The video game industry has seen a notable shift in tone over the last few decades. During the 80s and 90s, video games would often market themselves as essentially bright toys for kids, with plenty of vibrant visuals and easily accessible gameplay. Then, during the 2000s, as games started to get more technologically advanced, there was a clear tonal shift towards more adult-oriented themes, with games like Grand Theft Auto and Gears of War really marketing themselves towards an older demographic. And while the market sees much more diversity nowadays, there are still plenty of games with mature themes out there, and The Last of Us is certainly one of those.
A series set in the midst of a post-apocalypse where mushrooms grow out of people's faces, The Last of Us is certainly an adult-oriented franchise. As well as being extremely violent and bloody, The Last of Us also explores some very complex and mature themes, sometimes even to the detriment of the player's enjoyment. But while these adult themes are integral to The Last of Us' success, The Last of Us Part 3 might end up pairing things back just a little.
The Last of Us Part 3's Themes Could Be a Lot Lighter Than The Last of Us Part 2's
The first Last of Us had some extremely dark moments, but its theme was all about finding the light when there is none, and in Joel's case, that's Ellie. After losing his daughter in the game's prologue, Joel gradually becomes a bitter murderer over the course of the next 20 years. It's only when he meets Ellie that he finally starts fighting for a reason again. So while a lot of the first Last of Us includes some horrific scenes of torture, attempted SA, and a ton of violent imagery, at its heart it's still a hopeful story about finding something that's been lost for so long, giving the game a hopeful underlying tone.
The Last of Us Part 2, however, is rigidly dark and grim from start to finish. Rather than revolving around this notion of finding something once lost, The Last of Us Part 2 really hones in on the feeling of losing everything all at once. The entirety of The Last of Us Part 2 centers around the themes of hatred and revenge, and the cycle they force upon their victims. During the course of the game, players see just how far this cycle pushes Ellie, turning her into a cold-blooded murderer by the midway point, and Abby is pulled into that same cycle. By the end of The Last of Us Part 2, Ellie and Abby are left with nothing, with nearly all of their friends and family either dead or gone. The final sequence of The Last of Us Part 2 shows Ellie attempting to play Joel's guitar and failing due to her missing fingers, summarizing the immense loss that's resulted from this cycle of revenge.
While The Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2 are both masterclasses in video game storytelling, they can get extremely dark, especially the sequel. And though some fans enjoy more mature and complex themes, The Last of Us Part 2 may have pushed things a little too far in some places. Though Naughty Dog intended for some scenes in The Last of Us Part 2 to be difficult to play through, that doesn't make the process of actually doing so any easier.
The Last of Us Part 3 might end up going in the complete opposite direction from its two predecessors. Though it's sure to retain adult themes and violent imagery, The Last of Us Part 3 could end up focusing on some more positive themes, maybe showing the bright side of humanity even when faced with an apocalypse. The Last of Us Part 3 could even take inspiration from the Bill and Frank episode of the HBO show, exploring themes of love's perseverance despite the horrific state of the world.