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The game hits many of the same thematic beats as The Last of Us but with the added bonus of decisions that can alter the narrative. Released half a year before The Last of Us, Telltale’s The Walking Dead is a narrative-driven adventure that solidified the formula the studio used for subsequent titles (unfortunately to its detriment). Players never know what they will run into, so when an extremely useful character falls sick, how far will players go to save them? Can they even be saved, and will the community survive or crumble without them? State of Decay specializes in that kind of emergent storytelling. Instead of growing attached to characters through a tightly-woven narrative as you do in The Last of Us, State of Decay lets these bonds grow organically. Recruit allies who shore up existing weaknesses, and you’ll keep everyone alive and happy. Every character plays a part, half of the game’s fun (and challenge) stems from giving them assignments. Unlike most zombie apocalypse games, the State of Decay series focuses on a community of survivors instead of a lone hero. Of course, The Last of Us also doesn’t feature the epic battles against gods and mythical creatures that God of War does. Two different ways of exploring the same theme. But while The Last of Us’ Joel initially has no intention of connecting to Ellie, God of War’s Kratos is trying to be the best father he can, despite the complications. That new trait elevated the series to higher heights than ever before.Īt first glance, the recent God of War games have little to do with The Last of Us, but they both tell the story of a broken man who lost a child and is given a second chance.
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While the God of War franchise started as a hack-and-slash power fantasy, the series was semi-rebooted in 2018 and turned Kratos into a father. God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarök
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Just like The Last of Us, the game’s story is a memorable tale about the loss of innocence that will tug at your heartstrings. The games star a young protagonist who has to guard a younger sidekick they don’t initially like but eventually care for, and, in order to survive, they have to make many questionable decisions.
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Unlike The Last of Us, where survivors are hounded by zombies, A Plague Tale’s apocalyptic force is far more dangerous: Enough hungry rats to eat all of France.Ī Plague Tale’s entries hit many of the same beats as The Last of Us. Like The Last of Us, A Plague Tale: Innocence and Requiem are survival horror games where resources are limited and far too many NPCs die in gruesome fashion.
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