The 50 Best Games: 49 - The Last of Us

The Last of Us is something truly special. As a follow up to the rollicking adventure opus that was the Uncharted series, it managed to channel the storytelling chops that Naughty Dog had developed away from pulp into something much more poignant. The fact that it takes place during a "zombie" apocalypse cheapens it for me to a degree, but the game's ability to connect these two uncompromising and emotionally distant companions in a realistic and meaningful way was and is a shining example of, not just a good video game story, but a great story in it's own right.

It is also successful as a game that develops a creepy and tense atmosphere with satisfying stealth punctuated by visceral combat. You always feel slightly underprepared, so by the end of every encounter you have made it through by the skin of your teeth. The game's tone is perfectly replicated in the gameplay. For a game as linear as this one it is constantly impressive how it's able to use the story to emphasize its mechanics and vice versa. It never quite reached the same highs as the better Uncharted games for my tastes, but the relationship between Joel and Ellie was so touching that it deserves a spot on this list.