8 More Action-Adventure Games To Play!
The Last of Us is regarded as one of Naughty Dog’s finest accomplishments. This game contains a heartbreaking narrative, a well-written cast, and fun gameplay. This is one of those games that leans toward storytelling with its overabundance of cinematic cutscenes and emotional dialogue. It’s become such a classic in the gaming sphere, that an HBO television series based on the game is scheduled to air sometime in 2023. If you’ve finished playing The Last of Us and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 8 picks. Of course, for all the games we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link, so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time in. So without further ado, we present 8 games to check out if you’re looking for a game like The Last of Us.
Days Gone
Days Gone is an interesting open-world action-adventure game. This isn’t a game for everyone as there are some hurdles you must overcome to grasp some entertainment value from it. For instance, this game offers a slow-burn experience that gradually reaches something emotionally climatic toward the end. Like The Last of Us, this game takes place in a post-pandemic period in America. Gamers will play as Deacon St. John, a bounty hunter who is seeking a reason to live. As Deacon, you’ll traverse multiple abandoned settlements, seeking out equipment to craft weapons and items. You’ll need to watch your back as this world offers some nightmarish enemies waiting to seek their teeth into you. Unfortunately, this game can feel like a chore to play. It features numerous fetch quests for you to tackle, and enemy hordes don’t frequently appear until later in the game. While this may sound like a buzzkill, Days Gone offers a fun storyline to follow. Like The Last of Us, Days Gone’s narrative features notable themes like regret, deception, and desperation. If you can sit through its mundane activities, you’ll walk away from this game with a rewarding experience. You can read our thoughts on Days Gone in our game review here!
Uncharted (Series)
After Jak & Daxter, Naughty Dog went on to focus on more realistic protagonists and worlds. This decision led to them creating the beloved action-adventure series called Uncharted. These games offer refined environments, memorable characters, and compelling scenery. Each game offers a new mission for its protagonist Nathan Drake to tackle and all of them conclude wonderfully. Like The Last of Us, Uncharted offers a mix of gameplay elements from third-person shooters, 3D Platformers, and puzzle-centric adventure titles. In this game, you’ll be leaping across many gaps, solving thought-provoking challenges, and shooting at multiple enemies with pistols and other weaponry. These factors help Uncharted retain high critical acclaim from critics and gamers alike. Another key similarity between The Last of Us and Uncharted is their rich storylines. These narratives are well-written and contain enough suspense and drama to keep you on your toes. While The Last of Us offers more in those ballparks, the Uncharted series has some well-written dialogue, sub-plots, and twists that warrant your attention.
Resident Evil (Franchise)
The Resident Evil franchise has spawned multiple outings from feature films to spin-off titles. However, none of this would’ve happened if not for each game’s success. While games like Resident Evil 5 and 6 put a sour taste in some fans’ mouths, the series has made quite the comeback with new entries and remakes. Titles like Resident Evil VII: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village restored fans’ faith in the franchise again. These games helped the series return to its classic survival horror roots with its tension and nightmarish imagery. The tension and twists these games contain are on par with The Last of Us’s chilling reveals. Furthermore, both game franchises contain fun gameplay and have you combatting horrifying monstrosities. The newer games and remakes better represent The Last of Us’s gameplay. These games don’t force players to move in tank-like fashions like the originals, making them more accessible for newcomers. While some may find that as a hindrance, others believe it was a good call on Capcom’s part. If you’re looking for a chilling game that evokes feelings of survival and angst, check out the Resident Evil franchise’s games.
Control
Control is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Remedy Entertainment. This game promises to please players with its satisfying gameplay and stylized mechanics. In this story, the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) is tasked with controlling and studying phenomena that violate reality’s laws. The Bureau’s new director, Jesse Faden, is at the center of all this. It is through her eyes that you explore the FBC’s paranormal headquarters in this third-person shooter. As you progress, you become more powerful, allowing you to face and defeat a deadly enemy called the Hiss. While the game offers some fun combat, it encourages its players to search through its locales to obtain knowledge about its plot. The game provides some interesting boss fights that can get challenging if you drop your guard. If you’re looking for a whimsical action-adventure game with stylized physics, check out Control.
