Saddest Deaths In The Last Of Us Games

The Last of Us and its sequel are two of the greatest video games ever made. The amazing storytelling chops of these titles, coupled with some crunchy combat, ensure that players will be left thoroughly entertained after finishing both games.

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As one would expect, the tragic world these games are set in leads to a ton of emotional deaths that will make many fans shed a tear. From heroic sacrifices to brutal killings, The Last of Us is full of numerous casualties that gamers will remember long after they’re done playing these games.

This article contains major spoilers for both The Last of Us games.

8

Frank

Ends His Own Life And Derides Bill In His Suicide Note

• Killed by: Himself (after being infected)

Frank and Bill’s love story is undoubtedly a high point of The Last of Us TV show, which is why it’s hard to see how their relationship ends in the game. Here, Joel and Ellie meet Bill not long after Frank runs away, only to be bitten by one of the infected while striving to see the world.

He pens a bitter suicide note describing how much he hated Frank before choosing to off himself instead of turning into an infected monster. Given how their relationship blossomed in the show, it’s hard not to feel sad after witnessing this horrid conclusion to their relationship in the game.

7

Marlene

Tries To Save Humanity And Devise A Cure But Is Shot In The Head For Her Efforts

The leader of the Fireflies struggled to find a cure, eventually finding an answer in the form of Ellie. However, by the time Joel brings her to the Firefly Headquarters, he’s too attached to the young kid and refuses to let her die, even if it is to secure the fate of the world.

This causes him to go on a rampage and kill every member of the Fireflies in sight, culminating in him overpowering and shooting Marlene in the head. It’s a brutal end for someone who didn’t deserve it, but she still could’ve done a better job of communicating Ellie’s fate to Joel.

6

Tess

Sacrifices Herself To Save Joel And Ellie

Tess and Joel formed a partnership after the world was ravaged by the infected, culminating in their final mission to escort Ellie to the Firefly Headquarters. However, plans change when Tess is bitten along the way and finds herself succumbing to the infection.

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She implores Joel to leave her be and take Ellie all by his lonesome, sacrificing herself by standing in FEDRA’s way long enough for the duo to make a run for it. It was a tragic end for one of Joel’s closest friends; she who deserved better.

5

Jerry Anderson

Murdered By Joel For Doing His Job And Trying To Save The World

In The Last of Us, most players likely don’t care about the surgeon they stab in the neck when Joel decides to save Ellie. However, it’s not until the sequel that his true identity is revealed.

Jerry Anderson is a loving father who dotes over Abby, which is why his death is so hard to digest for the second protagonist of The Last of Us Part 2. It kickstarts a chain of events, with Abby hunting Joel down and beating him to death, causing Ellie to embark on a quest for revenge that is full of brutal moments.

4

Riley Abel

Proposes That She And Ellie Lose Their Minds Together After They Get Bit

• Killed by: Ellie (presumably, after being infected)

The Last of Us: Left Behind did a great job of fleshing out Ellie and Riley’s relationship, with the duo messing around in a mall before inadvertently attracting the ire of the infected. Both of them get bit, and Riley’s suggestion leads to the two friends deciding to wait it out until they transform.

However, while Riley succumbed to the infection, Ellie discovers that she’s immune. To make matters worse, it’s heavily implied that she had to stab Riley to death after she became infected. This is especially horrible because of the brewing feelings that were shared between them.

3

Sam & Henry

The Brothers Share A Tragic Fate After Sam Is Bitten By One Of The Infected

• Killed by: Sam was killed by Henry, who shot himself right after

Sam and Henry are two kindred spirits who decide to team up with Joel and Ellie. However, their journey is far from a smooth one, with Sam getting bit by the infected during one infamous scuffle.

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He hides this fact from the group and ends up turning by the time morning comes around. While attacking Ellie, Henry ends up having to kill his brother, losing his mind at the prospect of ending a close family member’s life and taking his own not long after.

2

Joel Miller

His Death Is Shocking, And It Takes A While For The Sadness Of His Demise To Hit Players

When Joel is clubbed to death in front of Ellie, it’s hard for many players to know what to feel. It’s likely that many were understandably fuming after this moment, only for the death to sink in later courtesy of numerous flashbacks that made fans cry every single time they saw Joel on-screen.

Joel’s death was ultimately comeuppance for his brutal actions at the end of the first game. However, many can’t help but shed a tear whenever they feel his absence in the sequel. This is especially the case since Ellie harbors deep regret for how their relationship fell apart before his eventual demise.

1

Sarah Miller

Her Death Sends Joel Spiralling Down A Path Of Despair

The beginning of The Last of Us was incredibly powerful, with players being introduced to Sarah Miller, Joel’s daughter, just as the infection hits. Joel and Tommy mount an escape with her, only for their vehicle to be wrecked after an accident.

Joel tries to escape with Sarah and eventually runs into a U.S. Soldier, who is ordered to gun down anyone in the infection zone. He tries to avoid the hail of gunfire, but Sarah isn’t so lucky and gets hit, bleeding out in her father’s arms after getting shot in the stomach.

• 

  Systems

  

  Released

  
  June 14, 2013
  

  ESRB

  M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

• 

  Systems

  

  Released

  
  June 19, 2020
  

  ESRB

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