Summary

  • Both The Last of Us games allow players to shake things up during a second playthrough, not just through adjusting difficulty settings.
  • Players can choose between killer or pacifist playthroughs, leaning toward aggression or stealth, using specific weapons or not, as well as experimenting with upgrades and skills.
  • Additional ways to freshen up one's Last of Us experience include speedrunning, Grounded and Permadeath modes, and PC mods.

The Last of Us games by Naughty Dog is among the most celebrated gaming series ever, blending cinematic and emotional narratives with satisfying gameplay and well-crafted combat mechanics. As Sony expands platform availability beyond PlayStation consoles – The Last of Us Part 1 is already on PC, with The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered launching April 3 – more players than ever can either experience these action-adventure masterpieces for the first time or revisit them to refresh their memories.

Despite being largely linear, both Last of Us games offer compelling reasons for replaying beyond their deep combat mechanics. For those planning to revisit the series ahead of HBO's The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on April 13, here are some of the best ways to refresh another playthrough of Part 1 and Part 2. From tackling new difficulties and playstyles to doubling down on collectibles and achievements, longtime players should consider giving these options a try.

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1 Play on a Different Difficulty

Easier or Harder, Both Have Benefits

This one is a bit obvious; however, the difficulty in The Last of Us games is more nuanced compared to many others. Players can individually adjust various parameters, such as resource availability and enemy aggression, making each playthrough feel distinct. Playing on a harder or easier difficulty the second time around also has its own benefits, so it's not just about playing the game on Grounded.

For instance, depending on whether players prefer a more aggressive or stealth-focused approach, selecting the right difficulty beforehand can make a difference. Playing too aggressively becomes challenging when enemies can take down Joel, Ellie, or Abby in one or two shots, not to mention the risk of engaging in full combat with limited resources. Because of this, players should consider their preferred playstyle and approach The Last of Us either as a tense, stealth-driven survival experience or as brutal, gun-blazing action.

2 Kill Everyone or Go for a Pacifist Completion

Become the Ultimate Killer or a Peaceful Survivor

This entry ties into the previous one, as it also depends on players' preferred difficulty and playstyle. Since The Last of Us games offer a flexible approach to clearing levels, it's entirely up to the player how action-focused the overall experience will be.

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Those who enjoy the combat mechanics of Part 1 and Part 2 may prefer to eliminate every threat in their path, so selecting a generous amount of resources could be a key factor. On the other hand, some might opt for a pacifist survival playthrough, avoiding enemy kills (especially against humans) and resorting to violence only when absolutely necessary. Just prepare to lie prone in the high grass a lot.

3 Melee Only Run or No Melee Run

Survive by Whatever Means Necessary

Another way to add variety to a Last of Us playthrough is by deciding how to approach melee weapons and firearms. Favoring one over the other can provide fresh combat experiences and lead to unique gameplay scenarios. Constantly waving the stick might even make The Last of Us feel like The Callisto Protocol if players are into it.

Furthermore, relying solely on melee weapons requires careful scavenging to stay armed for future encounters, as well as patience for ambushing enemies in close quarters, retreating when necessary, and striking again at the right moment. Conversely, for those accustomed to melee combat, challenging themselves to complete the game using only a single firearm can introduce an extra layer of resource management and a more strategic approach to combat and survival.

4 Change Approach to Skills and Weapon Upgrades

Try New Skill Sets or Play Without Them

Both The Last of Us games feature character skills and weapon upgrades, allowing players to tailor their tactics and even experiment with a semblance of combat "builds." In Part 2, each playable character even has dedicated skill trees that unlock throughout the game. While not as flexible as in many other action games, these options let players enhance health, extend listening distance, unlock new crafting recipes, perform deadly moves like shiv kills, and improve firearms for greater efficiency and lethality.

Naturally, these mechanics add another layer to experiment with during a second playthrough. Players may not only want to try entirely different skills and weapon upgrades but also abandon them altogether. More suited for hardcore survival runs on higher difficulties, this approach can make a TLOU playthrough truly challenging and unforgiving.

5 Play Without Crafting

Only Use What You Find

Like many other action-survival games, The Last of Us allows players to craft useful tools from gathered materials like scissors, alcohol, and dirty rags. Crafting recipes include medkits, explosives, shivs, melee upgrades, mines, gun silencers, and more. Since resource availability is tied to difficulty, players might choose to hold off from crafting as a way to add an extra challenge. Let's assume it's Joel or Ellie's first time surviving out there, so they're not yet aware that everything can be fixed with duct tape.

