The Last of Us game story, It has been critically acclaimed as one of the most emotionally resonant and richest in narrative video games ever created. From the very first moments, it throws players into a harsh post-apocalyptic world full of fungus outbreaks that turn human beings into dangerous infected creatures. But underneath survival horror lies a deeply human story of loss, hope, and the lengths to which people go to protect someone they love. The present reality of action mixed with potent flashback moments gives the narrative sometimes a complex timeline.
Beginning from almost three decades ago, the timeline for The Last of Us starts with the outbreak that leads to society coming into decline. The other part of the time follows the changing relationship between Joel, the grieving father-turned-survivor, and Ellie, the young girl who might be the salvation of humanity. During their journey, players witness both threats of an infected world and the emotional scars carried by the survivors.
History of Events in the Last of Us Universe
First off, to get down to the specifics, I thought it would be helpful to outline all of the significant events chronologically. Significant events, flashbacks, story beats, etc., that align with one another to outline what occurs in the journey. By outlining the events appropriate to the timeline, we as readers can make sense of the characters and the story as it unfolds. The following is a table encompassing all of these major events throughout the series of events, clearly marking the prior map before stepping into the full narrative. The Last of Us game story.
| Year | Event |
| 2013 | Cordyceps outbreak begins; chaos ensues worldwide |
| 2013 | Joel’s daughter Sarah dies; the beginning of the apocalypse |
| 2033 | Joel meets Ellie; the main events of The Last of Us Part I begin |
| 2034 | Joel and Ellie reach the Fireflies; Joel rescues Ellie |
| 2038 | Flashbacks of Ellie’s time with Riley (Left Behind DLC) |
| 2039 | Joel is killed by Abby; The Last of Us Part II begins |
| 2040 | Ellie’s journey of revenge against Abby unfolds |
| 2041 | Ellie leaves behind her revenge; the final scene at the farmhouse |
The Cordyceps Outbreak (2013)
The Last of Us game story universe is an unexplained event, a very terrible twist of the storyline: the brain infection from Cordyceps. This newly mutated fungus begins infecting people, who become mindless, aggressive creatures called the Infected. The outbreak situation hasn’t been controlled, as it is spreading like a wildfire, making human settlements uninhabitable and causing mass panic. Through the storm, we meet Joel, a single father who is trying to get away from the city, together with his daughter Sarah and brother Tommy. Besides all the efforts to escape, Sarah is fatally shot by a soldier, thus becoming one of the most sentimental scenes of a video game ever.
The Fall of Civilization
Immediately after the outbreak, civilization quickly collapses, with survivors being heavily guarded in quarantine zones. The next two decades will see the remnants of humankind surviving under the watch of strict military law, with freedom being sacrificed for the perception of safety. In the stark new arthritic world, rebel factions like the Fireflies try to topple the repressive government and find a cure for the infection. Without a doubt, these groups operate in the shadows, rekindling hope in this broken land. The Last of Us game story.
Meanwhile, as a hard and cynical smuggler, Joel is a woman who once loved her father and is somewhat bitter with the heartbreaking loss of his beloved daughter Sarah. He barricaded himself in his trauma, determined to focus on the survival of the fittest, with connecting to another being least of his thoughts. This harsh and forsaken landscape is the breeding ground from which complex character relations and moral dilemmas arise in the later narrative.
Joel Meets Ellie (2033)
In 2033, Joel must transport a 14-year-old girl named Ellie out of a restricted area. What at first appears to be an easy task quickly becomes a journey across the nation. Joel and Ellie wander through the ruined U.S., on the way making a heartfelt father-daughter-like relationship. They have to endure adverse weather conditions, infection dangers, and unfriendly people. Ellie is no ordinary girl—she is resistant to the infection. The Fireflies claim that she is the main figure in the story of humanity’s survival. The Last of Us game story.
Joel’s Fateful Decision
The Last of Us game story, After Joel discovers that Ellie is going to be killed during the operation, he takes a drastic step: he brings Ellie away, shooting some Fireflies, including their leader Marlene, and he deceives Ellie about what has happened. He says to her that the Fireflies had no problem in obtaining the cure, so they had already given up. Just one act opens a trail of destruction that runs through the whole sequel. It also reveals the change of character of Joel—he is not able to stand losing another “daughter,” even if it means that the salvation of the world is at stake.
Ellie and Riley (Left Behind DLC)
The Left Behind DLC is a continuation of the first game and also the backstory of Ellie and her close friendship with Riley. The two teenagers slyly get out of their quarantine zone with a mission to investigate an abandoned mall. In the process, they are sharing their moments of joy and laughter as well as the innocence of youth. Their bond becomes stronger when a tender kiss reveals that Ellie is experiencing love for the first time. The Last of Us game story.
Unfortunately, however, when they are both bitten by the infected in their adventure, Riley dies, while Ellie’s survival makes her unique immunity. This sad chapter of Ellie’s story has become powerful and emotional to the extent it highlights the pain and the burden of loss she initially carried throughout the series. Besides being the reference point of her resilience and determination in the main storyline, it also serves as the foundation of those traits.
