15 Games Like The Last of Us You Need to Play in 2026

The Last of Us changed what a story could do in this medium. Joel and Ellie’s cross-country trek through a fungal apocalypse paired brutal, scrappy combat with quiet human moments, and the HBO series only widened the fanbase. If you have played through both parts plus the Left Behind DLC and want more games that land the same gut-punch, this list is for you.

These 15 picks each deliver on at least one of the three pillars that make The Last of Us work: tense survival combat, stealth built on scarcity, or a story that treats you like an adult. No filler, no loose “post-apocalyptic” tag-alongs.

Quick Comparison: Top 5 Picks

#GameGenrePricePlatforms
1The Last of Us Part IISurvival Action$49.99PC, PS4, PS5
2A Plague Tale: RequiemStealth Adventure$59.99PC, PS5, Xbox
3Uncharted 4: A Thief’s EndCinematic Adventure$49.99PC, PS4, PS5
4Resident Evil 4 RemakeSurvival Horror$59.99PC, PS, Xbox
5Alien: IsolationSurvival Horror$34.99PC, PS, Xbox, Switch

1. The Last of Us Part II

Why it’s similar

It is the direct sequel, so it carries forward the exact scavenge-and-survive combat, weighty melee, and character-first storytelling that defined the original.

What makes it unique

A dual-protagonist structure forces you to play both sides of a revenge story. Prone crawling, dodging, and reactive stealth expand every system from the first game.

Key features

  • Dual protagonist campaign
  • Expanded stealth and dodge combat
  • No Return roguelike mode (Remastered)
  • Deep accessibility and photo modes

Price: $49.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

2. A Plague Tale: Requiem

Why it’s similar

Companion-driven survival where you protect someone vulnerable, the same Joel-and-Ellie dynamic, with stealth around threats far bigger than you.

What makes it unique

Amicia and Hugo’s bond drives the story, and rat-swarm set pieces turn the environment itself into the deadliest enemy on screen.

Key features

  • Sibling-bond narrative
  • Massive rat swarm mechanics
  • Stealth and light-based puzzles
  • Gorgeous 14th-century France

Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

3. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Why it’s similar

Same studio, Naughty Dog, with the cinematic set-pieces, character banter, and polished gunplay that share The Last of Us’s production shine.

What makes it unique

Grapple-and-climb traversal and blockbuster chase sequences trade horror for globe-trotting treasure-hunting adventure.

Key features

  • Cinematic set pieces
  • Grapple traversal
  • Legacy of Thieves PC collection
  • Includes The Lost Legacy

Price: $49.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

4. Resident Evil 4 Remake

Why it’s similar

Third-person survival action built on resource management, crafting, and constant pressure. It is The Last of Us’s combat DNA in a horror shell.

What makes it unique

The Merchant economy and parry-focused knife combat modernize a classic while keeping every encounter tense and readable.

Key features

  • Knife parry combat
  • Merchant upgrade economy
  • Separate Ways (Ada) DLC
  • The Mercenaries mode

Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

5. The Evil Within 2

Why it’s similar

Survival horror leaning on stealth, scarce ammo, and dread, the same “one bullet matters” tension you feel sneaking past a Clicker.

What makes it unique

Semi-open hub areas let you pick stealth or confrontation, and the psychological STEM world warps reality around you.

Key features

  • Semi-open exploration
  • Stealth or combat freedom
  • Crafting on the move
  • Psychological horror setting

Price: $29.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

6. Metro Exodus

Why it’s similar

Post-apocalyptic survival with brutal resource scarcity, weapon upkeep, and a story about protecting the people you travel with.

What makes it unique

A train-hub campaign crosses seasonal Russian wastelands, and manual weapon cleaning forces genuine resource discipline.

Key features

  • Train-based journey
  • Weapon condition system
  • Day and night stealth
  • Two story DLCs

Price: $39.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

7. Alan Wake 2

Why it’s similar

Narrative-first survival horror with a heavy cinematic atmosphere and light-based combat that keeps you resource-anxious throughout.

What makes it unique

Two playable characters and a live-action-blended presentation push survival horror into full psychological thriller territory.

Key features

  • Dual-character mystery
  • Light-as-weapon combat
  • Mind Place investigation
  • Live-action hybrid scenes

Price: $49.99 Platforms: PC (Epic), PS5, Xbox Series X/S

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming (Epic Games activation).

8. Days Gone

Why it’s similar

Open-world survival against infected hordes with scavenging and resource pressure that echoes The Last of Us’s clicker tension.

What makes it unique

Freaker hordes swarm hundreds deep, and motorcycle fuel and upkeep add a constant survival layer to every ride.

Key features

  • Massive Freaker hordes
  • Motorcycle traversal and upkeep
  • Open Pacific Northwest world
  • Remastered Horde Assault mode

Price: $49.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

9. Tomb Raider (2013)

Why it’s similar

Survival-driven action with crafting, scavenging, and a stealth-or-fight rhythm that mirrors The Last of Us’s scrappy encounters.

