The Last Of Us:Left Behind Walkthrough - The Last of Us Part 1 Guide - IGN (2024)

Welcome to The Last of Us: Left Behind. This expansion takes place both before and during The Last of Us' main campaign, so if you haven't played the base game, it's better to first head over there so you understand more about the game's world and characters. You can check out our walkthrough for the main story for details on each of its 12 chapters.

This story picks up during the time skip where Ellie was looking after wounded Joel. Below, we'll offer a walkthrough showing you how to complete the full campaign and find all the collectibles. If you're just looking for the collectibles, you can head to our Left Behind Artifacts page or our Left Behind Optional Conversations page.

Looking for a specific segment of Left Behind? Jump through the expansion via the links below:

Back in A Flash

Left Behind will begin with a cutscene, setting up both the timelines this expansion will take place in. We'll refer to them as current and past timelines throughout this guide. When the cutscene comes to a close, we'll find ourselves in the current timeline.

Ellie will head out of a shutter into a shopping mall, desperate to find resources to save a dying Joel. When you regain control, push forwards into the centre of the mall. I know your first instinct is going to be "big location! I must look around for supplies and collectibles!" but don't worry; this location is completely bare. We're just here to progress the story.

Head up the escalator to your right and continue forward until you see a statue of a man with a bow and arrow. Take a right when you reach the statue and Ellie will automatically note the presence of a pharmacy on her left. Duck beneath the shutter and head inside.

Left Behind Artifact 01: Combination Note

When inside the pharmacy, head towards the counter in the centre of the store. Behind it, you'll find the Combination Note.

This note contains the code to a lock we'll need to open in a second.

When you have the note, head towards the door at the back of the room. Ellie will look through the window and see medical supplies on the other side.

When you're ready, leave the shop via the shutter and then take a right. The shop a few doors down is called American Princess and can be opened using the combination we found on the note. Don't worry, Ellie will automatically input the number, so you don't need to memorise it.

Inside you'll find an utterly harrowing sight: a toy store filled to the brim with creepy dolls. In the back left-hand corner you'll see a remarkably less creepy sight: a clicker. Head over to the clicker and interact with it to search it.

Left Behind Artifact 02: Pharmacist's Key

While searching the clicker, you'll find the Pharmacist's Key.

This is an essential item you'll need to get into the back door of the pharmacy to retrieve the medical kit. It's also an artifact, so add it to the collection.

Left Behind Artifact 03: Pharmacist's Note

Directly after grabbing the key, you'll knock something out of the pharmacist's pocket. It's the Pharmacist's Note.

Pick it up, take a look at it and then add it to our rucksack.

Head back towards the shutter leading out of American Princess and a clicker will appear, crossing in front of where you're crouching. Wait for it to give you room to sneak out and then stab it. Once it's dead, head back to the pharmacy.

Use the key to open the back door and you'll cue a cutscene. Turns out the medkit was actually empty. We'll now decide the best option is to raid an evac helicopter that's crashed into the shopping mall.

When you regain control, hop through the window ahead and head through the camera shop to your right. Inside, you'll have to duck beneath the debris ahead, moving through the shop until you reach the other side. There are some useful crafting items tucked away around here, so grab them as you go.

Left Behind Artifact 04: Salon Note

When you reach the back of the store, you'll see a nail salon. Head towards the salon, take a left and you'll find a dead soldier on the ground next to a medkit.

You'll also find the Salon Note in front of him. It offers a little extra context as to why there's a skeleton decked out in military gear hanging out in an abandoned nail salon.

Grab the medkit next to the skeleton and Ellie will learn how to make medkits herself. When you're ready, hop over the debris next to the skeleton and head out the doorway. Look for a set of steps leading down from this walkway and take them, leaping over the railing ahead. It's time for a trip down memory lane.

Mallrats

Welcome to the past timeline. Here, we'll cut back to Ellie's adventure with Riley, with the two narrowly escaping military patrols and breaking into an abandoned apartment complex.

