The story takes place in a world ravaged by a deadly virus. Players play the roles of Joel and Ellie, a pair of survivors.During their escape, they gradually established a deep relationship and faced various difficulties and challenges together.The ultimate goal of the game is to find a laboratory that may be able to cure the virus, and in the process reveal the origins of the virus and the conspiracy behind it.

At the end of the game, players need to face an important choice: whether to hand Ellie over to researchers in the laboratory in order to study a cure for the virus.This choice leads to the game's dual endings.

By choosing to hand Ellie over to the laboratory, players will enter the “good ending” of the game.In this ending, Ellie is successfully cured by researchers, the virus is under control, and the world begins to return to normal.After Joel and Ellie reunited briefly, Joel chose to leave for Ellie's safety and future.This ending is full of hope and sacrifice, leaving players in awe of Joel's selflessness and kindness.

By choosing not to hand Ellie over to the lab, players will enter the “Selfish Ending” of the game.In this ending, Joel refuses the researchers' request to protect Ellie.He believes that the laboratory cannot guarantee Ellie's safety, and that virus research may lead to more disasters.Joel escaped from the laboratory with Ellie and began a new escape career.This ending is full of fear of the unknown and desire for freedom, making players admire Joel's determination and bravery.

The dual ending design adds more depth and complexity to The Last of Us.It allows players to not only face survival challenges in the game, but also face moral choices.This design allows each player to find their own position and beliefs in the game, thus enhancing the playability and appeal of the game.