DaRmaZat The Last of Us Part II Remastered, developed by Naughty Dog and released for PlayStation 5 in early 2024, made waves with its gripping narrative and intense gameplay. On April 3, 2025, the game launches for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. This edition includes the ‘No Return’ roguelike survival mode, expanded with two new playable characters—Bill and Marlene from The Last of Us Part I—and four additional maps: Overlook, School, Streets, and Nest. The PlayStation 5 version receives the same content through a free 2.0.0 update.
The PC edition of The Last of Us Part II Remastered includes all the enhancements from the PS5 release, such as Guitar Free Play and developer commentary. It also introduces PC-specific features like Nvidia DLSS 3 and 4, AMD FSR 3.1 and 4, uncapped framerates, DirectStorage support, and customizable graphics options.
The game supports ultrawide resolutions up to 48:9, along with extensive keyboard and mouse configurations and full gamepad compatibility, including DualSense haptics. Players who log in with a PlayStation Network account will also receive in-game points and an exclusive Ellie skin. Or, as a zombie might grunt—if it still had the words for it: “Time to feast!” After what happened with the PC port of the first game, let’s hope this time it actually delivers.
A slow start, with violence that only escalates
The story in The Last of Us Part II Remastered is, as expected, cinematic gold—driven by both returning faces and new allies. It opens with Joel, Tommy, and Ellie settling into a seemingly safe camp. The infection still ravages the world, with no cure in sight, so survival is their main concern. After a brief focus on Tommy’s loyalty and Joel’s overprotectiveness toward his pseudo-daughter Ellie, the plot jumps forward four years.
Ellie remains central throughout the game, though more characters gradually take the spotlight—like Dina, Maria, Owen, and Abby. Abby’s segments are especially impactful, though often delivered through cinematic interludes. The game provides plenty of backstory on various factions, including FEDRA soldiers, the Fireflies, the Seraphites, and the brutal Washington Liberation Front. While the perspective shifts and low-stakes early gameplay may make the opening feel a bit slow, things pick up quickly as Ellie and Dina begin patrolling outside the camp to clear infected. After a surprise ambush, they leave their sanctuary to fight back, leading them into the ruins of Seattle and far beyond in a harrowing journey.
“Once again, cinematic storytelling at its finest.”
The writing, facial animation, soundtrack, and voice performances during cutscenes are all top-tier, exactly what you’d expect from a game of this scale. Regular gameplay doesn’t always maintain the same polish—some NPCs look dated or behave too predictably. While your control over the narrative is limited—this is a story that’s already been written—it never feels less immersive for it. The game tackles heavy, often controversial themes like drug abuse, torture, mutilation, and revenge, adding emotional weight to its brutal tone. The violence is harsher than in the first game, and the drama cuts deeper. Major characters suffer, and not all of them make it out alive.
Familiar combat and controls
Combat in Part II feels immediately familiar. Like the first game, it discourages head-on fights with infected in favor of a stealthier approach. Their frenzied and powerful attacks make it nearly impossible to swap weapons or reload under pressure, so planning is crucial. Tossing a bottle to distract one infected while you silently knife another from behind can be highly effective, though your options are always open.
The controls—ideally with a controller—feel intuitive and responsive, with a few exceptions. The lack of a dedicated roll function, instead relying on a single dodge mechanic, might feel dated compared to similar modern action games. Still, it becomes second nature quickly and can be adjusted for effectiveness in the settings. One small gripe is the absence of clear visual cues for climbable or crawl-through areas, which sometimes forces you to blindly press buttons hoping to move through a narrow gap in the environment.
Well-worn mechanics that reinforce why this is “Part” II
Plenty of core mechanics return, making the gameplay feel largely unchanged from the original. You’ll still unlock perks using supplements found in the world, upgrade weapons at workbenches, and craft gear like molotovs and health kits using scavenged materials like rags and alcohol. Many environments are still tightly designed and linear. Cafés can’t be entered, characters rarely interact with each other in real-time, and dead ends block your path as you scavenge through empty buildings. This side-tracking can occasionally feel dull, but most of it is optional—and it often rewards exploration with new weapons or materials.
Stealth continues to play a major role in encounters. Silently taking down infected with your blade, refueling generators, reading forgotten letters, solving code puzzles, and using your map all return. If you get spotted, enemies may call for reinforcements. Luckily, the game offers difficulty settings and accessibility options to tailor the experience to your playstyle.
A strong technical showing
Graphically and performance-wise, this PC port holds up well, thanks in part to upscaling technologies and Frame Generation across Nvidia, AMD, and Intel GPUs. However, a few technical quirks persist. Most notably, a strange lens effect creates arc-like light streaks when the camera rotates over grassy areas—something not present in the PS5 version. This issue is less noticeable with Frame Generation enabled. Load times can also be on the longer side, even after shader compilation. During testing, I experienced a single crash—still a major improvement over the troubled PC launch of the first game.
“Graphically and performance-wise, this PC port holds up well.”
Surprisingly, the biggest frustration wasn’t graphical, but tied to the autosave system. Since your progress only saves intermittently, you’ll need to manually save frequently. Forget to do so mid-puzzle, and you may have to repeat steps after reloading. The same goes for deaths—respawn points can feel a bit too far apart. A more frequent autosave option would have prevented this. Still, overall, this release is a solid achievement from Naughty Dog and Nixxes Software.
Final Thoughts
With its powerful writing, strong performances, and a moving soundtrack, The Last of Us Part II Remastered delivers a gripping experience packed with brutal combat and emotional resonance. The controls and gameplay are instantly familiar for returning players, making it an easy jump from Part I. Despite some occasional sidetracking and minor gripes with the autosave system and visuals, this PC port is exactly the kind of remastered release fans hoped to see.
Additional Information
Release Date: April 3, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency via BeyondGaming.
Developer: Naughty Dog, Nixxes Software
Publisher: PlayStation PC LLC
Official Website: https://www.playstation.com/nl-be/games/the-last-of-us-part-ii-remastered/
Relevant links: The Last of Us Part II Remastered on STEAM