When you regain control, follow Riley up the stairs as she tells you how she was inducted into the Fireflies.

Left Behind Artifact 05: Wanted Poster

After following Riley up the stairs, you'll find a hole in the wall to your left. Sneak through it and you'll enter an apartment.

On the table ahead of you is a Wanted Poster. Grab it and add it to the artifact collection.

Regroup with Riley and follow her up to the second floor, shimmying across a broken walkway and heading through the apartments ahead.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 01: Look For The Light

Eventually, you'll enter a bedroom with a hole in the wall leading to a maintenance room. Look at the graffiti next to the bed.

It'll read "Look For The Light". When looking at it, Ellie will initiate an Optional Conversation with Riley, asking her about the message.

Return to Riley and keep following her. She'll eventually lead you outside, cueing a cutscene where Ellie and Riley drop down and watch a military truck drive by in the distance. Once you regain control, follow Riley across a nearby beam.

On the opposite side, stay behind her until you drop down into the entrance of the mall.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 02: Surfing in LA

After entering the mall, head down the escalators ahead as Ellie and Riley banter about why they're here.

At the bottom of the escalator, instead of continuing ahead, turn around and look for an advertisem*nt for a beach holiday on the wall to the left of the escalator. This will cue an Optional Conversation.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 03: Typhoon Blitz

After talking about the beach holiday, spin around and follow Riley through the mall. As you follow her, you'll see an advertisem*nt for water guns on your right.

This will cue an Optional Conversation, with Ellie telling Riley she got back their water guns.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 04: Death by Natural Causes

Keep progressing past the Typhoon Blitz poster and you and Riley will eventually descend another escalator. At the bottom, Riley will talk to you about Winston.

When the conversation ends, an Optional Conversation prompt will appear. Hit it and Ellie will talk to Riley about his death.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 05: Pour One Out For Winston

After the last conversation concludes, head into the tent to your right. Inside, Riley will search through Winston's belongings. At the back of the tent, you'll see some magazines on a table.

Walk up to them and you'll get an Optional Conversation prompt. Hit it and Ellie will find a picture of Winston. She'll then turn around to see Riley has found a bottle of whiskey in his belongings. You'll be able to decide to drink it by pressing TRIANGLE or reject it by pressing CIRCLE.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 06: "What Happened to Princess?"

After leaving the tent, head forwards and you'll see a saddle on the back of a nearby bench. Walk up to it.

You'll initiate another Optional Conversation. Ellie will note that the saddle belonged to Winston's horse princess and tell Riley what happened to the horse.

With the string of optional conversations over for a brief second, continue following Riley. She'll lead you to a dead end, asking for your help prying open a hole through the debris. Interact with it and the debris will fall, blocking the makeshift tunnel.

When you regain control, look to your right. You'll see a set of double doors with an opening above them. Walk over to it and hit the TRIANGLE button when prompted to boost Riley inside. She'll then open the door for you, giving you access to a costume shop.

Riley will jump out at you with a clown mask on before showing Ellie a wolf mask on a nearby shelf. Put it on and then participate in the QTE coming up. When you regain control, get ready to hit a ton of Optional Conversations.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 07: Eyeball Jar

From the area we found the wolf mask, head northeast until you find a shelf with jars of fake eyeballs on it.

You'll get a prompt to interact with them. Pick up the eyeballs and Ellie will wonder why anyone used to buy this stuff.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 08: Ruby Slippers

After looking at the eyes, Riley will appear from a coffin in a Frankenstein mask. Go left of the coffin and look in the central aisle for a witch mask.

Put it on and then an Optional Conversation prompt will appear above Riley. Interact with it and you'll make some corny Wizard of Oz jokes.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 09: Countess Dracula

After putting on the witch mask, head right and look for a vampire section in the back corner of the store. When Riley comes near, she'll get excited, putting on a vampire mask.

