The Last of Us™ Part I

The Last of Us Part I is a 2022 action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is a full remake of the critically acclaimed 2013 game The Last of Us, rebuilt from the ground up using the engine and technology of The Last of Us Part II. The remake features significantly enhanced visuals, overhauled gameplay mechanics, improved artificial intelligence, expanded accessibility options, and includes the full 2014 single-player expansion The Last of Us: Left Behind. It was released for PlayStation 5 on September 2, 2022, and for Microsoft Windows (PC) on March 28, 2023 (co-developed by Iron Galaxy).

Set in a post-apocalyptic United States ravaged by a mutated strain of the Cordyceps fungus that turns humans into cannibalistic creatures known as the Infected, the story follows Joel, a hardened survivor, who is tasked with escorting the young Ellie across the country. What begins as a simple escort mission evolves into a deeply emotional journey filled with loss, hope, and moral complexity as the pair face hostile human factions and hordes of Infected. The narrative remains faithful to the original while benefiting from refined pacing, cinematic presentation, and subtle updates to align with the sequel’s visual style.

Gameplay

The Last of Us Part I is played from a third-person perspective and blends intense action, stealth, exploration, and resource management in a tense, cinematic experience. Players control Joel for most of the campaign (with sections playing as Ellie and a brief prologue as his daughter Sarah), using a mix of firearms, improvised melee weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and stealth to survive. Enemies include both human survivors (who are often more dangerous due to their intelligence and tactics) and various stages of the Infected — Runners, Stalkers, Clickers, Bloaters, and more.

Key improvements over the original include:

• Overhauled AI that supports far more enemies on screen simultaneously, with smarter, more aggressive, and context-aware behaviors.
• Enhanced combat and traversal with new animations, a Bloater charge attack, dynamic encounters, and tighter controls.
• Expanded accessibility features (one of the most comprehensive in gaming), including audio descriptions for cutscenes, haptic feedback during dialogue, customizable difficulty presets, screen reader support, and options for motor, visual, and hearing impairments.
• Permadeath mode, speedrun mode, new costumes, and a vastly improved photo mode.
• Full integration of Left Behind, which follows Ellie and her friend Riley in a prequel story set before the main events.

On PlayStation 5, the game takes full advantage of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, 3D audio via Tempest Engine, and offers performance modes (native 4K at 30 fps or upscaled 60 fps with VRR support). A 2024 update further optimized it for the PlayStation 5 Pro. The PC version adds extensive graphical and control customization but launched with performance issues that were later addressed through patches.

Development and Legacy

Directed by Matthew Gallant and creative director Shaun Escayg, the remake was created to let players experience the story of Part I with the same graphical and mechanical fidelity as Part II, especially for new audiences who discovered the series through the HBO television adaptation. It incorporates motion-captured facial animations, higher-fidelity character models, improved lighting, foliage, and environmental detail, all while preserving the original story and performances by Troy Baker (Joel) and Ashley Johnson (Ellie).

The game received generally positive reviews for its technical upgrades, emotional storytelling, and accessibility, though some critics questioned the necessity of a $70 remake so soon after the original. It has sold millions of copies across platforms and remains a benchmark for narrative-driven action-adventure games. In 2025, it was included in the digital bundle The Last of Us Complete alongside Part II Remastered.

Key Features:

• Faithful Yet Enhanced Remake — The complete original story plus Left Behind expansion, rebuilt with modern technology.
• Intense Post-Apocalyptic Survival — Tense combat, stealth, crafting, and exploration across a ruined United States.
• Unforgettable Characters & Story — Deep emotional narrative with complex moral choices and relationships.
• Industry-Leading Accessibility — Extensive options making the game playable for a wider audience.
• Next-Gen Presentation — Stunning visuals, DualSense features (PS5), and cinematic presentation.
• Release Platforms:
  • PlayStation 5 — September 2, 2022
  • Microsoft Windows (PC) — March 28, 2023