Following the release of The Last of Us 2 exclusively on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One fans may be looking over with emerald eyes of jealousy. Simply put, there’s no game that’s a near carbon-copy of The Last of Us on the Xbox One, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t games that share a good few similarities with Naughty Dog’s incredible series.
As such, we’ve put together this list of Xbox One games like The Last of Us if you’re looking for something similar. This applies to both the first game and The Last of Us 2, as the gameplay is more or less the same across both.
Dying Light
Xbox One Games Like The Last of Us
If it’s the infected of The Last of Us that really get your juices flowing, then you’ll want to look no further than 2017’s Dying Light. A fantastic open world action-RPG that blends beating down zombies with buttery-smooth parkour traversal, Dying Light quickly became a cult classic upon its release.
Though it may not have the same AAA production values, it still looks pretty darn great running on whichever Xbox One you might have. Its story also doesn’t quite reach the same dizzying heights as The Last of Us, but Dying Light’s definitely a game that has its primary enemy in common with The Last of Us.
- Buy Now
- How It’s Similar: The zombie-focused combat and scavenging for supplies make Dying Light a fairly similar game to The Last of Us. Even if its story and combat approach differ.
The Metro Series
The Metro series has been around ever since the last generation of consoles, but that doesn’t mean the gameplay and storytelling on offer aren’t still incredibly good. Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light AND Metro Exodus all offer up incredibly compelling and polished survival-horror gameplay, that’s similar, albeit not identical to that on offer in The Last of Us.
Players assume the role of Artyom, a survivor who’s currently braving the horrors of the Russian apocalypse. You’ll have to equip your gas mask whenever you venture outside, and use a variety of hand-made weapons and what little ammo (which also acts as a currency) you’ve got to eliminate any threat that gets in your way.
In terms of story and gameplay, the Metro series may be the closest thing you’ll get to playing The Last of Us on Xbox One, even if the setting and gameplay aren’t identical.
- Buy from Metro: Redux from Microsoft Store
- Buy Metro: Exodus from Microsoft Store
- How It’s Similar: A gripping post-apocalyptic story and immersive environments. Its combat is also similar in the scarcity of ammo and focus on stealth.
Tomb Raider
Xbox One Games Like The Last of Us
Tomb Raider’s been around longer than most Fortnite players, but that doesn’t mean that it’s outdated or can’t keep up with today’s big hitters. Ever since the series’ reboot in 2012, the Tomb Raider series has offered up heart-racing action as we once again follow Lara on her many trips around the world.
With plenty of stunning scenery, environmental puzzles to solve and a mix of both melee and ranged combat, Tomb Raider feels very similar in the way it plays to The Last of Us and The Last of Us 2.
The key difference here is that Lara’s adventures never feel like they’re on the same scale of spectacle as Naughty Dog’s titles. Lara’s latest adventure in Shadow of the Tomb Raider for example, had a fair few plot holes. Something which you won’t find in The Last of Us or its sequel. It does have a fairly memorable ensemble cast, even if what they get up to never feels quite as believable and fleshed-out as Joel and Ellie’s adventure.
While Tomb Raider certainly shares a good few similarities with The Last of Us, its gameplay feels more similar to the Uncharted games. That being said, blending Uncharted and The Last of Us together into one epic archaeological adventure doesn’t sound like such a bad thing to us.
- Buy Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
- Buy Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Buy Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- How It’s Similar: Similar adventuring and environmental puzzle gameplay and combat that has stealth, melee, and ranged combat all rolled into one. It’s a little more open-world than The Last of Us, though, and its storytelling isn’t quite at the same level.
BioShock Infinite
I know, I know. I hear you all screaming at me that BioShock Infinite and The Last of Us share very little in common, but hear me out!
While BioShock Infinite may not share its setting with The Last of Us, it’s still got some similarities. The citizens of Columbia and the police force that come after you almost have that creepy fast-paced zombie vibe going on, and you’re able to mix up your combat by stealthily taking down an enemy or two one minute, before using plasmids and all manner of weapons to blast your way out the next.
The big similarity here comes in the storytelling and main characters. Both games’ stories are largely focused on the protagonist guiding an incredibly special woman to safety through a hostile world. The bond that both pairs develop over time is what makes their journey so special, even with the twists and turns on the way.
Not to mention, both have some incredible story moments that are just so darn clever that we don’t want to say any more as not to spoil it. Just trust us on this one, BioShock Infinite’s a good’un!
- Buy BioShock Infinite
- Why It’s Similar: The storytelling and the relationship between the main characters. There are also some similarities in how you can approach combat, and the way in which enemies act.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Xbox One Games Like The Last of Us
Another one that doesn’t scream “similar to The Last of Us” but kinda is, is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Depending on what it is from The Last of Us 2 that’s really got you interested, The Witcher 3 may be able to scratch that itch.
No, it’s not got similar gameplay, and no The Witcher 3’s world isn’t at all similar to that in The Last of Us. Instead, The Witcher 3 is all about delivering an epic, massic-scale adventure for players to lose themselves in over the course of 100+ hours.
It’s that same kind of incredible production value and commitment to quality that can be seen in The Last of Us (and The Last of Us 2). In this guy’s eyes, the added touches that both CD Projekt Red and Naughty Dog painstakingly finesse into their games that make their worlds, characters, and stories so immersive and enjoyable to play.
- Buy The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Why It’s Similar: Incredible attention to detail, immense world-building, and an excellent adventure.
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