The Last of Us Part II Remastered arrived on PC on 3 April 2025, ported by Nixxes and Iron Galaxy from Naughty Dog's 2020 original. Alongside the visual work it carries three things the 2020 release never had: No Return, a roguelike survival mode with twelve playable characters, three unfinished Lost Levels shipped with developer commentary, and Guitar Free Play. The campaign is unchanged at 11 acts and 46 sub chapters, split between Ellie and Abby across the same three days in Seattle.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson | Act 1 | Core skills, the first training manual, the event the rest of the game answers to | Abby |
| 2 | Channel 13 | Seattle Day 1, Ellie | Supplies, collectibles, a heavy Infected set piece | Abby |
| 3 | Hillcrest | Seattle Day 2, Ellie | High supply density, the best stealth playground in the campaign | Ellie |
| 4 | The Aquarium | Seattle Day 1, Abby | Story pivot, quiet exploration, the most loaded space in the game | Ellie |
| 5 | Santa Barbara | Act 10 | Final upgrades, the Rattler faction, the ending | Ellie |
Jackson: Starting Area
The opening act, seven sub chapters running Prologue, Waking Up, The Overlook, Patrol, The Horde, The Chalet and Packing Up. It teaches every system in snow and quiet before the story turns.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Act 1 |
| Key Rewards | Core skills, the first training manual, the event the rest of the game answers to |
| Recommended Role | Abby |
| Key Weapons | Bow |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Crafting under pressure. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Channel 13.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Channel 13: Early Game
A flooded television station on Ellie's Seattle Day 1, a tight interior stocked with Infected rather than humans and one of the campaign's most claustrophobic stretches.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Seattle Day 1, Ellie |
| Key Rewards | Supplies, collectibles, a heavy Infected set piece |
| Recommended Role | Abby |
| Key Weapons | Bow |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Prone stealth and grass. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Bow if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Hillcrest.
Hillcrest: Mid Game
A suburban neighbourhood on Ellie's Seattle Day 2 built as an open combat sandbox, with houses to loop through and WLF patrols backed by dogs that track scent.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Seattle Day 2, Ellie |
| Key Rewards | High supply density, the best stealth playground in the campaign |
| Recommended Role | Ellie |
| Key Weapons | Bow |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Semi-Auto Pistol becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Listen Mode tracking for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
The Aquarium: Late Game
Abby's base on Seattle Day 1 and the location the back half of the story orbits. Ellie reaches it herself at the end of her Day 3, which is the point the two timelines collide.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Seattle Day 1, Abby |
| Key Rewards | Story pivot, quiet exploration, the most loaded space in the game |
| Recommended Role | Ellie |
| Key Weapons | Semi-Auto Pistol |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Semi-Auto Pistol should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- No Return run structure mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara: Endgame
The tenth act, four sub chapters running 2425 Constance, Pushing Inland, The Resort and The Beach, where the Rattlers replace the WLF and Seraphites as the human threat.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Act 10 |
| Key Rewards | Final upgrades, the Rattler faction, the ending |
| Recommended Role | Ellie |
| Key Weapons | Semi-Auto Pistol |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Manny for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Jackson → Channel 13 → Hillcrest → The Aquarium → Santa Barbara. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons: Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More The Last of Us Part II Remastered Guides
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered The Last of Us Part II Remastered Overview
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Best Builds
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Tier List
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Walkthrough
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Beginner's Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Tips & Tricks
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Weapons Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Combat Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Boss Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Crafting Guide
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered Classes & Characters
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