Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be crystal clear: this is one of the most emotionally brutal and graphically violent games ever made. It's also a technical and narrative masterpiece that pushes the medium forward in meaningful ways.

The Last of Us Part II is not entertainment in the traditional sense—it's more like interactive trauma. It forces players into morally complex situations, makes them commit terrible acts of violence, then switches perspectives to make them understand the humanity of their enemies. It's brilliant, devastating, and absolutely not for kids.

The game earned massive critical acclaim (90+ ratings) but also deeply divided players, many of whom found the experience too punishing or disagreed with narrative choices. Some adults reported genuine emotional distress. This isn't a fun zombie shooter—it's a meditation on revenge that will make you feel awful.

If you have a mature 17-year-old who loved the first game, has demonstrated emotional resilience, and you've had conversations about violence in media, this might be appropriate with parental involvement. But honestly? Most teens should wait until they're older. The game will still be there when they're ready for something this heavy.

No younger teens. Period. The ESRB M rating is earned multiple times over.

Age Fit

This is strictly for mature older teens (17+) and realistically better suited for adults 18+. The graphic violence, explicit content, and emotionally devastating themes are far too intense for anyone younger, and even mature teens should be screened for emotional readiness.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

15

This game depicts extreme graphic violence, including brutal melee combat, torture scenes, and the murder of beloved characters. The tone is relentlessly dark, featuring themes of revenge, trauma, and moral ambiguity. Contains explicit language, sexual content, and depicts humans at their worst in a post-apocalyptic setting. While emotionally complex, it models vengeance over cooperation and features deeply disturbing imagery throughout.

Imaginative

82

Exceptionally crafted world-building in a post-apocalyptic Seattle with detailed environments to explore. The dual-perspective narrative structure is bold and innovative, forcing players to see both sides of a conflict. Features creative gameplay mechanics including stealth, crafting, and environmental puzzles. The Cordyceps infection concept remains compelling and the level design encourages exploration and problem-solving.

Safe

20

Contains extreme graphic violence including dismemberment, torture, and brutal executions. Features explicit sexual content, strong language throughout, and intensely disturbing scenes including the graphic murder of a main character early in the game. Depicts suicide, child death, and sustained sequences of psychological horror. While it lacks predatory monetization (no IAP, loot boxes, or online chat), the content itself is deeply unsafe for younger audiences with multiple trigger warnings needed.

Enriching

75

Tackles complex themes of revenge, forgiveness, cycles of violence, and moral relativism with unusual narrative depth for a video game. The dual-protagonist structure challenges players to examine their own biases and the consequences of violence. Features nuanced LGBTQ+ representation and explores grief, trauma, and what it means to break cycles of hate. However, the emotional toll is severe and the lessons come wrapped in extremely graphic content.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Groundbreaking narrative structure that forces players to examine both sides of a conflict and question their own moral assumptions
Exceptional world-building and environmental storytelling in a hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic Seattle
Tackles complex themes like cycles of violence, forgiveness, and the cost of revenge with unusual depth and nuance
Outstanding LGBTQ+ representation with Ellie as a fully-realized queer protagonist
Technically stunning with some of the best graphics, animation, and sound design in gaming

⚠

What to Watch For

This is NOT the first game—playing without that context means missing crucial emotional setup and character relationships
Extreme graphic violence throughout: dismemberment, torture, brutal melee kills, and the graphic murder of a beloved character in the opening hours
Sexual content including an explicit (though brief) sex scene
Emotionally punishing experience that many adults found genuinely traumatic—this isn't hyperbole, it's designed to make you feel terrible
The game's structure deliberately frustrates players by forcing them to play as a character they may hate—this is intentional but divisive
Themes of suicide, child death, and sustained psychological horror throughout

Conversation Starters

"The game makes you play as someone who hurt people you care about—how did that feel? Did it change how you saw the conflict?"
"Ellie is consumed by revenge for most of the game. When have you had to choose between getting even and letting go?"
"The game shows how violence creates endless cycles of retaliation. Do you think Ellie made the right choice at the end?"
"This depicts a world where society has collapsed. What do you think keeps people humane when there are no rules?"
"How did the game's portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters compare to other media you've seen?"

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