The Last of Us Part I on Steam is best approached as a stealth-survival game first and a third-person shooter second. Before you begin, make room for its 100GB SSD installation, expect shader compilation and uneven performance during the opening hours, and learn to conserve ammunition, listen for enemy positions, and spend supplements on survival skills before flashy upgrades. The remake includes the complete main campaign and Left Behind, but it still expects you to read encounters carefully rather than bulldoze through them.
This is also a game where difficulty changes the entire rhythm. On Moderate, resources are generous enough to experiment. On Hard or Grounded, a single missed shiv, wasted shotgun shell, or poorly timed sprint can reshape an entire encounter. If you want the cleanest first run, start on Moderate with Listen Mode enabled and aim for a steady, immersive playthrough rather than trying to collect everything immediately.
Check Your PC Before You Commit
The Steam version of The Last of Us Part I is demanding because it streams large environments, dense character models, volumetric effects, and high-resolution textures. The official minimum target is a 64-bit Windows 10 system with 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, and a GTX 970 4GB or Radeon RX 470 4GB. You also need roughly 100GB of storage, and an SSD is strongly preferred.
The recommended specification rises to an Intel Core i7-8700 or Ryzen 7 5700X, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 3060 8GB or RX 6600 XT 8GB. Those figures do not guarantee a locked 60 frames per second at 1080p, especially in large outdoor areas. They are better treated as a sensible baseline for a console-like experience with appropriately adjusted settings.
| Target | CPU and GPU | Memory and Storage | Practical Expectation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | i7-4770K or Ryzen 5 1500X; GTX 970 or RX 470 | 16GB RAM; 100GB SSD | Low settings, roughly 30fps target |
| Recommended | i7-8700 or Ryzen 7 5700X; RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT | 32GB RAM; 100GB SSD | 1080p Medium to High, around 60fps with tuning |
| High-end | Modern eight-core CPU; RTX 4070-class GPU or better | 32GB RAM; fast NVMe SSD | 1440p High, with upscaling recommended |
Install the latest GPU driver before launching, then let the game finish its shader-building process. Interrupting that process can cause stutter, crashes, or long pauses later. Keep at least 15GB of free space beyond the installation itself so Windows and the game can manage temporary files. If you regularly troubleshoot PC games, our guide to stopping crashes and rescuing FPS covers several useful general fixes.
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View on Steammoz Store →Use the Right Graphics Settings First
Don’t blindly choose the Ultra preset. The Last of Us Part I can look excellent on Medium, and several settings cost a surprising amount of performance for relatively small visual gains. Start with the recommended preset, set a frame-rate cap that your system can actually sustain, and adjust from there. A stable 45fps feels much better than a wild 60-to-35fps swing during combat.
DLSS is the best starting point for compatible GeForce cards, while FSR 2 is the broad fallback for Radeon and older Nvidia hardware. Use Quality at 1080p or 1440p if your GPU can manage it; Balanced is useful when you need a larger performance lift. Avoid dropping resolution too far, because the game’s foliage, brick textures, and thin geometry can become visibly unstable.
| Setting | Recommended Value | FPS Impact | Visual Trade-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texture Quality | High if VRAM allows; Medium on 4GB cards | Medium to high VRAM use | Mostly affects surface detail and memory pressure |
| Shadow Quality | Medium | High | Lower settings reduce contact-shadow depth |
| Reflections | Medium | Medium to high | Water and glossy surfaces lose detail |
| Volumetric Effects | Medium | High in foggy areas | Less dramatic light shafts and haze |
| Ambient Occlusion | SSAO or Medium | Low to medium | Scenes look slightly less grounded |
| Upscaling | DLSS or FSR 2 Quality | Large performance gain | Minor softness compared with native resolution |
Textures are not always the first thing to lower. If you have enough VRAM, keep them high and reduce shadows, reflections, and volumetrics instead. On a 16GB system, close browsers and overlays before playing; shader compilation and streaming can push memory usage hard. For broader setting advice, our PC settings guide for maximizing FPS explains the same performance-priority approach in another demanding game.
Understand the Survival Loop Before Fighting
Joel’s weapons are powerful but deliberately inconvenient. The 9mm pistol is reliable for finishing wounded enemies, the Revolver hits harder but kicks more, and the Hunting Rifle rewards headshots with excellent stopping power. The Shorty gives you emergency close-range damage, while the Bow can silently eliminate targets and sometimes returns arrows after a kill. None of these tools should be treated as an invitation to shoot every enemy you see.
Listen Mode is your biggest information advantage. Hold the button to detect enemies through walls, then mark a route before moving. Runners can be bypassed or quietly grabbed, Clickers must be avoided unless you have a shiv or a safe kill opportunity, and Stalkers are dangerous because they frequently break the predictable behavior of other infected. Human enemies communicate, flank, and investigate corpses, so a silent takedown can create a chain reaction if you leave the body exposed.
Crafting is intentionally tight. A shiv uses one blade and one binding, a health kit uses alcohol and a rag, a Molotov uses alcohol and a rag, and a smoke bomb uses an explosive and sugar. The exact choice depends on the room, but health kits are usually the wrong panic craft when you can safely reach cover. Molotovs are outstanding against groups and infected, while smoke bombs buy time when humans have pinned you down.
| Tool | Best Use | Common Mistake | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiv | Silent Clicker kill or locked shiv door | Spending it on a basic Runner | Save one whenever possible |
| Molotov | Groups of infected, especially clustered targets | Throwing at one weak enemy | High-value crowd control |
| Smoke Bomb | Breaking a human firing line | Using it before enemies commit | Situational but powerful |
| Health Kit | Recovering after reaching cover | Healing in the open | Craft only when safe |
| Listen Mode | Mapping patrols and detecting flankers | Rushing before checking the room | Use constantly |
Scavenge every drawer, kitchen, bathroom, and dead-end corridor. Supplements improve skills, while weapon parts are spent at workbenches. The game rewards exploration with supplies, training manuals, comics, and optional conversations, but you should never assume a collectible room is safe. Check corners before opening drawers, particularly in areas with Stalkers.
