The Last of Us Part I on PC. I love this. Naughty Dog and PlayStation Publishing nailed the post-apocalypse feel. Moreover, players say the story is “one of the best out there.” They frequently praise tense firefights and creative stealth. While some noted a shader glitch at launch, thankfully, patches fixed it. As an explorer of open worlds, I felt every corner of the Boston QZ and Bill’s Town.
I dove into every cabinet and safe. Naughty Dog, founded in 1984, packed collectibles and hidden journals everywhere. Notably, PC features like AMD FSR 2.2 and Nvidia DLSS boost fidelity, letting me admire every leaf and crumbling wall. Furthermore, Left Behind has its own secrets and trophies. Nowadays, users report stable frame rates. Also, the game’s accessibility options let completionists tweak controls and color filters to catch every detail.
As for combat, it feels tight. Enemies react smartly when flanked or shot in cover. Joel’s weapon upgrades mirror skill trees found in Resident Evil 4 but feel more grounded. Importantly, Naughty Dog designed the AI to adapt, forcing you to mix stealth, headshots, and improvised bombs. In some ways, I see echoes of Uncharted’s level design—but darker and more methodical. As a result, hardcore players will love mastering every melee parry and silent takedown.
When it comes to speedrunning, I tested routes on PC. The level skips rely on precise jumps near doors. Currently, community records hover under four hours with no major glitches. Conveniently, DualSense haptics help time your reloads. Plus, NVIDIA Highlights mode lets me snag quick clips. Despite the linear paths, the game world still allows minor skips in the University chapter. Going forward, I plan to refine a sub-three-hour run by exploiting door animations.
From the start, the story grabs you. Joel and Ellie feel real. Gustavo Santaolalla’s score sets the mood, and 3D audio cues warn you of clickers behind a wall. According to Naughty Dog, in interviews, they wanted every line of dialogue to feel authentic. Consequently, the pacing blends quiet campfire talks with sudden, brutal encounters. Each twist—like the winter flashbacks—lands hard.
Visually, the game uses a modified engine from The Last of Us Part II. Its art team drew inspiration from real U.S. landmarks. The ultra-wide support at 21:9 makes the overgrown streets feel cinematic. Players said texture pop-in still occurs at high speeds, but it rarely breaks immersion. The color palette shifts from muted winter whites to lush summer greens to mirror the story’s hope and despair.
Characters grow in believable ways. Ellie’s skills shine when she leads a raid. Joel’s guilt drives his choices. Their arcs reflect real survival trauma. The game balances both roles, and developers confirmed they wrote the script over two years to nail that duality. Dialogue feels natural—no forced exposition.
The challenge level suits runners and casuals. You can dial difficulty from very easy to grounded. Users on Steam report smooth curves with no major spikes. The crafting system forces you to choose between shivs or health kits. That decision keeps runs interesting.
Replay value is high. You can hunt all 200 artifacts, chase trophies, or beat grounded mode. Branching side notes, like Bill’s Town optional fights, push you to replay chapters. It rivals replay options in games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn.
The Last of Us Part I’s emotional depth and PC polish raise the bar for story games.
Its countless secrets and full accessibility make it a dream for thorough gamers.
The combat and AI depth challenge even the most skilled players.
And speedrunners can refine their runs in its tight level design.
If you’re a fan of gripping narratives, emotional depth, and immersive gameplay, you’ll love these top-tier titles. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End delivers cinematic storytelling and thrilling action, crafted by the same studio behind other standout adventures. If a sprawling open world and heartfelt characters appeal to you, Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a powerful journey through the fading American frontier. For mythological drama and intense combat, God of War (2018) masterfully blends Norse lore with a moving father-son dynamic. Explore a beautifully decayed world in Horizon Zero Dawn, where robotic beasts roam ancient ruins in a vibrant post-apocalyptic landscape. Finally, dive into Days Gone for a gritty survival horror experience featuring dynamic hordes, emotional stakes, and a haunting open-world atmosphere. These games are perfect follow-ups for anyone seeking story-rich, action-packed adventures.
