On April 13, the second season of the hit HBO Max series ‘The Last of Us’ premieres on small screens. In honor of this, we’ve put together a selection of series you’ll enjoy if you like the project starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.

‘The Last of Us’ burst into the world of series with a swift blow to all our senses: here you have the tender, almost familial bond of the main characters, harsh post-apocalyptic settings, and a ruthless nature ready to swallow a person like a predator its prey. If you’re also thrilled by this mix of touching humanity and a grim struggle for survival, here’s a selection of series that can fill the void after another episode (or between new seasons) of ‘The Last of Us’.

1. ‘The Walking Dead’ (2010–2022)

Where would we be without the classic? Yes, ‘The Walking Dead’ came out like a hundred years ago (just kidding, but with all the spin-offs, it feels like it’s already on season 30), but it was this show that once made thousands of viewers fall in love with the atmosphere of a hopeless zombie apocalypse.

Here, too, there are dramatic ‘father’ and ‘children’ relationships (remember Rick and his meme-worthy son Carl), and, of course, a whole bunch of walkers just waiting to bite off the heroes’ limbs. If you want to dive into a long, unhurried but truly atmospheric survival story, ‘The Walking Dead’ is a great start.

Why fans of ‘The Last of Us’ will like it: grim post-apocalypse, focus on relationships within a group of survivors, and endless moral dilemmas where people sometimes turn out to be scarier than zombies.

2. ‘Station Eleven’ (2021)

This series isn’t as loud as ‘The Walking Dead’ or ‘The Last of Us’, but it offers a smart and deep story about how culture and art help people retain their humanity after a global pandemic. There’s no classic zombie threat here, but there is a post-apocalyptic world where characters try to rebuild their lives and even put on Shakespearean plays (truly ‘every cloud has a silver lining’). However, the series doesn’t forget the dangers and dark sides of the survivors, so it’s not all a sweet fairy tale.

Why fans of ‘The Last of Us’ will like it: firstly, it’s also a story about society after a catastrophe; secondly, it’s a subtle drama about what makes us human, even when the whole world is falling apart.

3. ‘Sweet Tooth’ (2021–2024)

Don’t let the cute title fool you. ‘Sweet Tooth’ is a story about a deer-boy and his gruff but caring ‘partner’ wandering through a world ravaged by a virus. Again a virus, again despair… Yet the series manages to be not only dark but also touching.

The main character is half child, half ‘hybrid’, and around him are adults who don’t always act humanely. So if you like the ‘fatherhood’ line of Joel and Ellie, this series will definitely get you.

Why fans of ‘The Last of Us’ will like it: the same touching ‘non-blood parent–child’ relationship developing against a backdrop of total chaos and hopelessness.

4. ‘The 100’ (2014–2020)

‘The 100’ is already a classic of young adult post-apocalypse with a fairly ambitious scale. The gist is that after a global nuclear catastrophe, humanity survives on a space station and then sends a group of teenagers to Earth to check if it’s habitable again. And, as always, new threats emerge, conflicts flare up, and characters find themselves in situations where they must choose between morality and survival. It’s almost a survival lesson in practice – only for teenagers, but with quite adult decisions.

Why fans of ‘The Last of Us’ will like it: although the atmosphere is different, here too it’s important how the characters manage to remain human in a world where the stakes are too high and each new day could be the last.

5. ‘The Rain’ (2018–2020)

A Danish series about a virus spread through raindrops. A perfect illustration of how even the most familiar environment can become deadly.

Two main characters – a brother and sister – try to survive, find other survivors, and unravel the secret of the sinister infection. Unlike giant Hollywood projects, ‘The Rain’ feels intimate and grounded. On the plus side: Scandinavian landscapes that, combined with the theme of an empty world, create a somewhat detached but gripping impression.

Why fans of ‘The Last of Us’ will like it: that same atmosphere of constant danger, unexpected encounters (and betrayals), and the search for salvation in a lifeless world.

6. ‘Kingdom’ (2019–2020)

If you want something truly unusual and dynamic, ‘Kingdom’ is a historical Korean series about… zombies in the Joseon era. Here, politicians fight for power, the crown prince tries to prove his right to the throne, and meanwhile the country is gripped by a horrific epidemic that turns people into bloodthirsty monsters.

The series has an impressive visual side: costumes, nature, castle interiors – all in vivid colors that are quickly drenched in bloody horror. By the way, in terms of intensity and unexpected plot twists, ‘Kingdom’ gives many modern shows a run for their money.

Why fans of ‘The Last of Us’ will like it: here too, the mix of the characters’ personal stories with a global catastrophe is important. And, of course, where would we be without cool zombies?

7. ‘Black Summer’ (2019–…)

A spin-off (though very distant) of ‘Z Nation’ – but much darker and more brutal. ‘Black Summer’ shows the first weeks of the zombie apocalypse, when chaos overwhelms everything and people haven’t yet adapted. The filming is mostly handheld, with many short, sharp scenes where characters run from the dead, hide in half-destroyed houses, or fight for a tiny chance of survival. Sometimes it feels like you’re watching a documentary: shaky camera, almost no music, and a terrifying hopelessness.

Why fans of ‘The Last of Us’ will like it: the same feeling of being pursued and constant fear, where every second can be decisive, and a helping hand can turn into betrayal.

And Finally

All these series have something in common: they make you think about who we remain when familiar social norms go to hell and the world around us crumbles. ‘The Last of Us’ soared to the top of popularity precisely because it embedded the idea of mercy, love, and loyalty to each other in the setting of a hopeless apocalypse (and thanks to the fan base of the original game, of course). All the above projects, each in their own way, continue this line: how to preserve yourself and not lose each other when the abyss yawns around.