So...you finished The Last of Us Part 2, stared at the credits while questioning your entire moral compass, and then desperately searched for a replacement.

 

You likely stumbled upon those 'Top 20' lists (hello Eneba!) claiming that everything from Metro Exodus to Helldivers 2 is 'just like' Joel and Ellie’s journey. Are you really trying to say that there's a possibility that 20 different titles would be 'Like TLoU'. That’s like saying there are twenty movies 'just like' The Godfather because they all feature men with daddy issues.

 

It’s a stretch. It’s the gaming equivalent of being told that because you like Metallica, you’ll love the Jonas Brothers since they also use guitars (Sorry James for putting up your name along with Jonas Bros...they don't deserve it). To suggest that a generic open-world loot-fest is 'just like TLoU' because there are zombies involved is a crime. The Last of Us isn't just a game, it’s a trauma-bonding simulator that ruined our collective emotional stability.

 

The truth? There is only one Last of Us. But, if you’re looking for a rebound that close enough, there are exactly five games that actually fit the same vibe.

The 'Actually Worthy' Five

If you want to feel something other than 'I need to get rid of this pending map icon,' play these :

1. A Quiet Place : The Road Ahead

If you loved the 'don't breathe or a Clicker will turn your face into a jigsaw puzzle' moments, this is your home. It captures that high-stakes silence perfectly. It’s like the library scene from a horror movie where if you drop a pen, you're finished. Pure, unadulterated tension.

2. Days Gone

I know, I know - some idiots call this 'Sons of Anarchy with Zombies.' But once you get past the biker vest, it hits the right notes - 'price of survival' and 'human nature in dire circumstances'. Watching a horde of 500 freakers chase you down provides that same adrenaline rush that Joel gave us.

3. Uncharted 4 : A Thief's End

It’s the same Naughty Dog DNA. While Nathan Drake is more 'Indiana Jones' and less 'Depressed Survivalist Dad,' the character writing and the way the story is told are top-tier. It’s the fun, sun-drenched cousin of The Last of Us who actually knows how to crack a joke(s).

4. A Plague Tale : Innocence & Requiem

This is like a walk through a nightmare while holding a child's hand (probably a lighter version of the blood trail dream from the OG Max Payne). Amicia and Hugo’s relationship mirrors the 'us against the world' desperation. It’s like The Last of Us, but with more rats than a New York City subway station.

5. Beyond : Two Souls

If the emotional weight and the 'protect the girl' narrative is what hooks you, this is it. It’s a cinematic journey that questions the fragility of friendship and the afterlife. It’s all about the heavy choices that make you stare at the wall for ten minutes after the console is off. Must try.

The 'Pretender' Reality Check

Now it's about time that we called out the games from those 'Top 20' lists that have no business being there :

 

Dying Light 2 : This is a parkour playground. The Last of Us is about the weight of every footstep; Dying Light is about doing a 360-degree kick off a rooftop into a pile of trash. It’s fun, but it has the emotional depth of a puddle in a drought.

 

State of Decay 2 : This is a management sim. I’m worrying about base upgrades, not the soul-crushing moral consequences of my actions. You don't weep when a survivor dies - you just go find another one with the 'gardening' skill. It’s basically ‘The Sim’ but with rabies.

 

Metro Exodus : I get the 'post-apocalypse' vibe, but Artyom is a silent protagonist. Half the magic of TLoU is the banter. In Metro, you’re basically a gas-masked fellow wandering through Russia. It’s a great shooter, but it lacks the soul-crushing narrative we crave.

 

Death Stranding : While it’s visually stunning, the 'gameplay' is mostly managing your own clumsy feet. And no, it's not Daryl Dixon from the Walking Dead - it's Norman Reedus, but as Sam Porter Bridges who 'ports things?' It’s the difference that you'll see between a gritty HBO drama and a very long, very weird art film.

 

Tomb Raider : Lara Croft is a killing machine who treats ancient ruins like a crossfit gym. The 'stealth' is great - either you're invisible or the entire island magically knows your GPS coordinates. It has a lot going on, but Lara doesn't have the 'tired and broken human' energy that makes Joel relatable.

The Mind-Blowing Bonus : The Evil Within 1 & 2

Pissed with the games we just mentioned? Well, blame Eneba for it. Now, we've got something to uplift your mood - and it's called 'The Evil Within' series.

 

While everyone was busy arguing over whether Joel was right (he was), these games were quietly perfecting the survival-horror balance. Sebastian Castellanos is basically Joel Miller if Joel had to deal with Inception-style hallucinations and a boss made of sewing needles.

 

The sequel, in particular, hits that 'desperate father searching for his daughter' POV so hard it’ll give you flashbacks to the opening ten minutes of the first TLoU. It’s the most underrated game that carries a soul as intense as the TLoU franchise. It’s the 'hidden track' on the album that ends up being your favorite song.

 

So, stop letting mediocre lists gaslight you - there’s only one game which is like TLoU, and it's called The Last of Us. But if you’re chasing that specific brand of emotional devastation, skip the generic pretenders. Stick to our 'Worthy Five' and that Evil Within bonus. Now go, play, and prepare to stare at your wall in silence.