Why the story of The Last of Us Part II is maddening and fulfilling (spoilers)

The Last of Us Part II has sold more than 4 million copies. The original moved over 17 million copies, generating more than $1 billion at retail. It’s rare to find a work of art that is such a big commercial success, and I thought it was worth examining what made the story so moving. The action is intense, grueling, and raw. And the tale matches the action’s intensity.

It was eerie playing a game about a post-pandemic zombie apocalypse during a pandemic, with emergency vehicle sirens going off in the background in real life. One solace was that I played this one together with my middle daughter, Danielle Takahashi, who was too young for such a serious game when the first one debuted in 2013. We put together this video, which she edited. Since the game is such a raw experience, I think it helps to talk about it after you play it, and we hope this story helps you understand it better.