Spend Supplements and Parts With a Plan
For a first playthrough, prioritize Shiv Mastery, Maximum Health, and weapon stability or reload improvements. Shiv Mastery makes your shivs last longer against Clickers, which directly protects your limited blades. Maximum Health gives you more room for error, although it won’t save you from a clean Clicker grab or a high-damage attack on harder modes.
Weapon upgrades should match how you actually play. The Hunting Rifle’s armor-piercing upgrade is valuable against tougher human enemies, while scope improvements help if you like creating distance. The Bow’s draw speed makes follow-up shots less painful, and the Shotgun’s capacity upgrade gives you a better chance of surviving a surprise rush. Don’t spread parts across every weapon early; a half-upgraded arsenal is less useful than two dependable weapons.
| Upgrade | Why It Matters | Best Player Type | When to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiv Mastery | Improves shiv durability in Clicker encounters | Stealth-focused players | Early game |
| Maximum Health | Provides more survival margin after mistakes | New players and Hard difficulty users | Early to mid game |
| Weapon Holsters | Lets you switch primary weapons faster | Players who adapt mid-fight | Mid game |
| Bow Draw Speed | Shortens the vulnerable aiming window | Silent ranged players | When bow is frequently used |
| Shotgun Capacity | Reduces reload pressure during rushes | Aggressive close-range players | Before dense infected chapters |
Workbenches are not just menus; they’re strategic checkpoints. Before upgrading, inspect your parts and ask which weapon will carry the next several chapters. Weapon sway reduction is especially helpful with the Revolver and Hunting Rifle, but it matters less if you mostly use stealth. If you want to compare how another game handles weapon investment, Steamoz’s weapon upgrade breakdown offers a useful contrast.
Know the Enemies That Punish Panic
Clickers are blind because of the Cordyceps growth covering their faces, but they hear movement extremely well. Crouch, avoid knocking objects, and don’t sprint unless you’ve already committed to an escape. A shiv is required for a silent grab kill unless you’ve unlocked the relevant upgrade path. Runners can be punched or grabbed, but their speed makes them dangerous in groups.
Stalkers are the enemy type most likely to make experienced players uncomfortable. They hide, retreat, and attack from odd angles instead of presenting a clean patrol route. In areas such as the hotel basement, use Listen Mode repeatedly, keep your back near a wall, and avoid chasing a disappearing Stalker into darkness. A shotgun blast at close range is safer than trying to force a stealth takedown in a cramped room.
Bloaters telegraph their attacks with a roar and a distinctive throwing motion. They can rip off fungal projectiles and launch them from range, so don’t stand in a straight line or assume distance equals safety. Fire, Molotovs, and sustained weapon damage are the answer, but the arena matters just as much. During the Bill’s Town fight, keep moving around obstacles, create space before crafting, and never let the Bloater corner you while you reload.
| Enemy | Danger Signal | Counter Strategy | Best Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runner | Fast charge and melee rush | Grab, stagger, then finish quickly | Brick, bottle, or pistol |
| Clicker | Head twitching and loud clicking | Stay crouched; shiv or bypass | Shiv or stealth |
| Stalker | Sudden disappearance from Listen Mode | Hold a defensible angle and wait | Shotgun |
| Bloater | Roar before projectile throw | Keep circling and burn it before shooting | Molotov and shotgun |
| Hunter | Flanking calls and coordinated fire | Break line of sight and relocate | Bow or rifle |
Bricks and bottles deserve more respect than they usually get. A thrown bottle can pull a group away, while a brick can stagger an enemy and open a melee finish. Against humans, throw first, then move while they investigate. Against infected, use the noise to separate one target from the pack rather than triggering the entire room.
Play the Story Without Spoiling Its Best Moments
The campaign is linear, but it regularly hides optional conversations and environmental storytelling in side paths. Don’t rush through every doorway marked by the objective route. Explore abandoned shops, apartments, buses, and rooftops after clearing the immediate threat. These detours often provide supplements or parts, and they deepen relationships between Joel, Ellie, Tess, Bill, and the rest of the cast.
Left Behind is included on Steam and works best after you’ve experienced the main story, because it expands Ellie’s history and deliberately echoes several mechanics from the campaign. The game also includes Photo Mode, concept art, model viewers, speedrun options, and additional modifiers after progression. You don’t need to chase those systems on your first run; let the story’s pacing work before turning the adventure into a checklist.
Save manually before entering an unfamiliar building, especially if you’re experimenting on Hard. The game’s autosaves are dependable, but a manual save gives you a cleaner reset point when you want to test stealth routes or conserve supplies. If the opening hours stutter, wait for shaders to finish and revisit settings before blaming your hardware. Our crash and low-FPS troubleshooting guide has additional Windows-side checks.
For official system requirements, patches, and support information, check the The Last of Us Part I Steam page, Naughty Dog’s official site, and PlayStation’s official game page. Start patiently, tune performance before judging it, and treat every bullet as a decision rather than a disposable resource. That’s when The Last of Us Part I stops feeling like a cover shooter and becomes the tense, intimate survival drama it was built to be.