Introduction to The Last of Us

Gilad James, PhD

Gilad James Mystery School

About this ebook

The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure video game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released for the PlayStation 3 in June 2013 and later remastered for the PlayStation 4 in July 2014. The game is set in the United States, in the year 2033, twenty years after a fungus-based pandemic has decimated the population, turning most of humanity into cannibalistic creatures called Infected. Players control Joel, a smuggler, and his companion, Ellie, a teenage girl who may hold the key to a cure for the pandemic. The two set out on a journey across a perilous and realistic depiction of what is left of the country, facing hostile survivors and Infected along the way. The game is known for its engaging story, memorable characters, and tense gameplay. The Last of Us has received numerous awards, including several Game of the Year awards, and is regarded as one of the best video games of all time. A sequel, titled The Last of Us Part II, was released in June 2020, continuing the story several years later with Ellie as the main playable character.