The Last of Us Part II Remastered

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is an enhanced version of the original 2020 game, tailored specifically for PS5 with higher resolution, faster loading, and full DualSense feature support, such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that heighten the tension of both combat and quiet stealth among enemies. The game continues the story of Ellie and Joel from the first installment, telling a dark, morally complicated tale of revenge and its consequences, one whose narrative shifts midway through to a different lead character — a choice that provoked strongly polarized reactions among players and critics alike upon the original release.

The remaster also adds entirely new content called No Return, a roguelike mode offering replayable combat encounters with randomized challenges, adjustable conditions, and various playable characters from the game, substantially extending playtime beyond the main campaign alone. It also includes a set of non-playable lost levels accompanied by developer commentary, and the option to play the entire campaign with unlocked audio logs that shed light on the game's development process and the decisions behind its story.

Technically, thanks to the remaster, the title remains one of the most impressive on PS5, long praised for its enemy and ally AI design, its sound work, and the visual detail of its environments. Given its violent and emotionally demanding content, it is unambiguously a game made for adult players, yet at the same time one of the most technically and narratively ambitious titles of the entire PS4 and PS5 generation. An optional accessibility support mode also opens the game up to players who would otherwise struggle with its tougher combat and stealth sections, without diminishing the dramatic power of its story — and even years after release, it remains perhaps the most discussed title when it comes to storytelling in the games medium.

Why play it: It's the most technically and narratively ambitious title of the PS4/PS5 generation, made explicitly for adult players — and thanks to its extensive accessibility options, it's manageable even for those who otherwise struggle with tough combat.