The Evil Within (Series)
Since Resident Evil’s Shinji Mikami created this gaming series, it’s a no-brainer that it became stellar. The Evil Within 1 and 2 are incredible games. These titles build tension effectively and feature excellent narratives worth following. Along with nightmarish imagery, The Evil Within is a worthy game series to play after The Last of Us. In it, Sebastian Castellanos, the detective protagonist of the series, must navigate a world filled with dread and angst in both games. He’ll endure numerous scares while encountering freakishly designed monsters. The Last of Us and The Evil Within game evoke survival and hopelessness with their worlds and gameplay. The Evil Within offers enough wicked vibes that’ll make you feel vulnerable. With each area you traverse, there’s always a lingering feeling that something terrifying is lurking behind you. This is a game that requires players to utilize their resources carefully. You’re not given unlimited ammunition or weapons. You’ll mostly be fleeing from enemies than engaging in any fights. This helps keep players on their feet and prevents them from turning away from the title.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Insomniac Games pulled off phenomenal work with Marvel’s Spider-Man. This game features fun web-slinging gameplay, an engrossing story, and beautiful visuals. While previous Spider-Man games had merit, this one aimed to make players feel like New York’s remarkable hero. In it, players follow Peter Park who assists in the arrest of Wilson Fisk (Kingpin). Unfortunately, a new group of villains emerge from the shadows and call themselves the Demons. They aim to cause New York City chaos and peril. Therefore, the game focuses on Peter’s quest to improve himself while saving his city from evil. Like The Last of Us, Marvel’s Spider-Man narrative is full of emotionally-heavy scenarios and enriching dialogue. The gameplay feels more satisfying in Marvel’s Spider-Man. It has a learning curve, but once you’re in the zone, you can’t help but feel pleased with Peter’s movements in the air or on land. Whether it’s escaping through tight canals or metal gratings from a water tower, the game wants you to feel like Spider-Man. The buildings, streets, and NPCs also give players a fresh and lively experience that captures the city-like atmosphere of New York City. If you’ve been looking for a deep superhero game, Marvel’s Spider-Man is worth purchasing. You can read our thoughts on Marvel’s Spider-Man in our video game review here!
Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar Studios isn’t only known for Grand Theft Auto. They’ve created numerous phenomenal works like Bully and Red Dead Redemption. The latter’s gritty environment, storyline, and lead protagonist John Marston will remind folks of Joel from The Last of Us. This game not only set up a high point for wild west themed games, but its plot, gameplay, and characters helped it achieve success. In it, John Marston, a former outlaw learns the government has taken his wife and child. They’ll return them if Marston hunts three criminals that were a part of his gang. Martson’s quest will lead him down a path of guilt and sorrow as he plans to betray his former comrades to save those he loves. Joel and Marston have this story arc where they must protect people they care about from harm. Red Dead Redemption’s not afraid to crank up its intensity. Besides exploring desserts and towns, you can participate in public activities. These include public hangings, ride-by shootings, and tackling dangerous beasts that traverse the wastelands. This game features an Honor system that can shift depending on your actions. If you’re looking for a well-written game where you play as a troubled outlaw, check out Red Dead Redemption.
Ghost of Tsushima
While both games feature different themes, Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us contain gritty environments and stories that are worth your time. Ghost of Tsushima evokes a classic samurai-centric experience whereas The Last of Us focused more on survival in an apocalyptic setting. Nonetheless, these games feature remarkable scenery and memorable set pieces. Ghost of Tsushima has its shortcomings as players may succumb to fatigue. This is because many of its side quests aren’t exciting to tackle. Regardless, the game’s diverse setting warrants thorough exploration and revisits. As for combat, Ghost of Tsushima feels more varied than The Last of Us. Players can perform sneak-centric manoeuvres and devastating chain attacks. Its protagonists have an arsenal of weapons at their disposal from explosives to smoke bombs. Fans of classic samurai films will get a kick out of its “Stand-Off” scenarios the most. It’ll remind you of those scenes from western flicks, where cowboys attempt to draw their guns. Although it isn’t a perfect game, Ghost of Tsushima features stellar content that’s worth your time. You can read our thoughts on Ghost of Tsushima in our video game review here! So there we have it, our 8 video game picks to keep you busy after playing The Last of Us. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
Click Here To Check Out More Videogame Content!
