As one of the most celebrated franchises in gaming, The Last of Us has had numerous successes. The franchise consists of two game releases and a third installment rumored, and a highly acclaimed live-action series on the HBO Max streaming service. The heart-rending story of the end of the world, where the last fragments of humanity try to survive, is a common trope. However, The Last Of Us has captured lightning in a bottle by putting the human factor at the forefront.
Perhaps one of the most controversial components of the franchise, The Last Of Us Part 2, has been re-released on current generation consoles, allowing players to jump back into the world torn apart by a strange infection that turns people into monsters. Set years after the first game, Ellie must fight a war within herself before she is consumed by hatred while on a mission of revenge. Throughout the game, players will face many threats, some human and some not. However, there are a select few that give off an especially frightful presence.
8 Runners
Panic-Inducing Monsters
In the Last of Us franchise, runners are the most common evolution of the infected. They are capable of chasing and attacking, but are much weaker in comparison to some of the more virulent abominations that appear in the games.
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Runners are the immediate result of humans coming into contact with the Cordyceps strain. They are terrifying because of their number and unending pursuit of their target. One or two runners may not be much of a challenge, but an entire swarm spells the end for anyone in their path.
7 Bloaters
Hulking Masses Of Horrors
Bloaters are not a rare zombie archetype, as they have appeared repeatedly in franchises like Left 4 Dead and Resident Evil. However, The Last of Us elevates these hulking masses of flesh and mass by removing as much of their human features as possible and turning them into genuinely terrifying maulers.
Bloaters usually appear in the game out of nowhere to catch players off guard. They represent a terrifying threat that can cut a playthrough short with a single blow.
6 Stalkers
Ruthless Packs Of Predators
Stalkers are arguably one of the most difficult to evade infected types in The Last of Us games. They add an aspect of anxiety to the game, and raise the hairs on the backs of players' necks.
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Stalkers skulk in the shadows and just around corners, waiting for their prey to drop their guard and fall into their trap. Incredibly patient, Stalkers succeed in expressing just how unsafe players are even in their most guarded moments. Stalkers will burst out from walls and become the best jump scares during a calm reprieve.
5 Shamblers
As Deadly As They Are Horrific
Shamblers, in terms of gameplay, are a less powerful version of Bloaters. In appearance and behavior, Shamblers are bulks of massive cysts and rotting flesh falling off the bone that rush players and get too close for comfort. Exposed to high moisture, Shamblers have developed dozens of infected capsules on their body that contain acid that will burn to the bone.
Shamblers are walking nightmares and serve as a reminder of how the infection is constantly evolving and staying one step ahead of the human race, attempting to wipe them out at every turn.
4 Clickers
Grotesque And Terrifying
One of the most eerie sounds in the entire TheLast of Us franchise is the echo of clicks in dark basements and sewers, which chill the blood of all players who have encountered these vicious parasites.
Clickers are year-old infected that have adapted to use echolocation to find prey, making even the subtlest of movements dire in some situations. Clickers appear as faceless horrors that attack with brutal aggression, making them one of the more dangerous infected in the games.
3 Tommy
The Angel Of Death
The Last of Us 2 takes a unique take approach to the story and allows players to take on the role of Abby, the game's leading antagonist. As players progress through the story, they will have to face off against one of the deadliest guns left in the world, Tommy Miller.
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At the beginning of the encounter, players must fight an uphill battle, where Tommy has the high ground and a long gun with plenty of ammo. One hesitant step can prove fatal, as Tommy aims to kill and get revenge for his fallen family.
2 Rat King
A Culmination of One's Worst Nightmares
The Rat King needs no introduction, as it is one of the largest surprises in The Last of Us 2. Emerging for the first time when players control Abby, the hulking combination of multiple infected springs up without warning or sound and then snarls with numerous mouths, sending shivers down most players' spines. The Rat King is an evolved bloater and possesses immense strength and speed for its size.
1 Ellie
A Ball Of Rage And Violence
Once again, as players progress through the story of The Last of Us 2 as Abby, they will eventually reunite with Ellie after catching Tommy off guard. As a fight ensues, Ellie stalks Abby, filled with rage over Joel's death, and stops at nearly nothing to take Abby down.
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While Abby is stronger and seems more capable than Ellie, the ruthlessness Ellie carries into the fight puts both Abby and the player on edge throughout the entire encounter.
- Franchise
- The Last of Us
- Platform(s)
- PS5
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure