Watching 'The Last of Us?' Here's how to play the video games that inspired it.
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So, uh, season two of The Last of Us really started out with a bang, huh? (Beware, that link contains spoilers for the season's second episode.)
If you're as obsessed as we are with HBO's adaptation of the video game franchise with the same name, then we highly recommend playing through the source material. Seriously, if you haven't played either of these games, consider it required reading (or playing, we guess).
If you're not a gamer but you're ready to experience The Last of Us in its original form, we've put together a handy guide for how you can do exactly that in the most efficient, cost-effective way.
What console can I play The Last of Us games on?
Up until recently, The Last of Us series had been playable exclusively on PlayStation consoles. Now, the PlayStation 5 versions of the game can also be played on PC, including The Last of Us Complete, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and The Last of Us Part I. The older editions of the games — The Last of Us Part II and The Last of Us Remastered — are playable on both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
How can you play The Last of Us series on Xbox? You can't. For the forseeable future, both Xbox and Nintendo players are out of luck when it comes to TLOU.
What are all the editions of The Last of Us?
There are a few different versions of The Last of Us floating around out there. He's a breakdown of what each edition includes so you know which one to buy:
The Last of Us Complete ($99.99): This is the most complete version of the series you're going to find, and it's exactly what you'll want to get if you've never played the games before. It includes the PlayStation 5 (and PC) versions of The Last of Us Part I, The Last of Us: Left Behind, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, as well as the No Return roguelike mode that came bundled with the sequel's PS5 remaster. You'll also get the bonus features that came with both games, including Lost Levels, developer commentary, and more. There's a physical collector's edition of Complete as well, but it's currently sold out at the time of this writing.
The Last of Us Part II ($39.99): Even if you don't have a PlayStation 5, you can still play the original, non-remastered version of The Last of Us Part II. This is the base game, so it doesn't include any bonus features, but it's definitely the most inexpensive iteration.
The Last of Us Part I ($69.99): The most up-to-date version of the first The Last of Us game for PlayStation 5 and PC, which comes with the Left Behind DLC and a few other in-game extras. If you've only ever played the older version, it's worth hopping into this one to experience the story with a fresh coat of paint.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered ($49.99): The most up-to-date version of The Last of Us Part II for PlayStation 5 and PC, which includes No Return and the bonus features we outlined in Complete. If you've already played the first game and still need to play the second, but don't want to spend $100, this is the version you want.
The Last of Us Remastered ($19.99): The PlayStation 4 version of the original game, which also comes bundled with the Left Behind DLC.
The Last of Us: Left Behind DLC ($9.99): Finally, if you haven't played the DLC and want to check it off your list, you can buy it as a standalone game. Absolutely play this if you want the full TLOU experience.
Are there any other ways to play?
Finally, a PlayStation Plus Extra membership will gain you access to the PS Plus Game Catalog, which is an Xbox Game-Pass-esque collection of titles that you can download and play whenever you want. At the time of this writing, The Last of Us Remastered (which also comes with Left Behind) is included in the catalog. It's the PlayStation 4 version of the game, but it's still playable on PS5.
Topics Gaming HBO Streaming The Last of Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Sadly, it's not likely. As a Sony exclusive, we doubt it will ever be available for Xbox gamers. However, you can play the various versions of the game on PC, if that's any consolation. You can also find the various TLOU games on the Boosteroid cloud gaming service.
Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, laptops, fitness, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.
