PlayStationMar 07, 2026
Our Definitive The Last Of Us Games Ranked List, Covering Part I, Part II, Remasters, And Left Behind To Help You Pick The Best Version To Play In 2026.
The Last of Us franchise does not have fifty spinoffs and three kart racers. It is a tighter catalog, which means every entry gets judged harder.
And yes, this ranking includes remakes and remasters, because in this series, “which version should I play?” is half the battle.
This is our full ranking of The Last of Us games based on story impact, gameplay quality, replay value, and how well each one holds up in 2026 without nostalgia goggles.
Left Behind is technically DLC, but it is essential DLC.
It gives Ellie center stage and adds emotional context that makes both Part I and Part II hit harder. The mix of flashback innocence and present-day desperation is still one of Naughty Dog’s smartest narrative structures.
Why is it last? Mainly scale. It is shorter, narrower, and mechanically less varied than full entries. But “last” here does not mean bad. It means this franchise is absurdly strong top to bottom.
If you skip Left Behind, you skip core Ellie DNA. Bad plan.
The 2013 original is historic. Full stop.
It reset expectations for cinematic storytelling in mainstream action games and gave us one of the best character arcs in the medium. Joel and Ellie’s journey still lands, the pacing is sharp, and the ending remains legendary argument fuel.
But in pure 2026 playability terms, this is no longer the most convenient version. Visual fidelity, enemy behavior, and quality-of-life features show their age compared with later editions.
Respect the classic. Play a newer version unless you specifically want the original release experience.
Remastered was the gold standard for a long time.
It preserved everything that made the original special while improving performance, visuals, and accessibility for a much larger audience. For years, this was the recommendation: want to play The Last of Us? Start here.
Today, it sits in a weird middle spot. It is still great, still smooth, and still easy to love. But Part I now exists as a ground-up remake with modernized combat feel and significantly better visual detail.
Remastered is the “reliable veteran” entry. Not the newest. Still excellent.
Part II is one of the boldest sequel swings in gaming.
Mechanically, it is outstanding: stealth systems are deeper, combat encounters feel more dynamic, and level design is richer and more vertical. Narratively, it is deliberately uncomfortable, and whether you loved or hated every choice, it clearly aimed higher than “more of the same.”
Why third, not first? On PS4 hardware, performance and loading are fine but no longer ideal compared with the PS5 remaster. The game itself is brilliant. The best way to play it got better later.
Still, as a standalone 2020 release, Part II was a technical and narrative heavyweight.
Part I is the definitive way to experience the first game in 2026.
This remake keeps the original script and performances intact while bringing the gameplay presentation closer to modern Naughty Dog standards. Lighting, animation fidelity, facial detail, and environmental storytelling all got serious upgrades.
Most importantly, it preserves what worked instead of rewriting history. The tone, pacing, and emotional beats remain sharp. You are still getting the same masterpiece, just with fewer technical barriers between you and the pain.
The PC version had a rocky launch, but in its current patched state it is far better than day one and finally a valid route for non-PlayStation players.
Part II Remastered takes the best core game in the series and makes the package better.
You get cleaner performance, visual upgrades, smart extras, and most importantly No Return, a roguelike survival mode that gives the combat sandbox real long-term replay value. That mode alone adds a lot for players who wanted more than one emotionally devastating campaign run.
The Lost Levels and behind-the-scenes material are also excellent for fans who care about design process and narrative iteration.
If you want the single most complete Last of Us product today, this is it. Incredible campaign, stronger performance, meaningful bonus content, and replay loops that actually hold up.
Yes, it is still emotionally exhausting. But now it is emotionally exhausting at premium quality.
If you are starting fresh in 2026, play it like this:
That order gives the cleanest narrative arc and the strongest overall gameplay experience.
Ranking this franchise is like ranking different ways to cry in high definition.
Even the “lowest” entry here is worth playing. The real gap is not quality, it is format and platform-era polish.
If you want the best overall experience today, go with the modern path:
Part I, then Left Behind, then Part II Remastered.
Bring tissues.
And maybe do not schedule anything emotionally demanding right after.
Images Credit: Playstation - The Last of Us Series
By Aiden Nguyen
Senior Editor, Console Pulse
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