The Last of Us: When Playing Is Feeling - An Emotional Portrait of the Game

When The Last of Us was released in 2013, few could have imagined that this post-apocalyptic survival game would become one of the deepest works ever produced in the video game industry. Ten years later, with the arrival of its sequel, The Last of Us Part II has not only won awards and critical acclaim, but also transformed lives.

We're not just talking about refined gameplay, a flawless soundtrack, or top-notch acting. We're talking about emotion. About scars. About people who saw themselves in Joel, who lost themselves with Ellie, who hated Abby and then learned to love her. Because The Last of Us isn't a story we play, it's a story we feel.

In this article, you'll find the full emotional weight of the game and the voices of those who truly lived this story. Ordinary people, like you and me, who finished the game in tears, silence, or reflection. This is an emotional portrait of The Last of Us.

"I understood Joel. I didn't forgive him, but I understood." — Mariana, 28

For many players, Joel represents more than a protagonist—he’s the embodiment of desperate love, the fear of loss, and the brutality of survival. His final decision in the first game, to save Ellie and prevent the creation of a possible cure, divided opinion. Some defended him as a father. Others condemned him as selfish.

But everyone felt the weight of the choice.

"I work in a hospital. I've seen parents lose children. I've seen firsthand what that does to a person. When Joel saves Ellie, he's not right. But he's broken. And that's what hurt me the most. Because I understood why, even if I don't agree." — Tatiane, 32, nurse.

This complexity is what sets The Last of Us apart from conventional narratives. It doesn't tell you what to think. It makes you feel, reflect, and question.

The Last of Us Part II (2020) — Revenge and Its Consequences

"Her anger was mine too. But I didn't know she would destroy me along with it." — Bárbara, 35

In The Last of Us Part II, we see Ellie's transformation. From a young woman full of life and curiosity to a woman consumed by grief, rage, and a blind desire for revenge. It's difficult to watch her emotional degradation without being affected.

"I played during a period of depression. Ellie reflected me. The way she wallowed in hatred, even though she knew it wouldn't bring peace... that's how I felt. The game didn't cure me, but it helped me understand that I needed to stop running from my pain." — Silvia, 29, illustrator.

Many fans finished the game emotionally exhausted. Not because the game failed to deliver a compelling story, but precisely because it managed to make Ellie's pain become the player's own.

"I hated her. Then I realized she was me." — Ricardo, 24

Introducing Abby as a playable character was one of Naughty Dog's boldest decisions, and also one of the most controversial. She killed one of the most beloved characters in gaming history, right at the beginning of the sequel. The hatred was immediate. Intense. Personal.

So... the game forces you to be her.

"I played angry. But when I realized Abby also had someone she loved, who also suffered loss... I fell apart. Never has a game made me feel so bad about hating someone. It was brilliant." — Leandro, 38, video editor.

This is the true narrative power of The Last of Us Part II: using gameplay to generate empathy. Forcing the player to see the other side, to see that everyone has their reasons—and that no one is completely right or wrong.

"It was the first time a game made me change my mind about a character in real time." — Ana, 27

Empathy isn't a button you press. In The Last of Us, it's built slowly, through silences, glances, and difficult decisions. And the player feels it firsthand, especially when they have to control characters they previously considered enemies.

"I grew up playing RPGs where killing was part of the routine. But in The Last of Us, I hesitated. Every confrontation was heavy. Every death made me question whether it was necessary. I started playing more carefully, with more guilt. I never saw combat the same way again." — Caio, 22.

This moral awareness generated by gameplay is rare. The Last of Us doesn't reward gratuitous violence. It shows its consequences. It shows the emptiness that comes after.

"It was my therapy without words." — Silvia, 29

For many players, The Last of Us was more than entertainment. It was a process. A mirror. A silent conversation with unresolved pain. Some dealt with grief. Others, with trauma. Still others found the courage to forgive.

"I lost my brother shortly before Part II was released. I played with a broken heart. And when Ellie started to fall apart emotionally, I felt like I was walking with her. In the end, when she chose to leave everything behind, it was as if I, too, had let go of my pain." — Bárbara, 35.

These accounts show how games can touch deep emotional dimensions—and how interactive art can be a legitimate vehicle for self-understanding.

"I finished the game and sat in silence for hours. Nothing made sense after that." — Lucas, 26

Perhaps The Last of Us's greatest merit is this: it doesn't end when you turn off the console. It lingers. In your memory, in your feelings, in your conversations. It's a kind of work that creates community. That generates debate. That doesn't offer you ready-made answers.

"Ellie loses everything. But when she spares Abby, she becomes human again. And that made me think about everything I've left behind by dwelling on the pain. It was a punch in the gut... and a hug in my heart." — Helena, 43, theology professor.

HBO's live-action adaptation of The Last of Us was celebrated as a milestone in translating games to the screen. However, even with Neil Druckmann (the game's creator) as co-writer, the series introduced significant changes to the narrative, characters, and structure. These changes aren’t mere deviations, but conscious choices to take advantage of the possibilities of the new medium.

The series chose a different path from the games, showcasing greater representation. Ellie is one of the first openly LGBTQ+ protagonists in a big-budget game, and Abby breaks stereotypes of female characters by displaying emotional complexity.

