You're looking for a way to play one of the greatest stories ever told in gaming history without dropping seventy bucks. It makes sense. Between the HBO show's massive success and the constant "Remastered" versus "Remake" debates, everyone wants a piece of Joel and Ellie's journey. But here’s the cold, hard truth right out of the gate: finding Last of Us free isn't as simple as clicking a "Download Now" button on a random website. In fact, if you see a site promising a 100% free PC download of Part I that isn't a major storefront, you're likely looking at a virus.
Games this big rarely just "go free" in the way a mobile game does. Sony knows the value of their intellectual property. However, there are legitimate, legal, and actually safe ways to play these games for "free" if you already pay for certain services, or at least get them for the price of a cup of coffee.
The Reality of Getting Last of Us Free on PlayStation
If you own a PS5 or a PS4, you’ve got the best shot. For a long time, the Last of Us Remastered (the PS4 version) was part of the PS Plus Collection. This was a massive perk for early PS5 adopters. You just logged in, claimed it, and it was yours as long as you had a subscription.
Sony killed that collection in May 2023.
It was a bummer. Now, the landscape has shifted toward the tiered PlayStation Plus system. If you’re looking for Last of Us free right now, you have to look at the Game Catalog. Currently, the availability fluctuates. Sometimes The Last of Us Part I (the fancy new remake) shows up as a "Game Trial" for Premium members. You get two or three hours. It's not the whole game, but it's enough to see if your heart can handle that opening scene in Austin. Honestly, those trials are a bit of a tease, but they are a legal way to start the journey without an extra transaction.
What About the PC Version?
The PC port of The Last of Us Part I had a rocky start. It was buggy. It crashed. It made high-end GPUs sweat for no reason. Because of that rough launch, we’ve seen more frequent sales on Steam and the Epic Games Store than we usually see for Sony first-party titles.
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Can you get it for free on PC? Technically, no. Not legally.
There’s a lot of chatter in forums about "cracked" versions. Avoid them. It's not just a moral thing; it's a "I don't want a keylogger stealing my bank info" thing. If you want the game on PC for the lowest possible entry price, you should be watching SteamDB. It tracks the price history. You can see when the game hits its "all-time low." Sometimes, during the massive Winter or Summer sales, the price drops significantly. Also, check out legitimate key resellers like Green Man Gaming. They often have vouchers that shave another 10% to 15% off the already discounted price.
Subscription Services and Rotating Libraries
We live in the era of the "Netflix of Games." While The Last of Us is a Sony-owned title and won't ever show up on Xbox Game Pass, it is the cornerstone of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium.
- PS Plus Extra: Sometimes the Remastered version slides into the library.
- PS Plus Premium: This is where the trials live.
- Physical Library Loans: Don't laugh. This is the most "pro tip" way to get Last of Us free. Most local libraries now carry video games. If you have a disc-drive PS5 or a PS4, you can literally walk into a library, check out the game for two weeks, and play the whole thing for zero dollars. It is the most underrated hack in gaming.
Why "Free" Offers Are Often Scams
You’ve probably seen the ads. "Get The Last of Us Part II Free on Mobile!"
Stop.
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Naughty Dog has not released a mobile version of these games. Any site claiming to offer a free mobile port is a scam designed to get you to fill out "human verification" surveys. These surveys just farm your data and never give you a download link. Or worse, they ask you to download an APK file that turns your phone into a brick. Stick to the official channels: PlayStation Store, Steam, Epic, and reputable physical retailers.
The Cost of the Experience
When we talk about getting Last of Us free, we also have to talk about the different versions. It gets confusing.
- The Last of Us (2013): The original PS3 version. Basically obsolete unless you’re a collector.
- The Last of Us Remastered (2014): The PS4 version. Higher frame rate, includes the Left Behind DLC. This is the one most likely to be cheap or included in a basic subscription.
- The Last of Us Part I (2022/2023): The ground-up remake for PS5 and PC. It looks incredible. It’s also the most expensive.
- The Last of Us Part II / Remastered: The sequel. Often goes on sale for under $20, but rarely "free."
If you’re a budget-conscious gamer, the 2014 Remastered version is your best bet. It still looks great. The gameplay is tight. And you get the full story without the $70 price tag of the remake. You aren't losing out on the plot by playing the older version.
Is There a Way to Play Without Buying a Console?
Kind of. If you have a decent internet connection, you can use PlayStation Plus on PC. This allows you to stream certain PlayStation titles to your computer. You still have to pay for the subscription, but you don't need to buy a $500 console. It's a solid middle ground if you're dying to see what the hype is about but don't want to commit to the hardware.
The game is heavy. It's emotional. It’s also a massive file download—usually around 80GB to 100GB depending on the version. Make sure you have the space before you try to claim any "free" trials or versions.
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Smart Ways to Save Right Now
Forget the "free" dream for a second and look at the "almost free" reality. Used copies of The Last of Us Remastered on PS4 sell for about $10 at places like GameStop or local mom-and-pop game shops. If you buy it, play it, and sell it back, you’ve essentially paid a $5 rental fee for a 15-hour masterpiece. That's better value than a movie ticket.
Also, keep an eye on "Days of Play" events. Sony runs these every year, usually around June. This is when their big exclusives get the deepest discounts. If you can wait until then, you can usually snag the games for a fraction of the cost.
Actionable Steps for the Budget Gamer
If you want to play The Last of Us without emptying your wallet, follow this checklist. It’s the most efficient way to get into the series.
- Check your local library catalog. Use apps like Libby or just visit the branch. You'd be surprised how many copies of Part I and Part II are sitting on shelves waiting to be borrowed for free.
- Monitor PS Plus Extra announcements. These happen monthly. Sony loves to drop a big "heavy hitter" like The Last of Us right before a new season of the TV show or a big hardware launch.
- Use a price tracker for PC. Set an alert on SteamDB or IsThereAnyDeal. Set your target price to $30 or $40. You’ll get an email the second it hits that mark.
- Buy used physical media. If you have a disc drive, the secondary market is your friend. Buy Part I used, beat it in a weekend, and flip it on eBay or Facebook Marketplace for the same price you paid. That's effectively playing for the cost of shipping.
The "free" versions of The Last of Us are out there, but they require a bit of strategy rather than just luck. Don't fall for the scams, stay within the official ecosystems, and use the library system if you really want that $0 price tag. It's a story everyone should experience at least once, regardless of their budget.