So there are loads of Black Friday deals on Fanatical this weekend, and yes, you can get plenty of games for a cool price. It’s all well and good. But you could get more than a game. You can get an experience, you can have your heart stolen, your soul bewitched, you can learn about the redemptive power of love, and all of it while trying to escape zombie-like creatures in a world where Cordycep isn’t just the magic latte ingredient middle-class hippies like me drink, but the cause of a global pandemic. If that sounds good to you, then you should go grab The Last of Us Part 1, one of the best story games ever, while it is half price at Fanatical.
I’ll be honest with you: I really dislike zombie stories. I don’t like postapocalyptic worlds. That’s just my personal taste. I prefer a story that makes me dream and transports me into a world I’d actually like to be in. And then I watched The Last of Us. What happened to me? Was it the incredibly emotional gut-wrenching storytelling? Was it Bella Ramsey’s acting and her subtle mix of childlike playfulness and survivor’s harshness? Was it Pedro Pascal’s sad daddy eyes (definitely that)? All of that combined? After bingeing the show, I absolutely had to play the game.
And oh boy, I was not disappointed. I arrived late to the party, yes. And maybe you are too. If you’re into post-apocalyptic worlds and zombie stories, stay here. If you’re into emotional sincerity, beautiful storytelling, rooting for characters, having your heart wrenched and twisted like a wet towel, STAY HERE. Yes, I shouted.
This game, folks. I am a romance type of gal. I love an enemy-to-lovers arc, I love a slow burn, I love yearning. And, surprisingly, I got that very fix following not a romance but a father-daughter arc. Joel and Ellie, a heavily traumatized middle-aged cynical smuggler and a heavily traumatized teenager, are strangers when they first meet, and they don’t like each other much. But Joel has to take Ellie across the country: she is the only person known to be immune to the infection that has decimated humanity and could be the one to create a vaccine. The game has you follow their journey as they cross cities, towns, and landscapes filled with multiple dangers coming equally from infected and human militias. As they go from “I can’t stand you when you speak” to “I will destroy anything or anyone who tries to harm you because that’s how much I love you.” Aaaaaahh, gosh.
That’s what makes this game so special to me: seeing these two characters learning to trust each other, rely on each other, and ultimately opening themselves to love again. In a world ravaged by loss, uncertainty, violence, and trauma, their bond brings them healing and a renewed sense of purpose. It’s not a game about zombies. It’s a game about learning how to love again when it feels impossible to love. All carried with beautiful dialogues and top-notch acting.
Okay, it is also a game about zombies. Yes, that part is pretty fun too. You get to sneak around in buildings, and I love to sneak around. You have to be tactical in your choice of weapons and how you upgrade your skills in order to survive. Getting out there like a berserker shooting everywhere… might work sometimes? But most of the time, being discreet will be your best bet (well, it’s definitely mine because trying to go all in without subtlety did not work well for me). The action scenes are nicely paced with contemplative walks or rides where you get to admire luscious landscapes and just be and breathe alongside those two beautiful characters you’re slowly falling in love with.
Am I being too much? Am I exaggerating the qualities of this game? Maybe, who knows, I don’t care. Naughty Dog cast a spell on me, and they also broke my heart. I guess the real heartbreak came in The Last of Us Part 2, but we don’t have to get into that now. We don’t have to get into that ever.
So what now? On Fanatical, you can get this absolute treasure at 56% off, £22.24 instead of £49.99. Don’t wait around too long – the deal is only available until Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. If you don’t get it before, then you may never have your heart broken.
