Over the last few console generations, it can be argued that Naughty Dog has gone from strength to strength. Ever since the studio launched the first Uncharted game, its storytelling and cinematic credentials have become renowned throughout the gaming industry. It’s no surprise that one of its crowning achievements, The Last of Us, has inspired other equally creative minds to follow in its footsteps.
In the AAA gaming space, plenty of companies have adapted aspects of The Last of Us before and after its debut in 2013. Even Nintendo and HAL Laboratory got in on the action via the charming Kirby and the Forgotten Land. The indie space is arguably where games similar to Naughty Dog’s series have shined the brightest, though. Even though the release of The Last of Us Part 1 on PS5 is only a few weeks away, there’s still enough time for players to sample some of the best games that are like it.
Deadlight: Director’s Cut
Even though Tequila Works’ Deadlight: Director’s Cut can be described on a basic-level as a side-scrolling platformer, in practice the indie game has a lot more in common with Naughty Dog’s franchise than that phrase suggests. Deadlight’s Seattle setting is known to fans of The Last of Us, due to how much of Part 2’s story takes place on its abandoned streets. The hordes of zombies that litter those walkways will be familiar too.
Over the course of Deadlight, players are tasked with guiding its protagonist through Seattle as he attempts to rendezvous with other survivors. Puzzles and stealth sections are found in abundance, and contribute to what is often a tense experience. Even though its initial reception and sales were mixed, the indie title has built a cult status on parts of the internet following its 2016 re-release. Featuring a 1980s aesthetic, players could find a lot to like in it while they wait for The Last of Us Part 1’s arrival on the PS5.
Gone Home
While it’s easy to focus on Naughty Dog’s love for cinematic storytelling and action, it’s important to remember that the studio has built its reputation around other design philosophies as well. The idea that stories can also be told within the environment of a game, as players are occupied with other activities, is a concept that runs throughout The Last of Us. Notes and other trinkets are often placed with purpose, which makes uncovering them a rewarding experience.
The story of Ish in particular, which unfolds in the background of the original The Last of Us’ sewer section, is still discussed by Naughty Dog’s fan-base to this day. It’s because of this that fans of the series and the studio will want to check out Fulbright’s Gone Home. Released initially on PC back in 2013, the first-person adventure game sets players loose in a house, asking them to uncover the story of its inhabitants primarily through well-placed items and notes.
While there’s no infected, the tale that plays out is just as emotionally powerful and lonely as Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic series. Fans of The Last of Us will want to keep Fulbright on their radar beyond Gone Home though. While its next game, Open Roads, is yet to receive a concrete release date, its own environmental storytelling and road trip premise should appeal to the same audience. At its core lies a mother and daughter dynamic, which it’s easy to imagine being a compelling tale comparable to Joel and Ellie’s story.
Stray
Having recently made its debut as a day-one PlayStation Plus Extra title, Stray has become something of an internet sensation. Considering its feline protagonist, it’s easy to see why so many PC and PlayStation owners have become enamored by the game. Indie developer BlueTwelve Studio has really hit it out of the park when it comes to creating an authentic cat simulator. However, describing Stray solely as that risks doing the overall experience and studio a disservice.
Peeling away the cat-focused exterior of Stray, reveals a sci-fi heavy game with so much more to offer. Set within a post-apocalyptic city full of robots, the story that unfolds around the cat is all about the apparent extinction of humanity. As far as heady concepts go, that sounds an awful lot like the fall of society that’s befallen Naughty Dog’s own world. Piecing together that puzzle whilst fighting off hordes of mysterious creatures ensures that Stray is an experience that The Last of Us fans shouldn't overlook.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Thanks to the efforts that Naughty Dog has put into making The Last of Us’ cast, it’s sometimes easy to overlook how ingrained within the horror genre the game actually is. Fans looking for a similar experience with a survival theme in particular are spoiled for choice due to the indie game development scene. One smaller-scale title that employs horror tropes in a different yet effective way though, which shouldn’t be overlooked by Naughty Dog’s fans, is The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.
Developed and published by the indie studio The Astronauts, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter has been earning acclaim from those that have played it since its debut on PC in 2014. That’s partly down to how the Polish studio has built its game around the idea of environmental storytelling. Tasked with uncovering the mystery of the titular Ethan Carter, players are thrown into a captivating tale that’s full of puzzles and Lovecraftian nightmares. The atmosphere is forbidding and grim, which is a combination that will should sound familiar to fans of The Last of Us.
Undertale
On paper, Toby Fox’s Undertale shares little overtly in common with The Last of Us. Stylized as a 2D role playing game, players are thrust into a magical land full of fantastical characters and personalities. Even though it’s remained entrenched within the minds of its player base since its release in 2015, fans of Naughty Dog’s franchise could be forgiven for overlooking it whilst searching for similar experiences.
Comparisons can be drawn directly between both games via the feelings that they make their audiences experience during gameplay. At the core of Undertale, underneath all of its retro-inspired aesthetic and charm, is a story-rich adventure that’s all about morality. Thematically speaking, that same idea can be found frequently throughout The Last of Us, which means players owe it to themselves to give it a try.
The Last of Us Part 1 is scheduled to release on September 2, 2022 on PS5. A PC port is in development.
