The Last of Us Part II Reviews: What 1200 PC Players Have Said After Launch

A Much-Needed Redemption Arc for Sony’s PC Ports?

One of the first things that stands out is how much better this port performs than Part I did on PC at launch. Players are almost universally in agreement on this: the launch of The Last of Us Part II didn’t stumble the way its predecessor did. While Part I arrived with shader compilation problems, stuttering, and high VRAM demands, Part II avoids most of that mess. Some have even called it one of the smoothest PlayStation-to-PC transitions in recent memory—though that’s a bar set admittedly low by past misfires.

That said, “better than before” doesn’t always mean “good.” The optimization still raises eyebrows, particularly at higher resolutions. Multiple users report that the game struggles to maintain stable frame rates even on top-tier GPUs like the RTX 5090 when running at 4K. One particular criticism has been the apparent CPU bottlenecks. Even with powerful processors, performance doesn’t scale as expected. This has led to speculation that the underlying engine, built around console architecture, just doesn’t play nice with modern high-end PC components.

In other words, yes—it’s a better port. But many feel it should’ve been a great one.

Steam Deck Surprise: Surprisingly Playable

Despite concerns about performance on powerful rigs, The Last of Us Part II is surprisingly playable on the Steam Deck. In fact, Valve’s handheld PC has become a sort of unlikely poster child for the remaster’s success. Thanks to features like FSR 3.1, Dynamic Resolution Scaling, and a dedicated graphics preset, users are reporting 30+ FPS on the Deck OLED, which is quite the feat considering the graphical fidelity of the game.

This doesn’t mean flawless visuals or stutter-free gameplay, but it does suggest the devs—Naughty Dog, Nixxes Software, and Iron Galaxy Studios—put real effort into ensuring playability across a wide range of devices. For those willing to tweak settings and accept a 30 FPS ceiling, the experience has been more than serviceable—and in some cases, downright impressive.

Narrative Weight Still Hangs Heavy

If there’s one constant across all platforms, it’s that The Last of Us Part II continues to divide players over its story. We won’t give away any spoilers, but some call it a masterpiece of emotional storytelling and character complexity, while others still bristle at the plot’s darker turns and narrative structure. The PC release hasn’t softened those edges—if anything, it’s added fuel to the fire.

What’s different this time is the added distance. Players who skipped the PS4 and PS5 versions are experiencing the story fresh, free from the social media storm that originally engulfed the game. Many of these new players express appreciation for the bold, emotionally intense narrative. Others echo the familiar refrain: the game’s plot decisions feel punishing and unrelenting.

Whether they love or hate it, though, players agree on one thing—the story sticks with you.

A Showcase of Technical Craftsmanship

Say what you will about the story—The Last of Us Part II on PC is an audiovisual showcase. The remaster enhances everything from character animations to lighting and environmental detail. Many players are noticing little touches, like how Ellie’s fingers accurately move along guitar strings or how individual raindrops interact with lighting effects. These aren’t just gimmicks—they’re the kind of refinements that pull players deeper into the world.

The voice acting and sound design have also been praised, with some players saying the audio alone makes wearing headphones mandatory. From haunting musical cues by Gustavo Santaolalla to subtle ambient sounds of a post-apocalyptic world, it’s clear this is a game designed to be felt as much as played.

And for those interested in more than just the campaign, there’s even No Return, a roguelike survival mode that adds hours of replayability and a new layer of challenge.

Mouse, Keyboard… and Mild Rage

Not all feedback has been glowing. One repeated complaint is the mouse control system. Some users report an odd “grid-like” behavior with mouse movement, making it hard to fine-tune aiming. Precision input is key in a stealth-action game, and this hiccup has been frustrating enough for some players to hold off on playing until it’s patched.

There are also reports of occasional crashes and brief performance hitches, though they’re inconsistent across systems. While some players are clocking in 100+ FPS at 1440p, others can’t get the game to run smoothly even at 1080p with medium settings. The disparity suggests that while the port has a solid foundation, it could benefit from another round of optimization—especially for users on mid-range systems.

The Bigger Conversation: What PC Gamers Expect Now

The release of The Last of Us Part II on PC lands at a time when PC gamers are growing increasingly vocal about port quality. With AAA games pushing bigger budgets and pricier GPUs, expectations have shifted. It’s no longer enough for a PC port to just exist—it has to scale well, support a variety of hardware, and make full use of modern PC features.

To its credit, this remaster does bring features like DLSS 3, FSR 3.1, Intel XeSS, ultrawide support, and full gamepad compatibility. But technical features mean little if the experience isn’t seamless. That’s why the most common feedback isn’t about bugs or crashes—it’s about missed potential. This was supposed to be a showcase. And while it’s beautiful, it’s not quite the generational leap some were hoping for.

So… Is It Worth It?

If you’ve never played The Last of Us Part II, the PC remaster is easily the best way to experience it—assuming your hardware can handle the load. It looks fantastic, plays well enough for most, and includes extra features like No Return, developer commentary, and previously unseen levels.

For returning players, the value is a bit murkier. Yes, the remaster offers new content and visual polish. But if you’ve already completed the journey on PS4 or PS5, the PC version doesn’t fundamentally change what you’ve seen. It’s more of a refined replay than a reinvention.

A Masterpiece, Still Uncomfortable

In the end, The Last of Us Part II remains exactly what it’s always been: a stunning, uncomfortable, polarizing game that leaves a mark. The PC version doesn’t rewrite that legacy—but it does reintroduce it to a new audience, and maybe that’s enough. Whether you’re here for the gut-wrenching narrative, the ultra-polished combat, or just to see what all the fuss is about, this port delivers—just not flawlessly.

FAQ: Playing The Last of Us Part II on PC