The Last of Us Part I

The Last of Us Part I is a PC third-person action-adventure game built around stealth, scavenging, crafting, and close-quarters survival. The current Steam and Epic storefront name remains The Last of Us Part I; it is the modern remake of Naughty Dog's original story rather than a renamed or rebranded edition. The PC version includes Joel and Ellie's complete single-player journey, the Left Behind prequel chapter, and a broad set of accessibility and display options.

Developed by Naughty Dog and published on PC by PlayStation Publishing, the game follows Joel, a hardened smuggler, as he escorts Ellie across a post-pandemic United States. Its appeal comes from the contrast between quiet exploration, tense human encounters, infected threats, and a character-driven narrative that steadily changes the relationship between its two protagonists.

Stealth, scavenging, and brutal third-person combat

The main gameplay loop alternates between exploration, environmental traversal, resource collection, and combat arenas. Joel searches abandoned buildings, vehicles, offices, and homes for ammunition, crafting materials, supplements, and optional collectibles. Supplies are limited enough to make every encounter a decision rather than a routine shooting gallery.

Combat is played from an over-the-shoulder perspective and supports both direct attacks and stealth-based encounters. You can crouch through cover, use Listen Mode to track nearby threats, distract enemies, and choose whether to slip past a group or spend valuable ammunition fighting. Human opponents can coordinate, search hiding places, and pressure the player from multiple angles, while infected enemies create different problems depending on their speed, senses, and resistance to conventional weapons.

Joel's arsenal combines firearms, throwable items, melee weapons, and improvised equipment. The crafting system turns scavenged components into health kits, shivs, smoke bombs, molotovs, and other tools. Weapon upgrades and character improvements create a light progression layer, but the game remains focused on situational decision-making rather than conventional role-playing statistics.

Players who enjoy story-led stealth and resource pressure may also appreciate cinematic third-person survival adventures like A Plague Tale: Requiem, although The Last of Us Part I gives its combat more emphasis and uses firearms alongside stealth.

Enemy variety and encounter design

The infected are not a single enemy type. Runners move aggressively and can overwhelm Joel at close range, while Clickers rely on sound and represent a serious threat when the player lacks the right weapon or escape route. Other infected variants force different responses, making awareness and positioning as important as aim.

Human factions create a separate kind of tension. Their patrols, communication, firearms, and search behavior make open combat dangerous, particularly when resources are low. Encounters are designed around cover management, sound, line of sight, and the timing of attacks. A failed stealth approach can quickly become a desperate melee or a costly firefight.

The remake also supports New Game Plus, chapter and encounter replay, and modifiers intended for repeat play. These options make it easier to revisit specific scenes, experiment with upgraded equipment, or approach familiar encounters under more demanding conditions.

Included story content and extra modes

The paid base game contains the complete single-player campaign and Left Behind, a separate prequel chapter centered on Ellie and Riley. Left Behind is not a multiplayer mode or a small bonus mission; it is a narrative-focused companion story with its own exploration, combat, and character moments.

Additional modes include Speedrun Mode, which supports players who want to optimize their route and completion time, and Permadeath Mode, which raises the stakes by applying a limited-life rule to the campaign. Photo Mode provides camera controls and visual adjustments for players interested in capturing scenes, environments, and character portraits.

The storefront also lists a Digital Deluxe Edition Upgrade. This is an optional add-on rather than a separate campaign. The core purchase is structured as a premium single-player game, not a free-to-play service, seasonal platform, or multiplayer product.

Who should play The Last of Us Part I?

This is a strong fit for players who want a linear, cinematic adventure with meaningful stealth and carefully paced action. It suits audiences interested in post-apocalyptic fiction, companion-driven storytelling, exploration for supplies, and combat where avoiding detection can be more valuable than defeating every enemy.

It is less suitable for players looking for an open-world sandbox, character-build-heavy role-playing game, or a cooperative zombie shooter. The campaign controls the overall story progression, and its strongest moments depend on pacing, dialogue, atmosphere, and the gradual development of Joel and Ellie's partnership.

Players should also know that Factions multiplayer is not included. The PC edition is strictly single-player, with no competitive mode, online co-op, split-screen campaign, or cooperative story option.

PC features, controls, and accessibility

The PC version supports keyboard and mouse, DualShock 4, DualSense, and other compatible gamepads. It includes full control remapping, primary and secondary keyboard bindings, adjustable mouse sensitivity, raw mouse input, and an adaptive control option that can combine keyboard and controller inputs.

With a compatible wired DualSense setup, players can use haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. The game also supports 3D audio, 21:9 ultrawide displays, and 32:9 super ultrawide displays. Graphics options include adjustable texture, shadow, reflection, ambient occlusion, resolution scaling, frame-rate cap, AMD FSR, and Nvidia DLSS settings.

Accessibility is one of the PC edition's most substantial strengths. The available tools include screen reader support, cinematic descriptions, audio cues, high-contrast display options, navigation assistance, lock-on aiming, aim adjustments, subtitle customization, alternate controls, vibration controls, and extensive visual and auditory settings. These options can reduce barriers without requiring every player to use the same difficulty or control style.

The game is distributed through Steam and the Epic Games Store. The Epic version requires an Epic Games account, while the Steam version uses the Steam client and its platform features. Official PC support also identifies the title as Steam Deck Verified. No official mod ecosystem or dedicated server tools are listed for this single-player release.

Comparable PC experiences

The closest comparisons depend on which part of The Last of Us Part I matters most to you. For stealth, scarcity, and a protective companion relationship, narrative survival games such as A Plague Tale: Requiem share more structural DNA than conventional open-world zombie games.

For heavier combat and survival-horror pressure, third-person horror shooters like Resident Evil 4 Remake offer a more combat-forward alternative. The Last of Us Part I is more restrained: ammunition, crafting supplies, and enemy awareness shape each encounter, while the campaign puts equal weight on travel, dialogue, and environmental storytelling.

The Last of Us Part I FAQ

Is The Last of Us Part I the current PC edition?

Yes. Steam and Epic list the game as The Last of Us Part I. It is the remake of the original game, and there is no separate PC storefront rebrand currently replacing that name.

What content is included in the base game?

The base purchase includes the full single-player campaign and the Left Behind prequel chapter. It also includes Photo Mode, Speedrun Mode, Permadeath Mode, accessibility options, and the PC control and display features associated with this edition.

Does The Last of Us Part I have multiplayer or co-op?

No. The PC version is single-player only. It does not include the original game's Factions multiplayer, online co-op, local co-op, or split-screen play.

Can you play with a keyboard and mouse?

Yes. Keyboard and mouse controls include remapping, separate primary and secondary bindings, adjustable look and aim sensitivity, mouse smoothing, and raw input options. Compatible controllers are also supported.

Does the PC version support ultrawide monitors?

Yes. The game supports both 21:9 ultrawide and 32:9 super ultrawide aspect ratios, alongside adjustable graphics settings and PC-focused display options.

Is The Last of Us Part I accessible for players with different needs?

It includes a substantial accessibility suite with screen reading, cinematic descriptions, audio cues, high-contrast modes, navigation assistance, lock-on aiming, subtitle controls, alternate inputs, and extensive remapping options.