The HBO series received acclaim in its first season for its fidelity and character development. However, its second season has been met with harsh criticism, which has divided opinions. This further increases its cultural impact.

The first season was, for many, the beginning of a deep emotional connection. For those already familiar with the game, it was a chance to relive iconic moments with new eyes. For those unfamiliar, it was a brutal and delicate invitation at the same time.

"I already knew the game, but seeing it all come to life was a very different experience. Joel and Ellie became even more human, more fragile, more real." — Carolina R., 29

"I thought it was just another zombie series, but I found myself crying in the first episode. Joel's pain destroyed me. And Ellie... wow. She's light in the darkness." — Lucas F., 28

The remarkable episodes—like the tragic loss of Sarah, the devastating story of Bill and Frank, and the slow build of trust between Joel and Ellie—had a profound impact on audiences. Some said the series helped them deal with their own trauma. Others saw it as a metaphor for real relationships, especially between parents and children.

"Joel and Ellie's relationship reminded me of my bond with my daughter. The way he tries to protect her at all costs broke me." — Felipe M., 35

"I watched the series during a difficult time in my life, and Ellie's story gave me the strength to move forward." — Marina L., 31

The first season was, for many, a safe space where pain and beauty coexisted. Where hope still breathed, even amidst the rubble.

If the first season made us love, the second made us suffer. It shatters our expectations, challenges empathy, and forces us to look inward. Joel's brutal death, right at the beginning of the new season, caused outrage, rejection, and shock.

"I was in denial after the first episode. I was angry at the show, at everything. But I kept watching... and I understood. The show was challenging me." — Diego N., 31

The introduction of Abby, initially seen as an antagonist, provoked intense reactions. However, as the story unfolds, the traditional roles of hero and villain dissolve. The audience is forced to empathize with someone they hated just days before. This transition wasn't easy for anyone.

"Following Abby's journey and seeing Ellie lose herself in her own hatred was devastating. It was cruel and beautiful at the same time." — Felipe M., 35

"The series made me feel hatred, then compassion, then guilt. It was an emotional roller coaster that will stay with me for a long time." — Larissa, 24

What touched fans most was the series' courage in showing the real consequences of revenge. The series doesn't glorify violence. On the contrary: it shows how it destroys everyone, including those we think are 'right.' Ellie and Abby are broken mirrors, reflecting the cracks in the human condition.

"I saw how much pain can consume and destroy. The series deals with trauma with an almost unbearable honesty." — Sofia, 23

In each episode, The Last of Us forces its viewers to reflect on themselves. Good and evil intertwine. Heroes commit unforgivable acts. Villains have understandable motivations. And we, as viewers, oscillate between judgment and forgiveness.

"The series doesn't provide easy answers. That's what makes it so powerful." — Pedro Moraes, 30

"I've never seen a work of fiction spark so much dialogue in my home. The series has become a moment of connection with my teenage children." — Gabriel, 40

The narrative's ambiguous morality has sparked intense discussions on social media, in friend groups, and even within families. Many report how the series' content has sparked profound conversations about justice, loss, and humanity.

"We discussed the characters' motivations after each episode. It was an incredible experience of connection and reflection." André Costa, 33

"The series raised dilemmas we never even imagined discussing. It went beyond entertainment. It was a reflection on what it means to move forward." — Rafael, 42

If there's one common thread among all the testimonials we received, it's this: no one emerged unscathed from The Last of Us. Whether in the form of tears, anger, silence, or reflection, the series left scars and, in many cases, also healed.

"I've never cried so much over a series. It was brutal, but unforgettable. It’ll stay with me for a long time." — Mariana, 22

"The series doesn't judge, it just shows what happens when we carry deep wounds. I saw myself in Ellie, trying to survive the pain." — Ana Liza, 33

And perhaps this is The Last of Us's greatest achievement: reminding us that, even in a devastated world, we’re still human. We still feel, we still love, we still fight to move forward—even if the road is paved with loss.

"It was more than a series. It was a mirror. And I saw myself in it." — Vanessa, 26

The Last of Us is more than a successful franchise. It's a game-changer. Not only because of its technical quality, but because it dared to treat the player as an emotionally capable being. It dared to deliver discomfort instead of reward. Questions instead of certainties.

The fans who shared their experiences make this clear: it's not about liking the ending or not, or agreeing with the characters' decisions. It's about feeling. And few games in the world have achieved this with such intensity.

The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II are more than games; they’re narrative experiences that challenge the player to reflect on their own moral convictions. With unforgettable characters, a well-built world, and an emotionally intense plot, the franchise has established itself as one of the most important in video game history. Joel and Ellie left a legacy that goes far beyond the player's control and touches the hearts of everyone who experienced this journey.

The differences between the series and the game are reinterpretations. Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann maintained the emotional core of the story, broken homes, loss, and love in a shattered world—while adapting interactive features (like the tension of stealth) into television language.

Expansions like the Bill and Frank arc or the Kansas City tragedy enrich the universe but question what "fidelity" is: replicating scenes or capturing the soul of the narrative?

We enter The Last of Us to survive. But what keeps us going is the desire to understand others. Even when it hurts.