The Last of Us Part II Remastered

The Last of Us Part II Remastered

game

2024, Shooter, Adventure

WISE
78%

WISE Score

93%

IGDB

A brutal, beautiful, and deeply polarizing masterpiece about revenge that will leave you staring at the credits in total silence.

Where to Play

PC/Steam
PC/Steam
PlayStation
PlayStation
Screenwise Verdict

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a difficult, beautiful, and profoundly upsetting achievement. It is one of the best games ever made, but it is also a 'misery simulator' that refuses to give the player an easy win or a clean moral high ground.

For an adult or a very mature 17-year-old, it's an essential experience that pushes what storytelling in games can actually do. But don't let the 'Remastered' tag or the popularity of the TV show fool you—this is a hard-R experience that deals in torture, mutilation, and deep psychological trauma. If your kid isn't ready for the heaviest of heavy lifting, steer clear.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults and mature older teens. It is significantly darker and more graphic than the HBO series or the first game. If they aren't 17, they aren't ready.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
15

This is a grueling, intentionally distressing cycle of revenge. While it handles grief with honesty, it models the absolute worst of human impulses for most of its runtime.

Imaginative
92

The environmental storytelling is world-class. The way Naughty Dog builds a post-apocalyptic Seattle—down to the notes left in abandoned apartments—is incredibly immersive.

Safe
10

Extreme graphic violence, torture, explicit sexual content, and drug use. It is the definition of a 'Mature' title and is not intended for children or younger teens.

Enriching
95

It is a masterclass in narrative empathy, forcing you to play as the 'villain' to understand their perspective. It challenges the player's biases in a way few other media items ever attempt.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Narrative Empathy is the core experiment here, forcing you to live through the consequences of your own violent actions from a different perspective.
  • Technical Mastery on the PS5 brings faster loading, haptic feedback, and a new 'No Return' roguelike mode for those who want pure combat challenges.
  • The Lost Levels give a rare, behind-the-scenes look at playable sequences that were cut from the original game, complete with developer commentary.
  • Accessibility Settings are the gold standard for the industry, making the game playable for users with vision, hearing, or motor impairments.
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What to Watch For

  • The 'Abby and Owen' scene is an explicit, non-skippable sex scene that catches many parents off guard.
  • Violence isn't just 'video gamey'—it's intimate, wet, and disturbing. Characters scream for their friends by name when you kill them.
  • A major character death early in the game is genuinely traumatizing for fans of the first game; prepare for a very heavy emotional fallout.

Conversation Starters

  • "Is it ever possible to justify revenge if the other person feels they were right too?"
  • "How did your opinion of Abby change from the beginning of the game to the end?"
  • "Why do you think the developers chose to make the violence feel so realistic and uncomfortable?"
  • "Does Ellie actually find peace at the end, or has she lost too much?"

Deep Dive

The Most Polarizing Game Ever Made

When this game first launched in 2020, it didn't just spark a conversation; it started a war. Half the internet hailed it as a storytelling breakthrough, while the other half felt betrayed by the narrative choices Naughty Dog made. In 2026, the dust has mostly settled, and what remains is a technical and emotional marvel that still feels years ahead of its competition.

Why the Remaster Matters

If you've already played the original on PS4, the $10 upgrade path is a no-brainer. The headline addition is No Return, a roguelike survival mode that strips away the heavy story and focuses entirely on the game's brutal combat mechanics. It’s stressful, fast-paced, and lets you play as characters like Mel or Lev who were previously unplayable.

For the 'behind-the-curtain' nerds, the Lost Levels are the real draw. These are unfinished sequences that didn't make the final cut. They aren't fully polished, but they include developer commentary that explains why they were cut, offering a mini-masterclass in game design.

The 'Safe' Question

Let's be clear: this game is 'unsafe' for anyone sensitive to violence. It doesn't just show blood; it shows the weight of violence. When Ellie kills a dog, it whimpers. When she kills a guard, their partner screams their name. It is designed to make you feel bad about what you are doing.

If you are a parent deciding if your 15-year-old is 'mature enough,' ask yourself if they can handle a 25-hour exploration of nihilism and the futility of hate. If they just want a fun shooter, point them toward Uncharted. If they want a game that will make them think about the nature of humanity for the next three weeks, this is the one.

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