The inspiration behind The Last of Us 2 Remastered’s new roguelike mode, No Return, draws directly from genre classics like Dead Cells, Hades, and Vampire Survivors, as revealed by game director Matthew Gallant.
Having directed The Last of Us Part 2 for PS4, Gallant returned to lead the development of the PS5 native remaster. This enhanced version introduces improved 4K visuals, performance upgrades, additional “lost” levels with developer commentary discarded from the original game, and, most notably, an entirely new roguelike survival mode.
In a recently published blog, Gallant explored the rationale behind creating a roguelike mode, stating, “We certainly took broad inspiration from the amazing games that have revitalized the genre in the modern era; some of my personal favorites include Spelunky, Hades, Dead Cells, Vampires Survivors, FTL, Cult of the Lamb, Prey: Mooncrash, The Path of Champions, and Inscryption. The sheer variety of these games proves that the fundamental roguelike concepts can be flexibly adapted to serve many genres and to resonate with different design goals.” (Interestingly, most of these games are featured on our list of the best roguelikes available today.)
In a December interview with GamesRadar+ discussing the challenges of introducing a roguelike mode to the narrative-focused The Last of Us 2, Gallant emphasized the significance of permadeath, providing each playthrough with stakes and the intriguing aspect of randomization. He explained, “Because if you can throw the player into situations where maybe they haven’t seen this particular combination before, that’s where you get the brunt of thinking on your feet.”
The Last of Us 2 Remastered was released on Friday, January 19, exclusively for PS5. With just a few days since its launch, the broader public is forming opinions, but critics have been largely captivated by the port, resulting in a ‘Universal Acclaim’ Metacritic rating.
For those who already own The Last of Us 2 on PS4, the remaster is available as a $10 upgrade. If you don’t own the original game, the standalone remastered version is priced at $50.
