The Last of Us 3 Should Borrow One Feature from Days Gone

The zombie genre is oversaturated, but each franchise brings something new to the table. The Last of Us franchise features its own kind of zombies – the Infected – and there are variations of them that act differently depending on how far along the infection is. Naughty Dog has kept things interesting for two games, but for the third game, it may be a good idea to switch things up in a big way.

One way this can be done is if The Last of Us franchise takes notes from Days Gone. Developed by Bend Studio, the game features Deacon St. John who fights for survival in a world where zombies called Freakers attack in hordes. If The Last of Us Part 3 featured its own hordes, it could be an unexpected yet welcome change of pace.

The Infected Hordes of Days Gone Explained

Days Gone has players riding on a motorbike in Oregon as Deacon searches for his wife. During his adventures, he runs into hordes of Freakers that number in the hundreds. To take them down requires a lot of shooting, laying traps, and using the environment tactfully. It’s an exhilarating experience, and without proper strategizing, it’s easy to get overwhelmed very quickly.

As the game progresses, Deacon gains better weapons to help him against the hordes, and he can make upgrades to his bike. The Freakers don’t come in one flavor, however, and it isn’t always a matter of dealing with hordes. Sometimes, he has to take on Breakers that don’t travel in hordes but are very strong.

The Human Enemies of Days Gone

As is the case with most zombie games, it becomes apparent that humans are as deadly as the undead. Hence, Deacon also finds himself up against human foes. This includes the Rippers, Anarchists, and Mauraders.

How The Last of Us Part 3 Could Implement Hordes

The Last of Us tends to feature fewer Infected to battle in relatively confined spaces. There are many different types of Infected, with some reacting to light and others to sound. Though it may be exciting to go up against behemoths like the Bloaters, a little variety in the kinds of encounters players find themselves in may stop TLOU 3 from feeling stale.

Fortunately, players have seen how the Infected can form hordes at the beginning of The Last of Us Part 2 when Abby finds herself chased by dozens of enemies. However, the objective is to run away from them, and there is no way for Abby to stand her ground and attack back. The Last of Us Part 3 could change this, giving players the tools and traps they need to wipe out entire hordes of Clickers.

References to Hordes of Infected in The Last of Us Part 2

In a flashback scene where Tommy teaches Ellie how to use a rifle, he explains that a horde usually passes by Jackson in the winter, leaving a few stragglers behind. He doesn’t know why they migrate, but it’s a recurring pattern. The next The Last of Us game could branch off from this to have the protagonist up against a migrating horde of Infected.

The Last of Us Part 3 has yet to be announced, and there’s no guessing what ideas Naughty Dog has for the franchise. Until there is an official reveal, fans can enjoy the HBO series which has a second season debuting in 2025.

The Last of Us Part 2

The Last of Us Part II is the follow-up to the original game in the series. This time around, players control both Ellie and Abby. The game won many awards, including smashing the record for the most Game of the Year awards.

Franchise

The Last of Us

Released

June 19, 2020

Engine

Proprietary

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs

How Long To Beat

24 Hours

Metascore

93