I’m trying not to ruin Season 2 for my wife and she’s angry I won’t explain why I’m so excited to post this to Reddit…

Just having the mystery of what it is, and what it does was enough to scare me.

I loved exploring this area of the game, especially the secrets and Easter eggs they added for us to discover. I think it was really well done and looks amazing, but an open world part 2 game wouldn't work if they wanted to keep the story

1st photo is 1 day old, the rest are on the day I had it

Spoilers ahead.

So I’ve already been spoiled of what happens with Joel but I’m about 3 hours in now and I just reached the Tommy/Joel/Abby/Ellie scene and my god was it an incredible experience. I’m in shock. This is what I love about Naughty Dog: they just deliver.

I’ve been so anxious about playing this game because of how many people have hated on it but I’m so glad I ignored them and listened to those of you who stand up for it. Can’t wait to see what else is in store for me.

This tab can't be opened in the winter chapter or Left Behind DLC

I'm totally okay with ruining the gravity of a scene for giggles if I've seen before

It's the cover of the 10th Anniversary Edition vinyl that contains the soundtrack of Part I.

It looks so cool so I wondered if ND made a poster with this illustration that I can buy or if there's a HQ version available somewhere that I'm gonna print by myself.

I want to frame it so I'm not sure buying the vinyl would be a good idea (not to mention that's a bit expensive).

Trying to not ruin season 2 for her, but my wife is annoyed that I won’t explain why I’m so excited to most this.

I’m playing the game for the first time but I’ve watched several play throughs. It’s triangle to pick up items I’m pretty sure. What’s up with the red circle? Ammo wasn’t full or anything. I don’t remember this red circle, isn’t it usually like a little white triangle prompt? It shows a circle around all other items too. Maybe I’m just going crazy lol

I’ve been thinking a lot about The Last of Us and how it fits the framework of Southern Gothic storytelling.

While the game is often categorised as post-apocalyptic horror, its themes and aesthetics align deeply with the Southern Gothic tradition —

a genre rooted in decay, moral ambiguity, and the haunting weight of the past.

Parallels I found:

The music: The melancholic, dark banjo and guitar compositions evoke a sense of rural desolation, a hallmark of Southern Gothic’s atmosphere. Gustavo Santaolalla’s soundtrack doesn’t just set the mood; it’s an aching, almost ghostly presence throughout.

Cycles of violence: Killing and revenge are not just plot points but recurring motifs, highlighting the moral decay and futility embedded in the story. This echoes the Southern Gothic’s obsession with human flaws and the consequences of sin.

Visceral storytelling: The narrative’s brutality feels raw and unflinching, forcing us to confront the fragility of human connections in a world gone wrong—just as Southern Gothic often deals with the grotesque to challenge its audience.

Landscape as character: The crumbling cities and overgrown wilderness are as much a reflection of the characters’ internal states as they are a backdrop. This mirrors Southern Gothic’s use of physical decay to symbolize moral or spiritual rot.

Moral ambiguity: Like classic Southern Gothic protagonists, Joel and Ellie are complex, deeply flawed, and driven by motives that challenge conventional ideas of “good” and “evil.” Their decisions are hauntingly human.

At its core, The Last of Us embodies the haunting, lingering beauty and horror of the Southern Gothic.

It’s not just about survival in a ruined world — it’s about the ghosts we carry, the sins we commit, and the things we cannot let go of.

Inspired by listening to this while cleaning up after Xmas 🪕☔️ : https://youtu.be/BN17e6Prpi4?si=yKFH527cq2QJf-TM

Joel fell through the world 🌎. Craziest glitch I have ever experienced, so I thought I should share.