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If you want another game that combines a tense journey with a relationship at its center, start with A Plague Tale: Innocence. It pairs a protective older sibling with a younger one in a dangerous world, and makes stealth and survival part of their story. For more traditional survival horror, try Resident Evil 2; for supernatural mystery, Alan Wake 2; and for a wider infected world to explore, Days Gone. Each shares a different part of what makes The Last of Us compelling.
What makes a game feel like The Last of Us?
“Games like The Last of Us” can mean very different things: a close bond between characters, scarce resources and stealth, infected enemies, cinematic storytelling, or the pressure of a frightening survival-horror loop. No single recommendation below matches every part of the original. Choose by the element you want most, rather than expecting another game to reproduce the same experience.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Last of Us Part I – PlayStation 5 | $37.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sony Interactive Entertainment The Last of Us Part 1 Standard PlayStation 5 | $45.06 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts | $31.06 | Buy on Amazon |
- Relationship and story: Look for a narrative built around people protecting or depending on one another.
- Survival pressure: Choose games where enemies, combat, or limited options make each encounter feel risky.
- Setting and pacing: Decide whether you want an infected apocalypse and directed journey, a supernatural mystery, or an open world.
Which games like The Last of Us should you play?
| Game | Best for | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| A Plague Tale: Innocence | A companion-centered survival story with stealth | Historical fantasy and supernatural forces rather than a modern infected apocalypse |
| Resident Evil 2 | Classic survival-horror tension and combat | Less focused on a long, central companion relationship |
| Alan Wake 2 | Personal, story-led supernatural horror | Mystery and supernatural horror rather than infected-apocalypse survival |
| Days Gone | Infected threats in a world with room to roam | Open-world exploration and motorcycle management make its pacing less directed |
A Plague Tale: Innocence, then Requiem: the closest companion-led match
Amicia tries to protect her younger brother Hugo through plague, pursuit, and a hostile world in A Plague Tale: Innocence. Their relationship is central, while stealth and survival pressure shape how they move through danger. Focus Entertainment frames the story as a desperate struggle for survival in a violent world affected by otherworldly forces. That makes it the strongest match here if what you want is a bond between characters tested by a dangerous journey.
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The series continues in A Plague Tale: Requiem, the official sequel. Start with Innocence if you want the relationship and story arc from the beginning. The setting and combat are different from The Last of Us, but the combination of a protective sibling, peril, and stealth makes this the clearest companion-story alternative.
#1 Best Overall
- Enhanced visuals: Completely rebuilt from the ground up using Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 engine technology to improve every visual detail, The Last of Us experience has been faithfully enhanced with more realistic lighting and atmosphere, more intricate environments and creative reimaginings of familiar spaces.
- Fast loading: Initial loading times are near instant, and seamless after the first instance thanks to the PS5 console’s SSD – so you can pick up where you left off in the story and load specific encounters and chapters more quickly.
- Haptic feedback: DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback support for every weapon elevates combat encounters, and environments are brought to life through DualSense wireless controller haptic sensations of subtle falling rain, the crunch of stepping on snow and more.
- Adaptive triggers: All The Last of Us iconic weapons, including Joel’s revolver and Ellie’s bow, now deliver dynamic DualSense wireless controller trigger resistance and kickback on firing for deeper combat immersion.
- 3D Audio: Designed to make use of the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, Naughty Dog’s newly upgraded audio engine delivers richer soundscapes, bigger explosive moments and more visceral gameplay through compatible stereo headphones (analogue or USB) or TV speakers.
Resident Evil 2: the pick for classic survival-horror pressure
Choose Resident Evil 2 if you want a more conventional survival-horror experience: a zombie outbreak, dangerous encounters, and a heavier emphasis on horror tension and survival combat. PlayStation describes the Resident Evil series as steeped in survival horror and packed with action; GameSpot’s comparison likewise discusses Resident Evil 2 as survival horror set during a zombie outbreak.
It is a good fit for the fear and resourcefulness side of The Last of Us, not a direct substitute for its long, relationship-driven journey. Pick it when survival-horror tension matters more to you than a central companion bond.
Alan Wake 2: a story-led supernatural alternative
Alan Wake 2 suits players who most value mystery, character, and an unsettling atmosphere. Remedy lists the game among its current titles and describes its broader work as story-driven. The game’s supernatural premise and third-person horror atmosphere offer a personal, strange narrative, but not a grounded infected-apocalypse setting.
Rank #2
- Flexible design
- High-quality material
- Durable
Choose it for mood and narrative rather than for a close match to The Last of Us’s world or survival setup. You can find the title on Remedy’s games page.
Days Gone: infected danger with open-world freedom
Days Gone shares the post-apocalyptic infected threat, but its structure is looser. GameSpot’s comparison highlights open-world exploration and motorcycle management, which give the game a different rhythm from a tightly directed story. It is the better fit if you want more freedom to roam and engage with a large-scale infected world, rather than a consistently focused journey.
The PlayStation Store horror category includes Days Gone; category placement alone does not define its genre. Store availability and platform access can vary by region and over time.
Rank #3
Other options, depending on what you want next
GameSpot also compares several games that overlap with particular parts of The Last of Us, rather than matching its full combination of story and survival:
- The Evil Within 2: Consider it for a more overt stealth-horror direction.
- Dead Space: Consider it for science-fiction survival horror.
- Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Consider it for emotional zombie storytelling.
- Tomb Raider: Consider it for survival-action mechanics.
- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy: Consider it for cinematic adventure and character banter.
These are alternatives for specific preferences, not claims that each delivers the same survival-horror balance. Check official listings for the platform, edition, and regional availability you need before buying.
Quick Recap
How to choose what to play next
- Want a relationship at the center of a dangerous journey? Start with A Plague Tale: Innocence, followed by Requiem if you want to continue the story.
- Want more direct survival-horror tension? Choose Resident Evil 2.
- Want a strange, character-led supernatural mystery? Choose Alan Wake 2.
- Want infected enemies and room to explore? Choose Days Gone.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
