Last of Us Part 3 should avoid surpassing its predecessor in one respect

The Last of Us Part 3 is coming, and it will be fascinating to see the narrative direction it takes, especially since the last game in the series didn't exactly leave much room for further growth. The Last of Us 2 received a lot of criticism for its creative choices, meaning that a sequel could either follow up with a bold and risky story or play it a little safer. Given the uncompromising design of TLOULooking at the plot, it's safe to say that the first option seems a bit more likely.

The most controversial aspect of The Last of Us Part 2 is its dual-protagonist structure. Not only is Joel Miller brutally murdered in the game's first act, but players are eventually tasked with playing as his killer for several hours. This is done to inspire empathy in the audience, to make players understand Abby's perspective, and ultimately to make them realize that traditional notions of good and evil may not apply in this post-apocalyptic world characterized by violence and survival at all costs. But enough has been said over the past four years about the inclusion of Abby as a playable character – the more pressing question is whether and how Naughty Dog will take this approach into The Last of Us 3.

The Last of Us 3 could add more playable characters, but it shouldn’t

The Last of Us 3 can't let its plot get too out of hand

There is a possibility that The Last of Us 3 could have multiple protagonists, as this is practically a tradition for the series; The Last of Us' story was split between Joel and Ellie, and the sequel uses the same split, but between Ellie and Abby. Since Abby and Ellie both survived the events of The Last of Us 2There is an opportunity, and perhaps even a need, to put them both in the spotlight in the third game and give players satisfying and conclusive endings to both stories.

The question is how to square this narrative circle. Ellie and Abby go to the end of TLOU2who have buried the hatchet and presumably left their individual grief and anger behind. It's not too hard to imagine another exciting chapter focusing on one of them, but it would be unnatural and unjustified to tell both stories in a single game. In other words, there is no longer any connective tissue between these two characters; stitching them back together could lead to a Frankenstein situation, and not in a good sense.

The Last of Us 3 might be best with one protagonist

With The Last of Us 3 probably the end of the franchise, it will be of utmost importance that it is as conclusive and satisfying as possible. After The Last of Us 2It is clear that Ellie is the main character of the entire series: she is at the center of the first game, overcomes various challenges and transforms along with Joel, and she is the driving force behind Part 2's plot. Whatever happens in The Last of Us 3 should be entirely focused on them.

Giving players the reins to another character, unless it's a minor or inconsequential function, could undermine this final chapter of Ellie's journey. While it might seem like a step back from the more diverse gameplay and storytelling that the previous games' shifting perspectives offered, it would actually add a finer point to the whole thing. The Last of Us narrative, where a more complex plot is sacrificed in favor of a satisfying ending for the main character.