Look, we’ve all been there. You load up Naughty Dog’s masterpiece, the music starts that haunting acoustic guitar pluck, and suddenly you’re staring at Sarah’s bedroom. It’s heavy. But if you’re looking for a last of us walkthrough part 1 to get you through the chaos of Austin, Texas, you aren't just looking for button prompts. You want to know how to actually navigate the emotional and mechanical gauntlet of the game's opening hour without fumbling the controls when the Runners start appearing.
It starts slow. Real slow.
You’re Sarah. You wake up. The world is ending, but you don't know that yet. Most people sprint through the house, but honestly, you should linger. Check the birthday card. Look at the news report on the TV downstairs. The explosion you see through the glass? That’s the "inciting incident," as writers like to say. But for you, it’s just the moment the game stops being a walking simulator and starts being a fight for survival.
Once Joel kicks that sliding glass door in, everything changes.
The Austin Escape: Navigating the Chaos
The first real test of a last of us walkthrough part 1 happens inside the car. You aren't driving—Tommy is—but your job is to look around and soak in the world-building. Keep your eyes on the left side of the vehicle. You’ll see a burning farmhouse; that’s the moment the scale of the Cordyceps Brain Infection (CBI) starts to hit.
Then comes the town center.
When the car crashes and you have to carry Sarah, the game shifts into a different gear. You can't sprint like a track star because, well, you’re carrying a kid with a busted leg. The trick here is movement. Don't stop. The game uses scripted sequences to funnel you through the back alleys of the town. If you linger too long near the burning wreckage, the Infected will catch you. It's a "one-hit kill" situation this early on.
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I’ve seen players get stuck at the part where the Runner jumps through the window of the gas station. Just keep moving toward the light. The game literally uses light sources—flames, flashlights, neon signs—to tell you where to go. It’s a classic Naughty Dog trick. Follow the light, and you’ll reach the highway.
Why the Military Encounter Matters
The climax of the prologue isn't a boss fight. It’s a cutscene that changed gaming history. When you meet that soldier by the creek, there’s nothing you can do. No secret button combo saves Sarah. It’s important to understand this because the game is teaching you its most brutal lesson: you are not a superhero. You’re just a guy trying to survive.
Twenty Years Later: The Quarantine Zone Basics
After the time jump, you’re in Boston. This is where the last of us walkthrough part 1 actually starts teaching you the mechanics of stealth and resource management. You’re following Tess. Honestly, Tess is the MVP of the early game. Let her lead.
The QZ is a lesson in environmental storytelling. You'll see people lining up for food rations and the military (FEDRA) being, well, FEDRA. When you finally get your gear back, pay attention to the tutorial on "Listen Mode."
- Listen Mode is your best friend. Hold R1 (or whatever your custom bind is).
- It lets you see through walls. It feels like cheating, but trust me, on Grounded difficulty, it's a lifeline you'll miss if you turn it off.
- Crouch-walking is mandatory. If you stand up, you’re loud. If you’re loud, you’re dead.
When you encounter the first group of Runners in the slums while chasing Robert, don't waste your bullets. You have a brick. Bricks are arguably the most powerful weapon in the game. You can throw a brick to stun an enemy and then run up for a melee kill. It saves ammo. Ammo is rarer than a polite person on the internet.
Meeting Ellie and the First Real Stealth Section
Once you meet Ellie, the dynamic shifts. You aren't just protecting yourself; you’re babysitting a foul-mouthed teenager who is the key to humanity’s survival. No pressure.
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The section where you leave the QZ at night, raining and miserable, is where many players hit a wall. You’re introduced to Clickers. These things are blind but have hearing that would make a bat jealous. If you move the analog stick even a tiny bit too far, they’ll hear the crunch of your boots.
Pro-tip for the Outskirts: Don't use your gun. Seriously. If you fire a shot in the skyscraper section, every Infected in a three-block radius will descend on you. Use bottles to lure them away from the exit door. If you have to kill a Clicker, you need a Shiv. But Shivs break.
Building a Shiv requires a full "blade" and a full "binding." You'll find these scattered in drawers and on shelves. Scavenge everything. If a room looks empty, look under the desks. Naughty Dog hides supplies in the most annoying places.
Mastering the Crafting Menu
You can’t just pause the game and craft in safety. Well, the game pauses, but it feels frantic. You need to prioritize.
- Health Kits vs. Molotovs: They use the same resources (Alcohol and Rag). This is the game's way of asking: "Do you want to heal, or do you want to burn things?" Usually, the answer is burn things. A well-placed Molotov can take out three Runners at once.
- Shiv Upgrades: As soon as you find Training Manuals, prioritize Shiv durability. Being able to use a Shiv twice instead of once is a game-changer when you're caught in a stranglehold.
- Weapon Holsters: When you get to a workbench, don't worry about fire rate or reload speed yet. Get the extra holster. Being able to swap from your 9mm to a Shotgun without opening your backpack will literally save your life during the high-school gym fight later on.
What Most People Miss in the Early Game
Most players overlook the "Optional Conversations." If you’re playing the Part 1 Remake on PS5 or PC, these contribute to trophies, but more importantly, they flesh out who Joel is. He’s a closed book. Ellie is the crowbar that pries him open.
In the section right after you leave the QZ, there’s a dead body near some posters. Interact with it. Listen to what Joel says. It sets the tone for the entire journey. This isn't just a "kill the zombies" game. It’s a "how much of your soul are you willing to lose to stay alive" game.
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Also, check the notes. The "Note from Brother" or the "Smuggler's Note" aren't just fluff. They often contain codes for safes. The first safe you encounter in the outskirts (in the flooded area with the Runners) has the code hidden in a shop nearby. Opening safes is the only way to get enough "Supplements" to upgrade your maximum health.
Actionable Steps for Your First Playthrough
If you want to survive the initial hours of last of us walkthrough part 1, follow this mental checklist. It’s what separates the survivors from the "Restart from Checkpoint" crowd.
- Hoard the Bricks: Never enter a new room without a brick or bottle in your hand. It’s a free stun. Use it.
- Stealth Over Everything: If you can sneak past a group of Infected, do it. There is no XP for killing enemies. Killing them only wastes your resources.
- Check the Ceilings: Especially in the collapse-prone buildings of Boston. Sometimes loot is tucked away on ledges you have to boost Ellie up to reach.
- Don't Rush the Workbench: Look at your surroundings before you commit to an upgrade. If you’re playing on a higher difficulty, you might want to save those parts for a weapon you haven't found yet.
- Listen for the "Click": If you hear that rhythmic clicking sound, stop moving immediately. Use Listen Mode to track the Clicker's pathing. They always walk in loops. Learn the loop, and you can slip right past them.
The journey from Austin to the outskirts of Boston is just the beginning. You’re going to fail. You’re going to get bitten. But that’s the point. Every death is a lesson in what not to do next time.
Focus on the quiet moments. Collect the artifacts. Upgrade your holster first. And for the love of everything, don't waste your Shivs on doors unless you’re sure there’s a big payoff inside. Usually, there is. Shiv doors are the game's way of rewarding you for being prepared.
Good luck out there. You’re gonna need it once you hit Bill's Town.