In The Last of Us, the primary playable character is Joel, a hardened survivor escorting a teenage girl, Ellie, across a post‑pandemic United States. Most of the original game is experienced through Joel’s eyes, focusing on his protective instincts, moral compromises, and personal trauma. Later titles shift perspective: Ellie becomes the lead in key sections of The Last of Us Part II, while other games introduce playable roles such as Abby and Dina. This guide explains who you control in each main entry, how play styles differ, and why the narrative design ties perspective to theme.
Protagonists by Game
The series spans multiple protagonists, each framed by distinct objectives and pressures. Understanding who you control helps clarify how gameplay reinforces story and tone. Below are the main playable characters in the numbered releases.
Playable Characters Overview
| Game | Primary Playable | Secondary/Alternate Playable | Perspective Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Last of Us | Joel | Ellie (brief sections) | Survival, protection, moral tradeoffs |
| The Last of Us Part II | Ellie (Act I & III), Abby (Act II) | Dina (epilogue) | Revenge, trauma, reconciliation |
| The Last of Us Part I (remake) | Joel | Ellie (selected segments) | Faithful adaptation of original’s structure |
| Left Behind | Ellie | — | Character study during outbreak onset |
Gameplay Differences by Character
Playstyle shifts when you switch protagonists, because objectives, gear, and mobility vary. Joel’s sections often emphasize cautious traversal, resource scarcity, and tense stealth. Ellie’s portions in the original highlight puzzle solving, stealth with limited resources, and scripted set pieces. In Part II, Abby relies on heavier combat readiness, faster movement, and aggressive tactics. These differences serve the story: Joel’s caution reflects a man trying to atone; Ellie’s urgency mirrors grief and agency; Abby’s physicality embodies cycles of violence.
The Last of Us (2013)
The majority of the first game is played as Joel. You guide him through cordoned environments, controlling his movement, combat, and interactions with Ellie, who follows closely or acts autonomously in set moments. Occasional segments switch to Ellie, usually under duress, to showcase vulnerability and inexperience. The structure trains you to read threats and build attachment before perspective shifts, making later transitions emotionally resonant.
Key Moments as Joel
- College campus encounter with Hunters, establishing stealth and sound cues.
- House under quarantine, introducing environmental storytelling.
- Museum and hospital sequences, testing risk versus reward.
- Final act decisions that define moral ambiguity and consequence.
The Last of Us Part II (2020)
Part II begins with Ellie as the central figure, driving the opening mission with familiarity and confidence. Midway, you control Abby, reframing earlier events through a rival’s motivations. Late chapters return to Ellie and Dina, emphasizing endurance and community rebuilding. This rotating design ensures empathy for opposing viewpoints while challenging players to adapt combat and traversal styles.
Play Shifts and Intent
- Ellie sections accentuate agility, improvised tactics, and emotional memory.
- Abby segments stress resilience, weapon versatility, and confronting consequences.
- Dina’s epilogue focuses on stability and future-oriented choices.
Left Behind (2014)
As a standalone expansion, Left Behind locks you as Ellie shortly before the outbreak peaks. Gameplay foregrounds exploration and relationship beats, with limited combat encounters. This perspective deepens empathy for Ellie’s later role in the main saga and illustrates formative moments that echo through the series.
Why Perspective Matters
Switching protagonists is never just cosmetic. Each playable identity aligns with thematic goals—control versus surrender, accountability versus retaliation, healing versus survival. By moving between characters, the games interrogate how personal history shapes violence and redemption. Understanding who you play as helps decode why certain scenes unsettle and others offer cautious hope.
FAQs
Can I choose different protagonists in the main story?
In the core campaigns, protagonists are predetermined by level design. You experience specific sections through set characters to preserve narrative intent. Some challenge modes and player-choice experiments in later projects may offer alternative paths, but the primary arcs remain fixed.
Are there multiplayer perspectives?
Multiplayer modes in The Last of Us and Part II allow you to play as multiple factions and characters from the universe, though these are not part of the single‑player story campaign. Abilities and roles differ, but they do not replace the narrative-led perspective of Joel, Ellie, or Abby.
Does the remake change who you play as?
The remake preserves the original game’s structure, so you still play primarily as Joel with selected segments as Ellie. Graphical and mechanical updates enhance immersion, but the fundamental perspective hierarchy remains unchanged.
How does perspective affect difficulty?
Ellie’s portions often demand tighter resource management and precision, while Abby’s segments reward aggressive, fluid combat. Difficulty is calibrated to match each character’s physical profile, ensuring that challenge derives from gameplay constraints rather than arbitrary adjustments.