How will The Last of Us end? How video game’s dramatic conclusion reveals season finale details

The Last of Us has been hailed by critics as the best video game adaptation of all time – but it will soon be coming to an end.

The post-apocalyptic thriller has proved to be a smash hit with audiences, and is ‘approaching’ an average of 30 million viewers per episode on HBO Max and other on-demand viewing options.

But given that it is based on an immensely popular PlayStation game of the same name, which debuted in 2013, can viewers expect it to end in a similar way?

Here, FEMAIL explores what might happen in the series finale on Sunday based on the video game’s own dramatic conclusion. 

The series is based on a video game of the same name which has broadly the same plot (Ellie and Joel in the video game, pictured)

The Last of Us is set in an alternate United States that has been ravaged by a mutated Cordyceps fungus that turns humans into terrifying creatures and has wiped out most of humanity.

The series centers on Joel (Pedro Pascal), who has been tasked with taking a young girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out west, in hopes her immunity to the fungus can help create a cure.

The storyline has so far largely followed that of the game created by publisher Naughty Dog with some notable alterations, including the shift in the overall timeline as well as the in-depth exploration of the relationship between lovers Bill and Frank.

But, with the series finale airing on March 12, fans have been left wondering if it will stray from its source material once again.

The PlayStation game comes to a dramatic conclusion after Joel and Ellie finally catch up to a group of Fireflies in Salt Lake City, Utah.

One of the leaders tells Joel that they can create a vaccine by extracting the mutant strain of the Cordyceps fungus from the teenager’s brain.

She describes it as a ‘necessary procedure’ but admits that Ellie would not survive the surgery.

But that is a sacrifice that Joel is not willing to make and instead goes on a killing spree to save Ellie from the operating table.

The PlayStation game comes to a dramatic conclusion after Joel and Ellie finally catch up to a group of Fireflies in Salt Lake City, Utah (game still, pictured)

One of the leaders tells Joel that they can create a vaccine by extracting the mutant strain of the Cordyceps fungus from the teenager’s brain (game still, pictured)

She describes it as a ‘necessary procedure’ but admits that Ellie would not survive the surgery – but that is a sacrifice that Joel is not willing to make (game still, pictured)

The 14-year-old wakes up after the whole ordeal is over as Joel drives them away from the city before he lies to her about what has just happened (game still, pictured)

The 14-year-old wakes up after the whole ordeal is over as Joel drives them away from the city. 

He lies about what has just happened and convinces her that the Fireflies had already found other immune people but were not able to create a cure. 

The pair return to his brother Tommy’s settlement in Jackson, Wyoming, before the game comes to an end.

It seems likely that the series will end in a similar way having been set up all the way through with the same overarching plot.

It is important to note that the HBO series has already been renewed for a second season, which will be at least partially based on the video game’s sequel.

In the build up to its release, fans have said that they remain hopeful that series one does ‘end in the same way the game does’ 

In the build up to its release, fans have said that they remain hopeful that series one does ‘end in the same way the game does.’

One wrote: ‘Excited for the people who didn’t play the game to witness the season finale of The Last of Us.’

Another added: ‘As someone who has played the last of us game I can’t wait to see how people react to the season finale next week.’

And a third said: ‘People aren’t ready for the season finale of The Last Of Us. 

‘I can’t wait to see the reactions of people who know nothing of the game.’