The Last of Us community has created a number of interesting things over the years. These creations range from The Last of Us video game lockers to dolls of Joel and Ellie, with artwork based on certain characters being common as well. Cosplays have been shared, Ellie’s tattoo has been acquired by many, and covers of songs from the game have been found online. Fans have even created their own game concepts, and an idea for an open world game recently made the rounds online.
While the concept of an open world The Last of Us game is a bold one, the custom trailer from Tension Films is certainly enough to sell the idea. Created using shots of the post-apocalyptic wasteland and narration from Joel, the fan concept sets up what could be an incredible game. Still, while most agreed that the trailer was well done, the concept was fairly divisive. This is understandable, as there are some major pros and cons that would come with an open world game set in The Last of Us universe.
Why a Last of Us Open World Game Could Work Well
If Naughty Dog ever did go in an open world direction with a future The Last of Us game, the best evidence for such an approach being a good thing can be seen in The Last of Us 2. When Ellie and Dina first arrive in Seattle, they are given a huge area to explore, and Naughty Dog perfectly crafted this wide open area. While players have more freedom than they do anywhere else in the game, the series’ signature story focus is maintained.
In this section, The Last of Us fans had a chance to stumble upon some memorable content. The iconic “Take on Me” performance from Ellie, for example, is entirely optional, as it is a missable scene that players can find if they explore a record store. This moment shows that Naughty Dog would be able to insert memorable cutscenes and strong story beats into an open world The Last of Us game with ease, as the moment feels just as natural as any of the cinematics do in the more linear areas of the game.
The open field area of Seattle also shows that The Last of Us’ core gameplay loop of scavenging ammo and gear works perfectly with a more open approach. Players can find a powerful shotgun in a bank or an axe near a fire truck, rewarding thorough exploration. These side activities are rewarding from a narrative perspective, too, as gamers can piece together the stories of those that fell victim to the apocalypse. This section provides hours of content for those interested in seeing it while still giving players an option to stick to the main path - something that all good open world games do.
A full game in the style of The Last of Us 2’s Downtown Seattle section could be incredible, expanding on the foundation that Naughty Dog has already built. With many seeing th game as a highlight, doubling down on the concept could work perfectly. Being able to stop on a path to loot a few buildings and kill some Clickers before continuing on would be a satisfying gameplay loop, with Naughty Dog being able to showcase more of the series’ ruined world than ever before.
Why a Last of Us Open World Game Could Be a Mistake
However, while the open area of Seattle was certainly one of the highlights of the critically acclaimed The Last of Us 2, it was not the only excellent section. Linear portion like the Rat King boss fight or the island battle between the WLF and Seraphites could not have worked in the open world style, nor could the skyscraper section of Abby’s story. While it is true that the open Seattle area at the start of Ellie’s story was a breath of fresh air, the series has always thrived due to its linearity.
It is for this reason that a hypothetical open world approach would be questionable, as touching moments like Ellie’s birthday flashback work due to their tight focus. Similarly, combat encounters with enemies like Stalkers are intense because players do not have the option to flee easily. Players being forced to take on groups of infected in closed off areas is where plenty of tension comes from, so being able to back out of encounters to go to a different part of the open world could remove a lot of what makes the franchise’s combat so great.
Many open world games also struggle with pacing issues when it comes to their stories, as players can easily break up the flow of the narrative by getting distracted with side activities. Given how the stories of The Last of Us games are their most important aspect, risking a similar flaw would be a bold move on the part of Naughty Dog. While games like Red Dead Redemption 2 do succeed at telling strong stories within an open world format, this would be a big change for Naughty Dog, as the studio has never created a full-on open world game. With the franchise’s current style working so well, there is an argument to be made that a switch to open world would be unnecessary. Instead, more open areas like downtown Seattle could be spread throughout a linear sequel instead.
Testing The Waters With a Last of Us Spin-Off
While the potential reward of a great open world game is on the table, it comes with the risk of releasing a disappointing entry in the series that is too different from what makes the other Last of Us games so great. As such, instead of making The Last of Us 3 open world, perhaps Naughty Dog could create a Last of Us spin-off that takes an open world approach. This way, the developer would be free to experiment as much as it wants while making it very clear from the get-go that fans will not be seeing a typical The Last of Us game.
With many hyped for the multiplayer-driven The Last of Us Factions, an open world spin-off could certainly have an audience. Instead of continuing the stories of Abby or Ellie with this ambitious approach, Naughty Dog could introduce new characters or fill in the backstories for existing ones. Playing as a harsher Joel during his days as a smuggler could be interesting, while building up the Fireflies as Marlene or patrolling Bill’s Town as the man himself would also work. There is potential for The Last of Us 2’s downtown Seattle section to expand into a full open world game, but if Naughty Dog were to ever take interest in such an idea, a spin-off for The Last of Us would be the safest way to give it a try.
