Critic Reviews

Comfortably the best adaptation of a video-game ever made: one that deepens the game’s dystopian lore, while staying true to its emotional core. Like the game, it’s a masterpiece, too.

The Last of Us is the best video game adaptation of all time, and it's also a fantastic TV drama in its own right. If you're on the fence about watching it, do yourself a favour and get involved as soon as possible.

Druckmann and Mazin have taken this unforgettable story and made it richer and more impactful, letting us live with these characters and this world in a way that we couldn’t in the game. The Last of Us is a monumental success, and in this universe of incredible darkness, Mazin and Druckmann show us the light that makes this story so powerful.

As heartbreakingly faithful as it is riveting and suspenseful, The Last of Us is a triumph that ends any further debate about the all-time best video game adaptation. ... At once familiar and original, action-packed and mournful. Barring some Armageddon-grade calamity, it seems destined to be HBO’s next big blockbuster.

Poignant, violent, joyous and exhilarating all at once, this isn’t just another remake, it’s a well-deserved tribute.

In time, it may not be the “best [insert qualifier here].” It may just be the best.

This isn’t just a breakthrough video game adaptation. It’s a great show, period.

Aa prestige drama based on a prestige video game, with quality distinctions that place this story in a league of its own. ... The television adaptation is such a gripping tale of survival because it makes ample room for savagery and love, desperation and selflessness. Pedro Pascal knocks it out of the park as grizzled survivor Joel. ... Prior knowledge of the saga is not required to become entangled in this rich drama. ... An enthralling experience.

I loved its balance of horror and heart. It burrows under the skin and refuses to leave.

By leaning just enough on the source material but not so much as to lose sight of the mission, which is to deliver a gut-wrenchingly emotional and poignant story, The Last of Us is not just the perfect adaptation; it’s an adaptation that has the potential to transcend even the original game.