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If there’s one game in the last few years guaranteed to spark a fan war every time it’s mentioned, it’s The Last of Us Part II. Nothing sets off more heated arguments than its character choices. Whether you loved it, hated it, or just sat there in stunned silence, you probably have strong opinions—and so does everyone else online. Today, I’m counting down the top five most controversial character choices in The Last of Us Part II. Buckle up, because every pick on this list is a debate starter.
At number five: Jesse’s abrupt death in Seattle. Jesse, one of the few new characters to really click with fans, doesn’t get a drawn-out arc or a chance to say goodbye. Instead, he’s killed instantly by Abby with a single bullet to the face, in the middle of a heated moment. The reason this scene sparks so much debate is that Jesse’s role as a supportive friend to Ellie, and his status as one of the few characters of Asian descent in the series, made players expect more for him. Detractors argue that his exit is shock value with little narrative payoff, while defenders say the randomness is meant to mirror the brutality and unpredictability of this world. Either way, fans dissect this scene’s impact on representation and story momentum.
Number four goes to Ellie’s torture of Nora in the hospital basement. In this infamous sequence, Ellie chases Nora through the ruins of the hospital and corners her in a spore-infested basement. Ellie beats Nora for information, and the game forces the player to press a button to make it happen. This moment is divisive because it shows Ellie crossing a moral line, and it makes the player complicit in her actions. Some fans say it’s a bold move that deepens Ellie’s character and drives home the cost of revenge. Others argue it’s manipulative, and that making players participate in torture is unnecessarily cruel. The debate centers on whether this scene is essential to Ellie’s evolution, or just a way to shock and disturb.
Coming in at number three: Abby’s killing of Joel in the game’s prologue. Joel, the main protagonist from the first game, is brutally murdered with a golf club in the opening hours of Part II. This isn’t just a story twist—it’s the event that launches the entire revenge plot. The controversy explodes from several directions. First, longtime fans feel betrayed that Joel, a beloved character, is dispatched so early and so graphically. Second, Abby, a new character, is introduced through the murder, instantly alienating many players. Some fans argue this was a necessary act to propel Ellie’s journey and explore the cycle of violence. Others see it as character assassination or a disrespectful end for a hero. The fact that Joel’s fate was kept secret in pre-release marketing only added fuel to the fire.
Number two: making Abby a playable character for nearly half the game. After spending close to 12 hours guiding Ellie on her revenge mission, the game abruptly switches perspectives and puts you in Abby’s shoes—for the entire second half. Fans were divided for a couple of reasons. Some were willing to empathize with Abby, seeing her as a complex, fully-realized character whose motivations made sense once explored. Others flat-out refused to play as the person who killed Joel, seeing it as a betrayal or a forced attempt at moral equivalence. The debate here isn’t just about story; it’s about player agency. Forcing players to inhabit Abby’s worldview, use her skills, and bond with her allies like Lev and Yara, felt like too much for many. The sheer amount of gameplay spent as Abby—estimated at approximately 10-12 hours, nearly half the total playtime—made this one of the most polarizing narrative gambits in AAA gaming.
And now, number one: Ellie’s decision to spare Abby at the game’s climax in Santa Barbara. After tracking Abby across the country, surviving torture, and losing two fingers in a fight, Ellie has Abby at her mercy on a desolate beach. Instead of finishing her mission, Ellie lets Abby and Lev escape. This choice has divided fans more than anything else in the game. Some argue it’s the logical endpoint of Ellie’s arc, a sign she’s finally breaking the cycle of violence. Others call it a narrative cop-out, saying the entire game builds up to this moment only to rob players of closure or payoff. People argue about whether Ellie’s flashback to Joel playing guitar is enough explanation for her choice, or if it undercuts everything the story set up. The fact that Ellie returns home to find Dina and JJ gone, ending up completely alone, leaves many questioning what the entire journey meant. It’s a choice that still dominates online forums and fan debates years later.
Each of these moments made headlines and split the fandom in half. Joel’s death at the hands of Abby in the prologue is still cited as the point where many fans decided the game had lost them, while others point to the extended Abby section as the most daring, or the most infuriating, decision in Naughty Dog’s history. Jesse’s sudden death and Nora’s torture sequence both serve as lightning rods for discussions about narrative stakes and player agency.
The controversy around Abby’s gameplay section is heightened by the fact that some players reportedly spent upwards of 10 hours controlling her, forming bonds with characters like Lev and Yara. That decision alone led to heated arguments about whether the game was asking too much from fans who wanted a traditional revenge story.
Nora’s death is the only time in the series where the game forces the player to press a button to commit an act of torture, which is a mechanic not used anywhere else in the franchise. The uniqueness of this moment amplifies the discomfort and criticism around it.
Jesse’s death stands out because, unlike most other major character exits in the game, it comes without warning or ceremony. He’s shot instantly, with no last words, which shocked players and immediately led to debate about whether his arc was mishandled or if it was a bold storytelling choice.
The final confrontation between Abby and Ellie takes place on a beach in Santa Barbara, after both characters have been physically and emotionally destroyed. Ellie’s sparing of Abby is not just a story beat; it’s a moment that calls into question hours of gameplay, player motivation, and the point of the revenge narrative itself.
The argument about whether Ellie should have killed Abby is the top reason online threads about The Last of Us Part II still rack up hundreds of replies and thousands of views. Some people claim this ending is the only way to break the cycle of violence, while others insist it’s narratively unsatisfying.
No matter how you rank these moments, every single one gets fans talking, arguing, and in some cases, rage-quitting. Have a different order? Think a scene got snubbed? Let’s hear your ranking—because if there’s one thing guaranteed, it’s that the Last of Us Part II fandom will never agree on what makes the most controversial character choice.