3. The Last of Us
If You Like... Dawn of the Dead, World War Z It has been 20 years since the outbreak of Cordyceps, a fungal infection that has ravaged the United States. All that is left are small pockets of survivors, huddled together protecting themselves from the infected. Joel lives in a quarantine zone in which he works with his partner Tess in the smuggling business. Together they are given a job to bring a teenage girl named Ellie outside the quarantine zone. It is soon discovered that Ellie is infected with Cordyceps and may hold the key to saving mankind. Tess, Joel and Ellie fight for survival in a mad world on the run from the true monsters - other humans. Essentially The Last of Us is a classic zombie fable. Sure, there are monsters to outrun, but the true horror is always the other people living in lawlessness and behaving like scared pack animals. As with everything else, The Last of Us is made special because of the character's humanity. Joel's daughter Sarah dies in his arms at the beginning of game, twenty years previously. It's clear he sees his dead daughter in Ellie and wrestles with his emotions over the course of the game. It's this relationship that is built upon in a very touching way that leads to a very emotional climax. The Last of Us also excels in showing the dynamics in human relationships on a large scale and what ultimately motives us as a collective species. This is reflected in the gameplay, which always has the player on edge in a volatile environment, forcing them into the survival mindset. The Last of Us intentionally wears the players down emotionally as it examines humanity as a whole. In the vein of any good zombie movie, no less.