The Last Of Us Part 2: Ranking Every Character From Worst To Best

The secondary protagonist and initial villain is The Last of Us Part 2's greatest strength, with her performance from Laura Bailey and intensive focus in the game's second half being crucial to the narrative thesis and the melancholy of the closing moments. The arc she goes through recontextualises everything you thought you knew about the game, and is such a bold decision by the developers that pays off beautifully.

When initially playing as Abby, you realise that you’re controlling someone that's going to derail Ellie's narrative. You hate her when she kills Joel and understand Ellie in her search for vengeance. Yet, when the game returns to Abby, she slowly becomes more likeable and fights to be a better person in the aftermath of her revenge. Whereas Ellie's descent through Seattle involves her becoming crueler, Abby becomes more human as she confronts her fear of heights, expresses love in the aquarium, and risks everything to do good for a child who deserves more from the world.

She is committed to trying to save the life of Lev, and relinquishes the desire for more merciless cruelty to accomplish that, even when Ellie tries to kill her again. You feel like you're on the path to a better future while playing as her by the end, she becomes the true hero of the game as Ellie lingers in eternal darkness. She's divisive now but in hindsight, it's clear that Abby will be remembered as one of video games' most distinctive protagonists.