The game world is dynamic, with events and challenges occurring as you play.
Establishment of your base to support your community of survivors.
Your character's death is permanent, which adds stakes to the gameplay.
The game offers a cooperative multiplayer mode.
State of Decay 2 Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Release Date: Sep 12, 2018.
Developer: Eidos-Montréal, Nixxes Software, Crystal Dynamics.
Publisher: Square Enix, Crystal Dynamics.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, GNU/Linux, Mac OS Classic.
Metascore: 75.
This game is the latest installment of the iconic Tomb Raider Series, in which gamers take control of the main character, Lara Croft, as she travels through Mexico and South America. As fans of the Tomb Raider franchise would expect, Lara is on a mission to prevent catastrophic events while battling a mysterious organization and facing the consequences of triggering the Mayan apocalypse.
The game combines horror elements and adventures, immersing you in a world filled with intense underwater sequences, gravity-defying abilities, and stealth challenges. While Shadow of the Tomb Raider remains true to its roots, it introduces new mechanics that enhance the gameplay.
I followed Lara Croft's evolution through the past years, so I consider that Shadow of the Tomb Raider offers a chance to witness the culmination of Lara's transformation into the legendary Tomb Raider.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider features:
Solve intricate puzzles to progress in the game.
Craft resources and upgrade Lara's equipment and skills.
Utilize stealth and the environment to take down enemies.
You can explore tombs filled with traps and treasures.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition Global Steam CD Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.
Games Like The Last of Us - Summary
For The Last of Us fans looking for more games with action, emotional storytelling, and immersive worlds, this list provides multiple options across different platforms. From the stealth and horror elements of Resident Evil 2 to tomb exploration in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, each game offers unique features and mechanics that make it stand out in its own right.
So, grab your controller and get ready to dive into these fascinating worlds and stories!