What Went Wrong with The Last of Us 2? A Deep Dive into the Hate
🎮 Introduction: A Sequel That Divided the Gaming World
When The Last of Us Part II dropped in June 2020, expectations were sky-high. The first game had left a legendary mark on the gaming world, thanks to its powerful storytelling, unforgettable characters, and emotional depth.
But instead of a warm reception, the sequel split the fanbase in two. Critics gave it glowing reviews, while many gamers felt disappointed, even betrayed.
So, what went wrong? Let’s dive into the real, less-talked-about reasons why TLOU2 triggered such an intense backlash.
💀 1. Joel’s Death: A Brutal Goodbye Nobody Was Ready For
For fans of the original game, Joel wasn’t just a character — he was a father figure, a protector, a flawed but beloved man. So, when he was killed off early in TLOU2, many players were devastated.
Even worse, his death felt... wrong. He let his guard down, trusted strangers, and got ambushed. For a guy known for being cautious and strategic, it felt completely out of character.
Many gamers didn’t just lose Joel — they lost trust in the writers. His death didn’t feel earned; it felt forced.
🧍♀️ 2. Playing as Abby: From Villain to Protagonist (Too Soon?)
Right after Joel’s death, players are thrown into the shoes of Abby — the person who murdered him.
Sure, the game eventually gives Abby a backstory. We learn about her pain, her motivations, her humanity. But let’s be real: most players weren’t emotionally ready to forgive and forget. Not that quickly.
The timing was emotionally jarring. Instead of letting players process Joel’s death, the game asks them to empathize with his killer. That left many feeling angry and confused.
🧨 3. Ellie’s Downward Spiral: From Beloved Hero to Obsession
Ellie, the light of the first game, returns in the sequel — but she’s changed.
Driven by revenge, trauma, and grief, Ellie becomes violent and ruthless. The journey is realistic, sure. But it’s also incredibly hard to watch.
Players wanted to see Ellie grow, not break. Instead of redemption or hope, we got obsession and loss. It’s a bold narrative move — but for many, it was also emotionally exhausting.
🧠 4. The Narrative Structure: Genius or Narrative Chaos?
TLOU2 made an ambitious choice: to tell the same story from two different perspectives — Ellie’s and Abby’s.
While some appreciated the layered storytelling, others found it frustrating. Just when Ellie’s arc was building toward a climax, the game hit pause and rewound time to show Abby’s side of the same events.
This structure killed momentum for many players. It felt like starting a new game halfway through the one they were already invested in.
🎮 5. Lack of Player Agency: You’re on a Rail, Like It or Not
One major criticism of TLOU2 is how little control the player actually has.
Unlike games like The Witcher 3 or Detroit: Become Human, there are no alternate paths or endings. You can’t change Ellie’s fate. You can’t choose how scenes play out. You’re just there to witness — and sometimes participate in — her emotional collapse.
This lack of agency made many feel powerless. Some even said it felt more like watching a sad movie than playing a game.
🌈 6. The LGBTQ+ Representation Backlash (And Why It’s Problematic)
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
Some of the hate the game received had nothing to do with storytelling or mechanics — and everything to do with its inclusivity. Ellie is openly lesbian. Lev is a transgender character. Abby doesn’t conform to traditional female body standards.
Sadly, this progressive representation triggered backlash from parts of the gaming community. Under the guise of “story criticism,” there was a lot of veiled homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny.
Let’s be clear: Representation is not a valid reason to hate a game. But it’s a reason many latched onto.
🎥 7. Misleading Marketing: Expectations vs Reality
Another source of backlash? The trailers.
Before release, Naughty Dog dropped promotional material that intentionally misled players. One trailer even showed Joel in a scene he never appeared in (digitally swapped with Jesse in the final version).
The result? Fans went in expecting a Joel and Ellie revenge story. Instead, they got a meditation on grief, violence, and moral ambiguity.
The bait-and-switch marketing strategy left many fans feeling tricked, not surprised.
🌑 8. Too Dark, Too Relentless, Too… Hopeless?
The original Last of Us was emotional and gritty — but it had moments of light. Giraffes. Jokes. Campfires.
TLOU2? Not so much.
From start to finish, it’s an unrelenting parade of pain, trauma, violence, and regret. By the end, Ellie has lost almost everything, and the player is left emotionally wrecked.
Some called it “realistic.” Others called it “misery porn.” Either way, it wasn’t the kind of game you enjoy — it was one you survive.
🎯 9. A Game That Was Never Meant to Please Everyone
Here’s a hot take: maybe the hate was part of the plan.
Neil Druckmann and the team at Naughty Dog wanted to challenge players. They wanted to subvert expectations, stir emotions, and make people feel, even if those feelings were ugly.
In that sense, the backlash might be a sign that the game succeeded in what it set out to do. But that doesn't mean everyone has to like it.
🧾 10. Was the Hate Justified?
Yes — and no.
It’s okay to be disappointed by a sequel that didn’t give you what you hoped for. It’s fair to question narrative decisions and criticize execution. That’s part of being an engaged fan.
But it’s also important to recognize the ambition behind TLOU2. It dared to break formulas. It risked alienating fans to tell a story that wasn’t comfortable — but was honest.
🧠 Conclusion: A Game That Will Be Debated for Years
Whether you love it or hate it, The Last of Us Part II made waves. It pushed boundaries, broke hearts, and sparked one of the loudest conversations in modern gaming.
Some see it as a masterpiece. Others see it as a misstep. Either way, it’s a game people remember — and that alone means something.
Maybe someday, when the dust fully settles, we’ll all see it for what it really was: not perfect, not pleasing — but unforgettable.
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