What makes it unique

Lara’s origin story frames every kill as hard-won, and the semi-open island rewards curiosity with upgrades and tombs.

Key features

  • Survival crafting
  • Bow-focused stealth
  • Semi-open island
  • Series reboot starting point

Price: $19.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

10. God of War Ragnarök

Why it’s similar

An emotional parent-child core, a cinematic single-shot camera, and weighty combat make it the closest AAA match for The Last of Us’s tone.

What makes it unique

Norse mythology and puzzle-filled realms surround a story about Kratos learning to let Atreus grow up.

Key features

  • Father-son narrative
  • Weighty axe and blade combat
  • Nine realms to explore
  • Valhalla roguelite DLC

Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

11. Ghost of Tsushima

Why it’s similar

Story-driven action-adventure with a deep character arc and an atmospheric world you sink into, Jin’s quiet mirror to Joel’s.

What makes it unique

Wind-guided navigation and stance-based sword combat make both exploration and fights feel deliberate and earned.

Key features

  • Stance-based combat
  • Wind navigation
  • Iki Island DLC
  • PC Director’s Cut

Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

12. Dying Light 2: Stay Human

Why it’s similar

First-person survival in an infected city with crafting, scavenging, and day-night danger that scales The Last of Us’s tension citywide.

What makes it unique

Parkour traversal and infected-heavy nights turn the whole map into a stealth-or-run gauntlet after dark.

Key features

  • Parkour traversal
  • Day and night infected shift
  • Choice-driven story
  • Ongoing free updates

Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

13. Death Stranding

Why it’s similar

An emotional, atmospheric journey across a broken America with a narrative-first design that rewards patience over firefights.

What makes it unique

Cargo-hauling and terrain traversal replace shooting as the core loop, and the story goes gloriously strange.

Key features

  • Terrain traversal loop
  • Asynchronous online building
  • Star-studded cast
  • Director’s Cut extras

Price: $39.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

14. Resident Evil 2 Remake

Why it’s similar

Survival horror built on limited resources, backtracking, and dread. It is the purest “every bullet counts” fix outside The Last of Us.

What makes it unique

The Raccoon City Police Station is a masterclass in interlocking level design, and Mr. X hunts you without mercy.

Key features

  • Two campaigns (Leon and Claire)
  • Mr. X pursuer
  • Puzzle-box map design
  • The Ghost Survivors DLC

Price: $39.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

15. Alien: Isolation

Why it’s similar

Stealth survival horror where hiding beats fighting, delivering the same white-knuckle tension as sneaking past a Clicker in the dark.

What makes it unique

A single, unscripted Xenomorph learns your habits, so no encounter ever plays out the same way twice.

Key features

  • Adaptive Alien AI
  • Craft-and-hide survival
  • Retro-future Sevastopol station
  • Full 20-hour campaign

Price: $34.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch

Where to Buy

Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.

Full Comparison Table

#GameGenrePricePlatforms
1The Last of Us Part IISurvival Action$49.99PC, PS4, PS5
2A Plague Tale: RequiemStealth Adventure$59.99PC, PS5, Xbox
3Uncharted 4: A Thief’s EndCinematic Adventure$49.99PC, PS4, PS5
4Resident Evil 4 RemakeSurvival Horror$59.99PC, PS, Xbox
5God of War RagnarökCinematic Action$59.99PC, PS4, PS5
6The Evil Within 2Survival Horror$29.99PC, PS4, Xbox One
7Alien: IsolationSurvival Horror$34.99PC, PS, Xbox, Switch
8Resident Evil 2 RemakeSurvival Horror$39.99PC, PS, Xbox
9Days GoneOpen-World Survival$49.99PC, PS4, PS5
10Metro ExodusSurvival Shooter$39.99PC, PS, Xbox
11Dying Light 2Survival Parkour$59.99PC, PS, Xbox
12Alan Wake 2Survival Horror$49.99PC (Epic), PS5, Xbox
13Tomb Raider (2013)Survival Action$19.99PC, PS4, Xbox
14Ghost of TsushimaAction Adventure$59.99PC, PS4, PS5
15Death StrandingNarrative Adventure$39.99PC, PS4, PS5

Conclusion

The Last of Us fans have plenty of directions depending on what hooked them. Want more of that Naughty Dog polish? The Last of Us Part II and Uncharted 4 are the obvious next stops. Craving survival-horror tension? Resident Evil 4 Remake, Resident Evil 2 Remake, Alien: Isolation, and The Evil Within 2 make every bullet count.

Chasing the emotional weight? A Plague Tale: Requiem, God of War Ragnarök, and Death Stranding put relationships first. And if it was the broken, overgrown world that stuck with you, Days Gone, Metro Exodus, and Dying Light 2 deliver distinct takes on the apocalypse. Every game here earned its spot through real survival, stealth, or storytelling craft, not just a shared setting.