A journey across a broken world
The Last of Us became one of TV's most gripping dramas, and this word search gathers its world. You'll start with the central pair — grizzled SMUGGLER JOEL and immune teenager ELLIE — along with TESS, Joel's brother TOMMY, and FIREFLIES leader MARLENE.
Each puzzle pulls a fresh mix from the list, so the wasteland is redrawn every time you play — straightforward on Easy, and a Hard-mode test once the diagonals and backwards words appear.
The infected and the survivors
The show's terror comes from the CORDYCEPS FUNGUS, and the words that go with it are all here. Watch for the INFECTED and the blind, shrieking CLICKER, the airborne SPORES, and the QUARANTINE zones run after the OUTBREAK. We've also hidden the quieter moments — BILL and FRANK, young RILEY, Joel's daughter SARAH, and the safe town of JACKSON.
From video game to award-winning TV
The Last of Us first appeared in 2013 as a PlayStation video game from the studio Naughty Dog, widely hailed as one of the greatest games ever made. HBO's television adaptation, which premiered in 2023, was created by the game's writer Neil Druckmann together with Craig Mazin, and stars Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie.
Its twist on the zombie genre is the real-life cordyceps fungus, which infects insects in nature and, in the story, evolves to take over humans. The series was praised as one of the best video-game adaptations ever made — proof that a faithful, character-driven adaptation can win over both gamers and newcomers.
One for grown-up fans
The grid hides only names and terms, so it's harmless in itself — but The Last of Us is a tense, violent adult drama, making this one best for grown-up fans. Play online, print a PDF pack, or use our Make Your Own tool to build a grid from your own favourite characters and locations.
Frequently asked questions
What's in the Last of Us word search?
The key characters — Joel, Ellie, Tess, Tommy and Marlene — plus the threats that define the show, like the cordyceps fungus, clickers, the infected and the Fireflies. Each puzzle uses a fresh mix.
Is it based on the video game?
Yes — the show adapts the acclaimed game, and the grid hides what both share: JOEL and ELLIE, the CORDYCEPS fungus, CLICKERS and the FIREFLIES.
Is it suitable for children?
The grid only hides names and terms, fine for any age — but The Last of Us is a tense, violent adult drama, so it's really one for grown-up fans.