The Last of Us is one of the best-selling Sony franchises, containing two original video games with various remakes/remasters, a series of comic books, and a live-action TV show. Everything in this incredible franchise leads back to the successful release of the original The Last of Us game on June 14, 2013. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of this phenomenal post-apocalyptic adventure, we’ve listed off some of the most hilarious, heartwarming, and heartbreaking parts of Ellie and Joel’s journey. In no particular order, here are the 10 most unforgettable The Last of Us moments in celebration of its 10th anniversary.
Sarah’s Death
Anyone who has played The Last of Us will forever be heartbroken by the heavily emotional and traumatic scene that was Sarah’s death during the prologue of the story. Despite Sarah being a minor character in the game and having a short time on-screen, her fate was made that much more impactful by having the player take control of her as a playable character at the beginning of the prologue, giving them a chance to witness her personality as the sweet, innocent daughter of Joel.
After spending time in Sarah’s shoes and getting to view her imperfect yet very loving and close-knit relationship with Joel, most people found themselves quite invested in Sarah as a character. Tragically, just as you find yourself starting to take an interest in her character, she’s brutally ripped away from the world and killed by a soldier whilst trying to escape Outbreak Day, concluding the prologue on a devastating note.
Joel Finally Trusts Ellie With a Gun
Ellie spends most of her journey with Joel nagging him to let her use a gun, only to be shut down each and every time in stubborn response. While it’s true that Ellie is still a kid and that a gun may be dangerous for her, the longer she and Joel were on the road, the more threats they encountered.
Because of this, Ellie’s pestering starts to seem much more valid, and eventually, in a very special and touching moment, Joel entrusts Ellie with the responsibility of handling a gun and defending him in combat. Furthermore, after this combat concludes, he gifts Ellie her first pistol and teaches her how to use it, the two sharing a very defining moment that helps to establish the strength of their bond and trust in one another.
Ellie & Riley’s Kiss
Throughout The Last of Us Left Behind DLC, players can experience Ellie’s tragic backstory and witness the events leading up to her involvement with the Fireflies and the discovery of her immunity. During this backstory, Ellie and her best friend Riley sneak out for some fun together in the abandoned mall, having a ridiculous amount of fun exploring the remainders of the stores, participating in a photo booth, playing games at an arcade, and more.
There are some moments of angst and tension along the way, but the two end their night by making up for their fight and even sharing a kiss after dancing to music together. This was a very special moment in The Last of Us and one of the few times that players were able to witness Ellie seem genuinely happy. Ellie and Riley’s relationship earned The Last of Us significant praise as an LGBTQ+-inclusive game, a title that was much harder to find 10 years ago.