The HBO adaptation of The Last of Us is not only a great show, but one of the most successful video game adaptations ever made. The first season of Joel and Ellie’s adventures spanned the events of the first The Last of Us game, and the upcoming second season will be based on The Last of Us Part 2.
But what if you want to see where the story goes now? Can you skip right to The Last of Us Part 2 after watching the show?
Technically, there is no wrong answer to this question. The short answer is, yes, you can understand The Last of Us Part 2 after watching the first season of the HBO adaptation. The game kicks off with a recap of the first game, and all those events should look familiar to you. The casting choices of the show won’t necessarily match how characters look in the games. But if you turn on subtitles, you’ll be fine. However, you may not want to skip The Last of Us Part 1, even if you‘ve seen the show.
Why The Last of Us Part 1 is still worth playing, even if you’ve watched the show
If you’re afraid The Last of Us Part 1 will repeat things you’ve already seen, don’t be. While the show does stay incredibly faithful in some areas, it also diverges pretty significantly in other ways. This isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing, but either way, you shouldn’t feel bored playing the game. It’s like watching a movie based on a book, and then reading the original afterwards.
Also, The Last of Us Part 1 is still worth playing for the one thing the show can’t capture: the gameplay. Even if you’re totally new to video games, the PlayStation 5 version of The Last of Us Part 1 includes a ton of accessibility options to help just about anyone enjoy it. Furthermore, The Last of Us Part 2 plays very similarly to The Last of Us Part 1. In other words, playing the first game will prepare you for the sequel. Let’s just say that, when you’re the one trying to survive against the Infected, you’ll fear the Cordyceps even more.
So, yes, if you must buy only one video game, you can skip to The Last of Us Part 2. You’ll understand the important story beats, and you’ll pick up right where the show left off. But if you’re so immersed in this world that you want to play the games, start with the first title. It’s more of The Last of Us, and that’s worth grabbing for its own sake.
