20 Games Like The Last of Us to Play While Waiting for Season 2
The Last of Us fundamentally changed expectations for storytelling in video games. Its grounded, post-apocalyptic world served as a backdrop for a deeply human story about loss, survival, and the brutal lengths we go to for those we love. The acclaimed HBO adaptation has only amplified the franchise's impact, introducing its poignant narrative to a global audience.
With anticipation building for the show's second season, confirmed to arrive in 2025, many fans are searching for similar experiences to fill the void. The wait can be long, but the world of gaming is filled with titles that capture the same spirit of narrative depth, tense survival, and emotional character-driven stories. If you’re looking for your next unforgettable journey, here are 20 incredible games like The Last of Us that will captivate you in 2025.
Masterful Narrative-Driven Adventures
These games, like The Last of Us, place a premium on cinematic storytelling and the relationships between their characters. They are emotional epics that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
- A Plague Tale: Innocence & Requiem: This duology is perhaps the closest spiritual successor. Following siblings Amicia and Hugo through plague-ridden, 14th-century France, the games masterfully blend stealth, puzzle-solving, and a heart-wrenching story of sibling protection against impossible odds.
- God of War (2018) & God of War Ragnarök: While set in the world of Norse mythology, the core of these games is the evolving relationship between a reluctant, hardened father (Kratos) and his curious son (Atreus). Their journey across the Nine Realms is a powerful tale of parenthood and legacy.
- Red Dead Redemption 2: Arthur Morgan's story is a sprawling, beautiful, and ultimately tragic exploration of loyalty and morality at the end of the Wild West. Its meticulously crafted world and profound character development create an emotional weight that rivals the best in gaming.
- The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series: This series set the modern standard for choice-based narrative games. You play as Lee Everett, a man who finds a new purpose in protecting a young girl named Clementine. Your decisions carry immense weight, forcing you to confront impossible moral dilemmas in a world overrun by the dead.
- Alan Wake 2: A masterclass in atmosphere and psychological horror, this title weaves two parallel stories into a single, mind-bending narrative. Its focus on survival against overwhelming darkness and its incredibly deep lore will appeal to anyone who loves unraveling a complex, character-focused mystery.
Surviving in a Hostile World
A key part of the The Last of Us experience is the constant tension of survival—scavenging for resources, using stealth to avoid threats, and engaging in desperate combat when necessary.
- Days Gone: Set in the beautiful but treacherous Pacific Northwest, this open-world game puts you in the boots of Deacon St. John, a biker surviving a global pandemic. The sheer scale of the Freaker hordes creates unparalleled moments of tension, while Deacon's personal story provides a strong emotional core.
- Metro Exodus: Fleeing the ruins of the Moscow Metro, Artyom and his companions embark on a continent-spanning journey in search of a new home. This game combines linear, story-heavy sections with more open sandbox environments, all while demanding careful resource management and tactical use of stealth.
- Resident Evil 2 (Remake): This stunning remake captures the essence of survival horror. Trapped in the Raccoon City Police Department, you must conserve every bullet and herb. The constant threat of the relentless Mr. X creates a level of sustained dread that is truly unforgettable.
- Resident Evil Village: Continuing Ethan Winters' story, this entry leans into a more varied, folk-horror theme. The central motivation—a father's desperate search for his stolen daughter—provides a powerful emotional throughline amidst the terrifying encounters with the village's monstrous lords.
- Prey (2017): Trapped on the Talos I space station with shape-shifting aliens, you must use your wits, weapons, and incredible powers to survive. The game's environmental storytelling is second to none, making the station itself a character in a tense story of isolation and corporate espionage.
Unforgettable Indie Experiences
You don't need a blockbuster budget to tell a powerful story. These independent games deliver unique and deeply moving experiences with a strong artistic vision.
- Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice: This is an intense and intimate journey into the mind of a Celtic warrior battling her own psychosis. It’s a masterful and respectful depiction of mental struggle, wrapped in a dark fantasy setting with a deeply personal story.
- Inside: From the creators of Limbo, this puzzle-platformer tells a haunting, wordless story. You control a young boy navigating a dark, dystopian world. The oppressive atmosphere and shocking conclusion will leave you thinking for days.
- SOMA: A sci-fi horror game that poses profound questions about consciousness and what it means to be human. Set in an underwater research facility, its tense monster encounters are secondary to the gut-punching philosophical narrative.
- Stray: Playing as a cat separated from its family, you explore a walled cybercity inhabited by robots. It's a surprisingly emotional journey about connection, hope, and the meaning of home, told from a wonderfully unique perspective.
- Valiant Hearts: The Great War: This puzzle-adventure game tells the story of several characters whose lives intertwine during World War I. Its beautiful, hand-drawn art style belies a mature and emotionally devastating story about the human cost of conflict.
Coming Soon: Games to Watch in 2025
Keep an eye out for these upcoming titles that promise to deliver experiences that fans of character-driven survival will love.
- State of Decay 3: The next installment in the acclaimed zombie survival series is set to deepen its focus on community building, strategic survival, and navigating a perilous open world.
- Little Nightmares III: This atmospheric horror-adventure series returns, this time with a focus on cooperative play. Guide two new child protagonists as they navigate a disturbing world and escape a looming threat.
- Control 2: While still in development, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed supernatural thriller promises to expand on its incredible world-building, deep lore, and unique narrative style.
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach: The sequel to Hideo Kojima's unique "strand game" is poised to deliver another cinematic, star-studded, and deeply unconventional story about connection in a fractured world.
- Judas: From the creator of BioShock, this upcoming first-person shooter promises a rich, narrative-driven experience where players must choose to mend or break alliances on a disintegrating starship.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes a game "like The Last of Us?" A: Generally, it’s a combination of several key elements: a strong, emotionally-driven narrative; well-developed characters and relationships; a tense atmosphere, often in a post-apocalyptic or dystopian setting; and gameplay that blends exploration, stealth, and high-stakes combat or survival mechanics.
Q: Are any of these games available on subscription services like Game Pass or PlayStation Plus? A: Many of them are! Games like A Plague Tale: Innocence, Hellblade, Prey, and the Metro series have frequently been available on Xbox Game Pass. Similarly, titles like Stray, Days Gone, and God of War have appeared in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Rosters change often, so be sure to check the latest library offerings.
Q: Is there any news on The Last of Us Part III? A: While there have been many discussions and hints from the development studio, a third installment in the main game series has not been officially announced or confirmed. For now, the focus remains on the ongoing success of the franchise and the upcoming second season of the HBO series.