What makes games like The Last of Us so special? What does a video game need in order to stay with us for years?
Anyone following today’s gaming media landscape is constantly bombarded with multiplayer titles and, of course, battle royale games. Every tiny update surrounding these hype-driven releases gets recycled endlessly through news coverage and social media, while games from once-elite studios like BioWare are crashing and burning after losing what made them unique in the first place: compelling stories and memorable characters.
At the same time, respected voices within the gaming industry keep pointing out how increasingly difficult it has become to secure funding for high-quality single-player games. That fits all too well into a world where attention spans seem to shrink by the day, where work and everyday responsibilities consume more and more of our lives, leaving less time for hobbies and gaming alike.
Which Games Stay With Us?
But when I really stop and think about the games that left a lasting impression on me, the ones I still talk about years later, one thing becomes obvious: they’re not the annualized franchises, nor the hype-fueled titles with a relatively short shelf life.
For a while, new MMOs seemed to launch every few months. Then zombie survival games dominated the headlines. Sure, I played them all, but none of them truly burned themselves into my memory.
Instead, I remember games like Baldur’s Gate, Planescape: Torment, Gothic, Half-Life 2, the Mass Effect trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, The Witcher series (especially its phenomenal third entry) several GTA games, Pathfinder: Kingmaker, and The Last of Us (along with many others). Why those games specifically? Why not the MMOs I spent far more time playing?
The Last of Us — Characters Make the Game
A few years ago, my partner and I took the time to play through The Last of Us together. We completely binged Ellie and Joel’s gripping journey in a relatively short span of time, emotionally invested from beginning to end.
Now, the game’s setting, a post-apocalyptic world triggered by a virus outbreak, was never particularly original. Nor is the gameplay free from repetition, despite usually being incredibly tense and exciting. Sneaking through crumbling buildings infested with Clickers or fighting off ruthless Hunters inevitably involves familiar gameplay loops.
But none of that hurts the game in the slightest. Because the true masterpiece here isn’t just the believable world and its incredible atmosphere. It’s the outstanding character writing woven into a carefully crafted and brilliantly staged story.
Character Development Creates Emotional Depth
Ellie’s growth throughout the first half of the game, her gradual bond with Joel as a surrogate father figure, and Joel’s transformation from an irritated lone wolf into a protector and ultimately a father again were orchestrated perfectly by Naughty Dog. The story never drags, surprising moments constantly keep things fresh, and the characters remain believable the entire time.
Emotionally devastating scenes repeatedly create unforgettable high points. Few gaming moments feel as satisfying as hearing Ellie spit out “asshole” with absolute contempt after taking down one particularly vile Hunter.
Authenticity Leaves a Lasting Impression
Beyond that, the cutscenes and conversations reveal subtle character nuances that helped me form a real connection with these people. Joel’s reactions to others, for example, or Ellie’s unwavering loyalty hidden beneath her rebellious teenage exterior — it all feels authentic. It makes sense. It fits perfectly within the bigger picture.
The same level of care was given to the game’s supporting cast as well. There are no cardboard cutouts here, only real personalities.
All of that leaves me sitting through the credits, thinking about what I just experienced. I’m impressed. I want to spend more time with these characters, get to know them better, and find out what happens next.
Also interesting:
Games built from the same old formulas, games that recycle identical quests and missions year after year or focus solely on quick bursts of action, simply don’t have that kind of depth.
Video Games as Life Milestones
Multiplayer games absolutely deserve their place and can be a ton of fun. Fast food is great once in a while too, but it doesn’t satisfy you forever. With a few MMO exceptions, multiplayer games almost always lack the emotional depth that only well-crafted single-player experiences can deliver.
The Last of Us is a game with lasting impact. But it only became that because the developers placed enormous importance on story and character.
That’s how memories are created. Memories that still leave behind a warm feeling years later. If someone asked me today about the milestones of my life so far, several video games would absolutely make the list, and most of them are games defined by their stories and characters. These games have a substance my memories still feed on today.
The Last of Us is one of those milestones, and so is The Last of Us Part II. And I hope that Squadron 42 will become another emotionally powerful and exceptional single-player experience.
In the End, Story Is What Remains
Battle royale is currently the hottest trend around, and “Games as a Service” has become both a buzzword and a beacon of hope for publishers and developers alike. Multiplayer may be the industry’s new holy grail, but I still believe the best games are the ones built around strong characters. I love great stories and exceptionally well-written personalities, and I refuse to believe that short multiplayer shooter matches represent the ultimate future of gaming.
Although, to be fair: The Last of Us even had a multiplayer mode.
Honestly, video games aren’t that different from people. The people we still remember fondly years later, the ones we continue surrounding ourselves with, are people with personality.
They have flaws and rough edges, but above all else, they have a story. Often, we share part of that story with them, and that’s exactly why we never forget them. The same is true for games like The Last of Us. We remember them because their stories left a profound impression on us.
Great games are, quite simply, a matter of character.
