How to Play All The Last of Us Games in Chronological Order?

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is dropping for PC on April 3rd, 2025. While you might be familiar with Ellie and Abby’s adventures, there are several new players wondering about the lore of The Last of Us. If you are one of those confused souls, we have just the solution for you.

Check out the best order to play The Last of Us, whether it is chronological or according to release dates. 

The Last of Us Release Order

So, this might sound confusing. Naughty Dog released The Last of Us Part II before The Last of Us Part I. However, The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part I are basically the same. The latter is just a remake of the original. 

Here’s the release order for The Last of Us games:

• The Last of Us (2013)
• The Last of Us: Left Behind (2014)
• The Last of Us Part II (2020)
• The Last of Us Part I (2022)

Follow this order if you want to play The Last of Us according to its release date.

How to play The Last of Us in chronological order?

If you want to play The Last of Us in its chronological order, follow this list:

• July 2033: The Last of Us: Left Behind (Boston)
• Summer 2033-Late 2033: The Last of Us/The Last of Us Part I (early stages)
• Late 2033: The Last of Us: Left Behind (Colorado)
• Early 2034: The Last of Us/The Last of Us Part I
• Spring 2038-Fall 2038: The Last of Us Part II

As you can see, the story begins in 2033. The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part I are different versions of the same story. You can choose to play just one. The Last of Us: Left Behind is split into two so it appears twice on the list. 

Even in the game, there are different time periods being explored which makes the timeline more dynamic. Playing in the chronological order does make more sense if you want to understand the story. However, this approach does take a little more effort since you have to follow it to the T.

Should you play The Last of Us or The Last of Us Part I?

So, to recap, The Last of Us Part I is a remake of The Last of Us. While we stick to the same storyline, there are better graphics, more game modes, improved accessibility features, and overall better gameplay. 

We would suggest you go for The Last of Us Part I. If you take a look at The Last of Us and wonder what you would like to change, the answer is what The Last of Us Part I is.

So, are you ready to meet Ellie and Abby?

About The Last of Us Part II Remastered

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is the remaster of the famous 2020 action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Set five years after the events of The Last of Us (2013), the game focuses on two playable characters in a post-apocalyptic United States whose lives intertwine: Ellie, who sets out in revenge for a murder, and Abby, a soldier who becomes involved in a conflict between her militia and a religious cult.