While giving up the ability to craft explosives or silencers isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, the lack of medkits can make things far more punishing. Though medkits can still be found in the world, relying solely on what players find is far more feasible for a stealth-focused playthrough where unnecessary damage is minimized.

6 Find Every Collectible

Scan Each Area for Hidden Secrets

Most players miss countless collectibles during their first playthrough of The Last of Us, making this achievement worth pursuing in subsequent runs. Both the original and the sequel are filled with hidden secrets and items to discover, many of which are tied to specific achievements.

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From locked safes containing valuables, workbenches, and training manuals that unlock new skills to more intricately hidden but less essential collectibles like coins, cards, and artifacts, careful players can uncover hidden items in almost every chapter. Worry not: both games allow chapter replays for those who miss a few.

7 Try Permadeath Mode

Only for Hardened Survivors Who Know Their Game

Granted, this advice won't suit most Last of Us players due to its sheer extremity, but it's worth mentioning. Both games feature a Permadeath mode, where players have only one life for the entire playthrough: if Joel, Ellie, or Abby die even once, the game ends. As a result, it's recommended only for the most die-hard fans who know every encounter inside and out and can avoid clickers at all costs.

The challenge with Permadeath mode, as in other games with similar mechanics, is that even the smallest mistake can lead to devastating progress loss, not to mention the risk of technical hiccups ruining a run. Still, for TLOU veterans, Permadeath remains a nerve-racking option if players seek true adrenaline-fueled play.

8 Go for a Speedrun

Race Against the Clock

Speedrunning is one of the most popular ways to extend one's time with a game. While neither Last of Us title is particularly suited for this playstyle (both encourage slow, careful progression instead), fans may still challenge themselves to achieve impressively short completion times for Part 1 or Part 2.

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Skipping all cutscenes, sprinting through levels, and avoiding both human enemies and infected by running rather than fighting are just some of the strategies required for speedrunning The Last of Us. With typical completion times around 14–15 hours for the first game and 23–24 hours for Part 2, some players may find it curious to see just how quickly they can reach the end credits.

9 Try New Costumes

Unlock and Enjoy New Character Appearances

Like the Resident Evil series, all Last of Us games feature alternate outfits for playable characters, which can be unlocked and selected from the menu for a fresh look. The original TLOU for PS3 included 21 skins for Joel and Ellie combined, while Part 1 expands the selection and even introduces weapon skins to the franchise. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered continues this trend, featuring 23 outfits for Ellie and 20 for Abby, along with additional skins for other characters.

While not as gameplay-influencing as some of the other methods mentioned above, changing a character's appearance is still a nice touch to keep the experience feeling fresh, even if clearing stalkers while wearing a space suit seems a bit impractical.

From Visual Reshades to Extra Outfits

For now, this option is limited only to The Last of Us Part 1 on PC, given that Part 2 is yet to be released on PC for mods to arrive. However, installing mods is generally one of the easiest and most effective ways to shake things up during a second playthrough.

While there aren't too many groundbreaking gameplay-influencing mods for Part 1 yet, players can access new clothing options for Ellie or Joel, install various reshades to enhance or alter the game's visuals, and even switch models to play the entire game as Ellie, further blurring the line between the first game and its sequel.

  • Rating block community and brand ratings Image
    The Last of Us Part I Tag Page Cover Art
    The Last of Us Part I
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    Action-Adventure
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    PC-1 PlayStation-1
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    9 /10
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    Released
    September 2, 2022
    ESRB
    M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
    Developer(s)
    Naughty Dog
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    SUBSCRIPTION
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    Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards, now rebuilt from the ground up for the PlayStation 5 console.

    In a ravaged civilization, where infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Joel, a weary protagonist, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a military quarantine zone. However, what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal cross-country journey.

    - Completely rebuilt using Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 engine technology with advanced visual fidelity, fully integrated DualSense™ wireless controller features, and more.

    - A total overhaul of the original experience, faithfully reproduced but incorporating modernized gameplay mechanics, improved controls, and expanded accessibility options.

    - Feel immersed in improved environmental storytelling, effects, facial animations, and enhanced exploration and combat.

    Franchise
    The Last of Us
    Genre(s)
    Action-Adventure
    OpenCritic Rating
    Strong
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    The Last of Us Part 2
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    Action
    Adventure
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    PlayStation-1
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    10 /10
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    Released
    June 19, 2020
    ESRB
    M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
    Developer(s)
    Naughty Dog
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    Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur

    Franchise
    The Last of Us
    Genre(s)
    Action, Adventure
    OpenCritic Rating
    Mighty