Summary
- God of War Ragnarök offers a strong narrative and familial relationships similar to The Last of Us.
- Dying Light 2 Stay Human provides a post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of The Last of Us.
- Dead Space offers survival horror gameplay similar to The Last of Us with resource management.
The Last of Us has been a staple of multiple gaming genres since its initial release in 2013 and has been re-released on various platforms. Both parts of the series have been hugely successful on the PS5, setting a precedent for Playstation exclusives. While the games are fantastic experiences, they don't have incredible replayability once completed.
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As such, many gamers have found themselves looking for other games that capture the same feelings they felt while playing The Last of Us for the first time. This list looks at 7 examples of games on the PS5 that encapsulate certain elements present in The Last of Us, from the writing to the gameplay, to the setting, and each one has its reasons to be played.
7 God Of War Ragnarok
Father And Son Bonding Through Norse Mythology
God of War Ragnarok
- Released
- November 9, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
God of War Ragnarök will be a familiar name to many, taking home numerous awards at The Game Awards 2022. Following the narrative of God of War (2018) the player takes control of Kratos, the titular god of war, as he continues his struggles with fighting the Norse pantheon and raising his son.
While God of War is a much more action-oriented game than The Last of Us, playing as a hack-and-slash action RPG, it has the same feeling of familial relationships as The Last of Us. Just as Ellie and Joel grow close through the narrative of the game, Kratos and his son Atreus forge a bond in a changing world, finding themselves with each other in a beautifully crafted story.
6 Dying Light 2 Stay Human
Zombies And Parkour
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
- Released
- February 4, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Techland
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Another sequel, Dying Light 2 Stay Human, is an action horror RPG where the player must survive the zombie apocalypse through parkour and combat. While Dying Light 2 isn't the strongest game on this list, it has a unique gameplay style and is thoroughly satisfying once the player gets used to it.
Dying Light 2 isn't a wonderful narrative experience like The Last of Us and is unlikely to make a player feel in the same way Ellie and Joel's story does. However, the setting of the post-apocalypse gives it a similar air to that of The Last of Us, and won't feel entirely unfamiliar to fans of the other franchise.
5 Dead Space (2023)
Like The Last Of Us In Space
Dead Space
- Released
- January 27, 2023
- Developer(s)
- EA Motive
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Dead Space is a remake of possibly the most popular sci-fi horror game of all time. The player takes control of Isaac Clarke, an engineer tasked with investigating the events that took place on the space station Ishimura. Making their way through the station, the player will encounter horrific monsters known as Necromorphs, and must diligently manage their resources as they attempt to survive.
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The third-person gameplay, with elements of scavenging for any ammunition the player can find, while trying to avoid fighting as much as possible to conserve ammo, makes Dead Space play very similar to The Last of Us. While the narrative of Dead Space isn't as well crafted as that of The Last of Us, there is enough mystery and intrigue present in the game to keep a player invested for its entire runtime.
4 A Plague Tale Innocence
So Many Rats
A Plague Tale: Innocence
- Released
- May 14, 2019
- Developer(s)
- Asobo Studio
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Both games in the A Plague Tale franchise are incredible historical romps through the chaos of a plague-ridden France. The first of the two, A Plague Tale Innocence gives the player control of Amicia and her brother Hugo, once children of the aristocracy now forced to flee the inquisition. Through a mixture of somewhat simple combat and surprisingly in-depth stealth mechanics, the player must find their way in a world that is collapsing.
The sibling bond between Amicia and Hugo is beautifully written, even if Hugo's voice can get grating at times. The gameplay is fun, although it is the narrative that sets this game apart from the rest. While A Plague Tale Requiem is arguably the better game, Innocence is required playing to get the most out of its sequel.
3 Alan Wake 2
Become The Champion Of Light
Alan Wake 2
- Released
- October 27, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Alan Wake 2 is the only game on this list that is arguably entirely non-apocalyptic. Following the writer Alan Wake, the player must find a way to escape a dark alternate dimension, through writing the story of an FBI agent solving the case, with the power of a flashlight and a gun. The second game in the series plays more like a survival-horror game than its predecessor, with more intense resource management.
While this entry is pretty far removed from The Last of Us, the survival-action-horror gameplay of Alan Wake 2 feels reminiscent of The Last of Us, with two playable characters with unique stories (as is the case in The Last of Us Part II). Alan Wake 2 is a very fun horror experience and is well worth playing for both those who love The Last of Us and those who don't.
2 Resident Evil 4 (2023)
Where's Everyone Going, Bingo?
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- March 24, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Yet another survival horror game, Resident Evil 4 is the pinnacle of campy zombie video games. Once again, played as a third-person horror game in which the player must scavenge for ammunition, using stealth when running low on resources, Resident Evil 4 is somewhat reminiscent of The Last of Us with a greater focus on action and spectacle.
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Just as Joel must protect Ellie in The Last of Us, Leon must protect Ashley from the crazed villagers and horrific monsters present in rural Spain. While not all fans of The Last of Us will like this entry, Resident Evil is one of the originators of the survival horror genre and the fourth game in the franchise is one of its best.
1 Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition
Claustrophobic, Apocalyptic Horror
Metro Exodus
- Released
- February 15, 2019
- Developer(s)
- 4A Games
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The final entry on this list is possibly the furthest apart from The Last of Us both in setting and gameplay. Metro Exodus is a post-apocalyptic first-person shooter in which the player must survive in the harsh environment of a devastated Russia. Unlike the first two games in the series, which are both also worth playing, Exodus offers the player a selection of small open-world sections in which to explore and scavenge.
While not specifically a zombie apocalypse, there are numerous non-human enemies in the game, thanks to the Metro franchise taking place in the aftermath of a nuclear war. The desperate drive to survive, scavenging for ammunition in a world overtaken by destruction, makes Metro Exodus feel kindred to The Last of Us, yet different enough to be a worthwhile, unique experience.
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