The Last of Us Part II Begins (2039)
After several years following the first game, Joel and Ellie are living in Jackson, Wyoming, and attempting to reestablish a normal life. But peace is short-lived. Joel is savagely done in by Abby, a soldier of the WLF. Abby is the daughter of the Firefly surgeon Joel killed at the hospital, and her attack is a revenge action. After seeing Joel getting killed, Ellie is driven by hatred so strong that it can be called a vendetta. So is the main story in The Last of Us Part II: the revenge circle.
Ellie’s Quest for Revenge (2040)
The Last of Us game story. Ellie sets off to Seattle along with her friend Dina, aiming to find Abby and her gang. When she is eliminating them one after another, Ellie gradually sheds her human qualities. The story chooses to give the narrator to Abby, thus players get a chance to see her side of the case along with only her friends, her struggles, and even her regrets. During an unforgettable moment of intimacy, Ellie and Abby meet for the last time, but Ellie decides not to kill her. Revenge is the only thing that has made her lose everything. Ellie recognizes that it is only a game, and she has played it badly, thus losing.
The Final Scene (2041)
The Last of Us game story, The last moments of the game find Ellie at her old farmhouse with Dina, only to realize that she is no longer there. Dina is gone. Ellie attempts to play the guitar, which was Joel’s last present to her, but due to the fact that she is missing fingers from the previous fight, she cannot do so. Ellie leaves the guitar behind and walks away like she wanted a new start and that was her way of accepting the past.
Themes That Bind the Timeline Together
What separates The Last of Us game story from the countless other post-apocalyptic games is the setting and characters. These characters go through bittersweet and painful experiences. Themes of love and grief come into play, along with loss, as the basis for the decisions people take. Revenge and forgiveness continue to appear, demonstrating the destructive nature of hatred and the possibility of healing. Parenthood and the nurturing side of surrogate family ties add a ray of hope to the otherwise bleak environment, highlighting human connection.
The storyline throws heavy moral questions at players—whether one life stands above many and whether vengeance ever brings peace. Redemption is a blurry clutch, with its players holding the fading hope while wrestling with past mistakes and the results of present actions. All such themes are intertwined in such a fashion that they elevate the story far beyond what would be expected out of a typical survival game and turn it into a deep dive into the very concept of being human.
Characters Interwoven in the Timeline
Joel is a grizzled survivor shaped by the loss of his daughter; he and Ellie share much of the story. Ellie, unlike any other, is born immune to the infection and evolves from this curious teenager into a determined and multifaceted young woman. Sequel-introduced Abby juxtaposes her perspective as she seeks justice for her losses. Tommy, Joel’s brother, has ingrained the basic grain of hope and family ties amid chaos, while Dina, Ellie’s partner, rides love and the chance to heal even in an injured world. The Last of Us game story.
Effect of the Chronological Method
The presentation of The Last of Us from start to finish makes the motivations of characters clearer and develops our comprehension of cause and effect. Actions of Joel around 2034 led immediately to the deed of his killing in 2039. For her part, the trauma Ellie suffers in 2038 hangs heavy upon her, precipitating her act of vengeance in 2040. Viewing the events of the plot in this order provides a fresh lens through which to see how intricately the developers wound every choice and emotion together in crafting what remains one of the most stunningly tragic stories in video game history.
Wrapping up
The Last of Us timeline reveals the complex, yet heartening, story of suffering, pain, and brief happiness. The history of the outbreak, by illustrating the adventures of Joel and Ellie, and eventually Ellie’s quest for harmony, shows us how human relationships become complicated amid disaster. The story is a refusal of simple solutions and the thrusting of hard ethical questions in the players’ faces: Is this love, or maybe revenge, or perhaps forgiveness?
This thick veiling of the plot is what keeps The Last of Us as an iconic story not only in the gaming world but also in the whole industry. At the end of the day, what makes this story so strong is the fact that it is still relatable. The character that Joel is during the game, a man who is driven by mistakes and a woman like Ellie who comes from innocence to trauma, is a metaphor that even in the darkest times, the light of hope and the connection are still there.
FAQs
Why did Joel save Ellie if it meant dooming the rest of the world?
Joel had lost his daughter Sarah, and by the time he got to the Fireflies, Ellie was just like a daughter to him. He couldn’t deal with losing her also. His decision was self-centered, but emotionally human, which is why the decision is so open to discussion.
Is The Last of Us story based on a book or movie?
The Last of Us is an original story by Naughty Dog. But, they took a lot of inspiration from movies like “Children of Men” and Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road for the post-apocalyptic theme.
How does the Left Behind DLC fit into the main story?
The DLC is set in the period before Ellie and Joel’s meeting and shows how her immunity originated. In addition, it gives more weight to the emotional side of her adventure by exposing the pain of the loss of Riley, her first love.
Why does Ellie spare Abby in the end?
The memory of Ellie talking to Joel appears to her while she tries to drown Abby. This moment of recollection of her humanity is what brings her back to life. Forgiving Abby is thus a symbol of Ellie’s decision to quit the war waged between them, even after she has experienced a lot of loss.
Will there be a third installment in The Last of Us series?
Though Naughty Dog has not made an official statement about a third game, they have revealed that if a suitable idea comes up, they would like to go on with documenting the journey. It is very likely that a new episode will appear, given the popularity of the series.