It was February 2014. People were still reeling from the ending of the main game, arguing about Joel’s choice at the hospital. Then Naughty Dog dropped a prequel. Well, half-prequel, half-interstitial side story. Most of us expected a simple "more of the same" experience. What we got was something much more uncomfortable and beautiful. The Last of Us DLC Left Behind isn't just an extra chapter; it is the emotional skeleton of the entire franchise.
I remember playing it for the first time on a cold Tuesday night. The switch between the snowy, desperate present where Ellie is trying to save a dying Joel and the neon-soaked, nostalgic past with Riley is jarring. It’s meant to be. One moment you're scavenging for a medical kit in a dilapidated mall, and the next, you're competing in a brick-throwing contest.
Life is weird like that.
What Actually Happens in Left Behind
The narrative structure is basically a double-helix. You have the "present day" segment set during the Winter chapter of the main game. Ellie has stashed Joel in a mall after he’s been impaled. He’s septic. He’s dying. Ellie is terrified. This part of the DLC is basically a combat-heavy stealth mission that bridges the gap between the University and the Lakeside Resort.
But the heart is the flashback.
Riley Abel, Ellie’s best friend who disappeared to join the Fireflies, sneaks back into the military boarding school. She takes Ellie to an abandoned mall. It sounds mundane. It’s anything but. They play with masks. They dance to an Etta James cover. They play a broken arcade cabinet using nothing but their imagination.
Then, the bite happens.
Honestly, we all knew it was coming if we paid attention to Ellie’s dialogue in the base game, but seeing it play out is different. The DLC doesn't show the end. It shows the beginning of the end. It shows two kids deciding to "lose their minds together." It’s a gut-punch that makes Ellie’s immunity feel like a curse rather than a miracle.
Why the Mall Setting Matters So Much
Naughty Dog used the mall as a graveyard of consumerism. In the present, it’s a hostile environment filled with hunters and infected. In the past, it’s a playground. This contrast is the whole point of The Last of Us DLC Left Behind. When Ellie and Riley are looking at a Halloween shop, they aren't survivors; they’re just teenagers.
The developers at Naughty Dog, specifically Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley, talked a lot about "environmental storytelling." In this DLC, they turned it up to eleven. You find notes from people who hid in the mall when the world ended in 2013. You see the skeletons of a world that didn't know it was already dead.
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The Arcade Scene is a Masterclass
There’s this specific part where they find a "The Turning" arcade cabinet. It doesn't work. No power. So, Riley describes the moves and the screen while Ellie closes her eyes and presses the buttons.
It’s easily one of the best moments in gaming history. Why? Because it removes the "game" and replaces it with pure character. You aren't watching a cutscene; you are actively participating in a lie. You are pretending the world isn't a fungal nightmare. It’s incredibly human. It reminds us that even in a cordyceps apocalypse, kids still want to play video games and hang out with their friends.
The Combat Tweak You Might Have Missed
In the original game, you usually fight humans or infected. Rarely both. The Last of Us DLC Left Behind changed the math. It introduced three-way combat.
You can literally throw a brick to lure a Clicker toward a group of human hunters. Then you just sit back and watch the chaos. It’s satisfying. It’s also a tactical necessity because Ellie is smaller and weaker than Joel. You can't just punch your way out of a room. You have to be a "smart" survivor. This mechanic was so successful that they leaned into it heavily for the sequel.
Realism and the "Riley" Factor
Riley isn't just a plot device. She’s the reason Ellie is the way she is. In the American Dreams comic book (which you should totally read if you haven't), we see their early relationship. The DLC brings that to life.
Riley represents the Fireflies—idealism, revolution, and the "greater good." Ellie represents the individual. Their friction is the friction of the entire series. When Riley reveals she’s leaving with the Fireflies, the betrayal is palpable. The subsequent reconciliation and the kiss—a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ representation in AAA gaming—felt earned. It wasn't "woke" pandering; it was the natural conclusion of two people realizing they were all they had left in a dying world.
Why People Get the Timeline Wrong
A common misconception is that this DLC takes place entirely before the main game. It doesn't. Because of the hopping between the "Winter" era and the "Boarding School" era, it’s actually a mid-sequel prequel.
If you play the Last of Us Part I (the remake), the DLC is included. Some people suggest playing it right after the University chapter. Don't do that. It ruins the pacing of the main story. The best way to experience it is exactly how it was released: after you finish the main game. You need the context of Ellie’s journey with Joel to appreciate the weight of her loss with Riley.
The Technical Side of the Remaster
When the DLC first launched on PS3, it pushed the hardware to the absolute limit. The lighting in the carousel scene was groundbreaking for 2014. If you play the PS5 remake now, it’s stunning. The facial animations capture every micro-expression. You can see the exact moment Riley’s heart breaks when Ellie asks her not to go.
- Release Date: February 14, 2014 (PS3)
- Developer: Naughty Dog
- Engine: Proprietary Naughty Dog Engine
- Awards: Two BAFTAs (Best Story and Best Performer for Ashley Johnson)
The Lasting Legacy
Without The Last of Us DLC Left Behind, the ending of The Last of Us Part II wouldn't work. This is where we learn that Ellie’s biggest fear is being alone. Not dying. Not the infected. Just being the one who stays behind.
"Everyone I have cared for has either died or left me. Everyone f***ing except for you!" Ellie says that to Joel in the main game. This DLC shows us the "everyone" she was talking about. It gives a name and a face to her trauma. It makes her immunity feel like a prison sentence.
It’s also worth noting the music. Gustavo Santaolalla’s score here is more sparse. It’s lonely. The banjo is replaced by more ethereal, haunting notes that match the empty mall.
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Actionable Steps for the Best Experience
If you're looking to dive back in or play for the first time, here’s how to do it right:
- Play the Remake: If you have a PS5 or a decent PC, play The Last of Us Part I. The haptic feedback on the DualSense controller makes the rain and the "arcade" buttons feel real.
- Read the Comic: Find a copy of The Last of Us: American Dreams. It fills in the gaps of how Ellie and Riley met and where Ellie got her switchblade.
- Check the Notes: Don't rush through the mall. Read the artifacts. There is a whole subplot about a group of survivors called "The Crew" that lived in the mall months before Ellie arrived. It’s dark stuff.
- Listen to the Podcast: The Official Last of Us Podcast has an entire episode dedicated to the making of Left Behind. It features Neil Druckmann and Ashley Johnson. It’s essential listening for fans.
- Difficulty Matters: Play on "Survivor" or "Grounded" if you want the combat to feel as desperate as Ellie feels. It forces you to use the three-way combat mechanics because you’ll have zero ammo.
The DLC is short—maybe two or three hours—but it sticks with you. It’s a reminder that in the middle of monsters and fungus, the most dangerous and beautiful thing is still just a human connection. You can’t survive without it, and yet, it’s the thing that will eventually break you. That's the core of this series. That's why we’re still talking about a ten-year-old expansion pack.