Ranking The Last of Us Part II's Controversial Choices

Today’s ranking is about to split the room: we’re counting down the top five most controversial character decisions in The Last of Us Part II. This game exploded into debate from the moment leaks hit the internet, and the arguments have only gotten louder since release. If you’ve ever scrolled through a comment thread about Ellie, Joel, or Abby, you already know—every single choice in this story is someone’s hill to die on. But which moments truly define the divide? Let’s get into it, and I dare you not to disagree.

At number 5: the game’s relentless brutality as a character-defining tool. The Last of Us Part II pushed graphic violence to the forefront, but not just for shock value. Players guide Ellie through torture scenes, most notably when she interrogates Nora in the hospital. Many fans were disturbed by being forced to press buttons in sync with Ellie’s rage, blurring the line between player and character. Critics called this a daring narrative move, arguing it made players complicit and deepened the sense of loss and vengeance. Others argued it was excessive and undermined their connection to Ellie, forcing them to see her as less sympathetic. The outrage over “excess for excess’s sake” versus “immersive storytelling” still dominates online discussions about the game’s tone.

Number 4: Lev’s introduction and the game’s approach to LGBTQ+ representation. Lev is a transgender character who joins Abby on her journey. Alongside Ellie, the openly lesbian protagonist, their stories mark a major step for representation in a mainstream blockbuster. While many praised Naughty Dog for centering queer and trans characters in a world this bleak, backlash erupted from both sides. Some players criticized Lev’s subplot as underdeveloped or tokenistic. Others claimed the game was “too political,” leading to targeted review bombing and ideological polarization on platforms like Metacritic, where user scores plummeted to 3.4 out of 10. The debate over the authenticity and necessity of this representation became nearly as heated as any plot event, with both praise and criticism flooding reviews and message boards.

Number 3: the polarizing requirement to play as Abby, Joel’s killer. The game spends roughly half its runtime with Abby as the lead, flipping perspective after her brutal murder of Joel. Players expecting a revenge tale starring Ellie were suddenly forced to embody the so-called “villain.” Some called this a masterstroke, arguing it forced empathy and complicated the black-and-white morality of the story. Others refused to engage with Abby’s sections, seeing it as punishing or disrespectful to fans of Joel and Ellie. The narrative gamble divided the playerbase, with some describing Abby as the real hero and others never forgiving her. This divide is behind endless arguments about “who the real protagonist is” and whether the forced switch undercuts the emotional payoff of Joel and Ellie’s journey.

Number 2: the infamous leaks and the real-world fallout for Laura Bailey, Abby’s voice actress. In April 2020, before release, major plot details—including Joel’s death and Abby’s role—were leaked online. Fans erupted in outrage, accusing the developers of betraying the spirit of the original game. The backlash wasn’t limited to criticism of story choices. Laura Bailey received death threats, including threats directed at her newborn son. The vitriol highlighted the toxic side of fandom, with debates about whether the leaks ruined the game, if outrage was justified, and if such attacks could ever be rationalized. Neil Druckmann, the game’s director, later commented that the story was designed to “make you feel uncomfortable,” but even he couldn’t have predicted the level of escalation.

And at number 1—the most controversial character decision in The Last of Us Part II: the killing of Joel in the opening hours. Joel is beaten to death by Abby in a golf club attack that is both sudden and brutal. This decision not only shocked players but also sparked the game’s longest-running arguments. Some called it necessary, a bold move that set the tone for a story about cycles of revenge and loss. Others saw it as disrespectful, believing it betrayed the character’s arc and alienated fans who had followed Joel’s journey since the first game. The controversy didn’t stop at the fan level: Heather Cerlan, a former Naughty Dog developer, revealed that the decision was hotly debated internally, with staff deeply divided. The fact that Joel’s death was leaked months in advance only amplified the furor, as expectations and anger built before the game even hit shelves. Even now, years later, debates rage about whether Joel’s death elevated the narrative to art or sabotaged the emotional core of the series.

Honorable mentions could go to the review bombing that led Metacritic to introduce a 36-hour waiting period for new user reviews—a response to the instant flood of negative scores after launch. Another contender: the ending, where Ellie chooses to spare Abby, leaving many players unsatisfied and arguing it undermined the game’s entire meditation on revenge.

To sum up: violence as character, bold representation, forced perspective, real-world fallout for actors, and the shattering of the central hero—these are the five decisions that tore the fandom in half. Got a different ranking? Did I leave out the moment that made you throw your controller? Drop your hottest takes and let the debate continue.