The Last of Us Gamers Are Overlooking an Underrated New Game Experience

For the first time in a while, we’re in somewhat of a The Last of Us drought, although it’s hard to complain considering everything that’s landed in the last couple of years.

HBO’s The Last of Us dominated headlines earlier this year when its second season arrived, following on from its critically acclaimed first season in 2023.

In the video game world, the TV series’ arrival was supported by the surprise launches of the remade The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II Remastered.

The problem now, if you can call it a problem, is that Naughty Dog is totally occupied by its work on new IP Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet which, despite targeting a 2027 launch, is already reportedly experiencing crunch.

Certainly, a third season of HBO’s The Last of Us is on the way, but I doubt we’ll see any leaks from that surface until filming gets underway in early to mid 2026.

The Last of Us fans were recently treated to The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts, a brand new book which, if you hadn’t guessed, includes the scripts for both games.

I picked the book up myself and it’s a thrill to experience the heart of the game in an isolated way, before the bells and whistles of gameplay, audio, and performance were added in.

Experiencing the story of The Last of Us Part II in particular though inspired a thought in me; I can’t help but feel that people are overlooking a revolutionary new game experience that dropped earlier this year, Chronological Mode.

The Last of Us Part II, Credit / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Chronological Mode Makes For What Feels Like an All-New Gameplay Experience

When Chronological Mode dropped earlier this year, it caused a bit of a ruckus.

“Who wants this?” people asked online. “This completely undermines the structure of the game.”

I want to make it clear that this is not the optimal way to experience The Last of Us Part II which, I should add, is my favourite game of all-time.

I’ve waxed lyrical on umpteen occasions about why this game’s controversial structure soars and triumphs; there’s something so intoxicatingly brilliant about how you play both the wronged and the aggressor, and your perception of who fits each role flips as the game progresses.

The Last of Us Part II is perfectly set up to give players the most effective ‘a-ha’ moment I’ve ever experienced. There is nothing as clean cut as a ‘villain’ or a ‘hero’ here.

Forcing players to assume the role of Abby, a character the game spent upwards of 10-hours framing as the villain, was always a bold choice, but that only makes the shift in your perspective as you spend more time with her all the more potent.

All of this being said though, I find Chronological Mode to be exceptionally worthwhile.

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The Last of Us Part II, Credit / Sony Interactive Entertainment

This Isn’t For First-Time Players

If you’re new to the world of The Last of Us Part II, you should play the game as it was intended the first time around.

Naughty Dog didn’t release Chronological Mode to appease the babies of the internet who complained about playing as Abby; the original remains the ‘correct’ way to xperience this game.

Instead, Chronological Mode is a brilliant way for dedicated fans like myself to experience this familiar story in a new way, and it doesn’t at all undermine the original like the internet would have you believe.

Chronological Mode isn’t perfect, but Naughty Dog is fully aware of that. The pacing can be challenging given that the game wasn’t crafted to be told in this way.

As the title suggests, the mode allows you to experience events in chronological order, so you’ll begin with all of Ellie and Abby’s flashbacks, and it’s because of this that I’d recommend you persevere.

Many of the game’s flashbacks, as you’ll likely know, are slightly lower in action, and these lead directly into the game’s prologue, so we’re talking the Jackson parts of the game.

As such, it’s quite a number of hours until you gain a real sense of agency but once you do reach Seattle, Chronological Mode offers both an electrifying and affecting experience.

Interchanging between Ellie and Abby’s second day experiences is not for the faint of heart.

Experiencing Hillcrest, The Descent, and both characters’ infiltration of the WLF hospital - including Abby’s meeting with the Rat King - without break is relentless, and there’s a major thrill in that.

As for those moments I teased as being affecting, it’s difficult to watch Ellie murder Mel and Owen, only for Abby to discover their bodies just moments later in this version.

As I said, Chronological Mode will never match the original structuring of the game but if you’re a The Last of Us Part II fan and you haven’t yet given it a whirl, you’re missing out on a must-play experience that only made me fall in love with this game even more.