The Last of Us Part 2 Survival Mode "No Return" Revealed: Release Date, All Maps And More

A roguelike survival mode is coming to The Last of Us as a bonus addition to the upcoming TLoU Part 2 remaster for PS5. Check out everything we know about this mode below, and then you can decide whether it justifies the price of this remaster.

Last of Us Survival Mode 22 No Return22
Introducing "No Return", a roguelike survival mode coming with TLoU Part 2 Remastered. | © Naughty Dog

The Last of Us Part 2 is being remastered for PS5. And before you say it, yes, we agree that this remaster is coming out outrageously close to the original (2020). But to tempt us into buying the game again, Naughty Dog have included a new survival roguelike mode called "No Return" in the remaster.

It should definitely add replayability, although if we're honest, we would rather they kept working on the multiplayer game. Anyway, here is everything we know about the mode so far.

What Is "No Return" In TLoU 2?

"No Return" is a brand new-mode. You choose a character and then play through randomized encounters set in iconic locations from the campaign. As you defeat more and more of these encounters, you unlock new items to use in "No Return". You can also upgrade the weapons you have in this mode as you collect parts.

Check out the trailer for No Return to get a sense of it:

This is basically a way to enjoy the combat of The Last of Us Part 2 in a quick and repeatable way, without having to replay the campaign again and again. There is a progression system to keep you playing, but it's fairly basic.

Confirmed Content In No Return

Characters

We can play as the following characters in the "No Return" mode:

  • Ellie
  • Dina
    • Playstyle: Crafting
    • Traits:
      • Trap Mine Recipe
      • Stun Bomb Recipe
      • Double-Craft Upgrade Bench
  • Jesse
    • Playstyle: Resourceful
    • Traits:
      • 30% More Currency
      • Unique Items at Trading Post
      • Silencer Recipe
      • Pipe Bomb Recipe
      • Guerilla Upgrade Bench
  • Tommy
  • Joel
  • Abby
  • Lev
  • Yara
    • Playstyle: Teamwork
    • Traits:
      • Yara & Lev Pair
      • Ally Upgrade Bench
  • Mel
  • Manny
    • Playstyle: Armory
    • Traits:
      • 50% More Parts
      • 150% Max Health
      • No Health Kit Recipe
      • Semi-auto Rifle Ammo Recipe
      • Munitions Upgrade Bench
Roguelike Survival Mode
Lev looks ready for the fight! | © Naughty Dog

Maps

We are getting the following maps, and maybe more:

  • Hardware Store
  • Forest
  • State Street
  • Hospital
  • Hospital Basement
  • Gas Station

We don't yet know exactly how big these areas are, but we expect quite large.

Modes

When you choose a map, there will also be a specific mode to play. We don't know what these are, but we can at least confirm the following:

  • Hunted
  • Assault
  • Holdout
  • Capture
  • Boss Killing (Ratking confirmed)

Some of these are obvious to guess, but we will have to wait for final details to be sure.

And there you have it, fellow TLoU fans, that was everything we know so far about "No Return". Does it seem strong enough to justify buying this remaster?

Jon Ramuz

Jon has a BA and an MA in English Literature, and as Content Lead for EarlyGame has written over 1,500 articles. He focuses on shooters, but also writes about entertainment and gaming in general....