What is The Last of Us Part II?
Five years after the events of The Last of Us, Ellie and Joel have carved out a quiet life in Jackson, Wyoming. The Last of Us Part II is the story of what happens when that peace is violently shattered — and a survival shooter that sends you through overgrown forests, flooded streets, and crumbling buildings to settle the score. It shifts between Ellie and Abby across the campaign, and it rarely lets either of them, or you, off the hook.
Getting started
The opening hour is a deliberately slow tutorial set in Jackson. You’ll learn to move, jump, and climb, and get a feel for basic melee combat before the story’s turning point drops you into the full survival loop.
After that, every section follows the same rhythm: explore the environment for supplies, then choose how to handle the enemies ahead. Your toolkit is firearms, improvised weapons, and stealth — and resources are tight, so sneaking past fights and saving ammunition is usually the smarter play. Enemies call out to one another, so listen to their dialogue, and use listen mode to track them through walls before committing to a route. Small platforming touches — leaping gaps and climbing ledges — also open up alternate paths and combat advantages, so keep an eye out for vertical routes.
Tips for beginners
- Stealth first, guns last. Ammo and health are scarce, and the most dangerous fights are often avoidable. If you can slip past a patrol, do it.
- Upgrade the backpack and holsters early. More carrying capacity and faster weapon swaps pay off in almost every encounter from then on.
- Loot everything, including optional areas. Crafting materials, supplements, and weapon parts hide in drawers, side rooms, and rooftops you could easily skip.
- Use listen mode constantly. It reveals enemy positions through walls and turns ambushes into setups — just keep moving while you use it.
- Bricks and bottles are weapons, not just distractions. Thrown at an enemy, they stagger and open them up for a follow-up hit, which can save your ammo.
- Craft before you’re desperate. Medkits and shiv-style melee upgrades are faster to make mid-combat if you’ve already got the parts, so top up between fights.
- Pace yourself through the heavy chapters. This is an emotionally draining story. If a section is getting to you, save and step away — the game isn’t going anywhere.
Is it worth playing?
Yes — with the honest caveat that this is not a comfort game. It earned its 90.0 rating through sheer craftsmanship: Naughty Dog’s best-in-class presentation, tense shooter-and-stealth combat, and a story that lingers long after the credits. The narrative is deliberately challenging and split across two protagonists, so not everyone will love where it goes. But as an action-adventure on PS4 and PS5, it’s essential — just go in prepared for a bruising, unforgettable ride.