After she spins around, you'll cue an Optional Conversation. Hit it to make some Dracula-based jokes.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 10: "Thank You Kind Pigeon"

Found on the last aisle. Look for a green pigeon mask with a backwards cap on. Interact with it to wear it.

After you've put it on, Ellie will turn around to see Riley has put on a bear mask. That counts towards our total.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 11: Talking to Skeleseer Eight Times

After donning the pigeon mask, take a right and look for an advertisem*nt for the "Skeleseer". It's a skeleton on a purple podium that can totally, definitely, 100% tell the future.

Now, for this conversation to trigger the count, you'll have to talk to the Skeleseer 8 times. Make sure you've done all 8 interactions to get the checkmark. The final question will be about Riley playing poker, so once you reach that, you can leave the skull alone.

When you have all five optional interactions accounted for, head out the double doors opposite where we found the pigeon mask.

The Brick Throwing Contest

When you enter the next area, you'll emerge on a walkway above a carousel and two cars. Riley will challenge you to a contest here, posing the idea of a brick throwing race.

The rules are simple: You'll have to throw bricks through the windows of the red car below. If you break all the windows on your car first, then you win and get to ask Riley a personal question. If you lose, Riley will get to ask you a personal question.

When you begin, grab the bricks from the floor nearby and aim them at the windows of your car. You want to break the windscreen, the side windows, the back window and the sunroof. Pelt the car with breaks and circle around the walkway when you need to hit the other side. Riley isn't particularly fast so don't rush things. Just take your time, aim the arc and you'll win convincingly.

When it's over, Ellie will get to ask about why Riley left, why she lashed out or whether Marlene mentioned her mom. When the exchange is over, continue following Riley. She'll lead you through a service door and down some steps into a staff corridor.

Left Behind Artifact 06: Warning Note

As you reach the bottom of the stairs in this tunnel, take a left through a set of doors. This won't be the route Riley takes you down, so she'll call out. Ignore her.

You'll arrive in a kitchen area. Head to the back of the room and you'll find the Warning Note. Add it to your collection.

Regroup with Riley and press ahead. She'll lead you into a generator room and tell you to flip a switch. Do it and the power will come back on. Follow Riley and you'll initiate a cutscene. Stop having whimsical, wholesome fun. It's time to head back to the cold, bleak future...

So Close

When we cut back to the current timeline, Ellie will still be figuring out how to reach the helicopter. When you regain control, head right towards the area with the beds ahead.

Left Behind Artifact 07: Atrium Note

At the curtain to the sleeping area, take a right and head down the path of fast food shops until you reach a stretcher drenched with blood.

You'll find the Atrium Note next to a hacksaw here. Pick it up to learn that the blood on the floor belongs to a soldier who had their arm amputated in an attempt to prevent the infection from spreading. It didn't work for Lee Everett pal, so I don't think it's going to work for you.

Loot the area around where we found the Atrium Note for additional supplies, including blades, alcohol and rags. Return to the curtain to the sleeping area when ready and proceed through it. You'll find ammo back here as well as a few other supplies.

After you're done, look for a maintenance door at the back of the atrium. It's next to a generator with a yellow wire running through the doors. Follow the tunnel.

You'll see a cat inside, so be warned that it'll jumpscare you twice. At the end of the tunnel, you'll find a doorway leading to a loading bay submerged in water.

Left Behind Artifact 08: Generator Note

Proceed towards the platform ahead. You'll see a generator in front of you that we can interact with.

On the boxes to the left of the generator is the Generator Note. Seems like the amputation wasn't the greatest idea...

Return to the generator and attempt to start it. Ellie will realise it's out of gas. Time to find some so we can get the power started. Opposite the generator is a small red gas can. Pick it up and Ellie will realise iit's empty too, although she can syphon gas from the various trucks around the loading bay. Pick it up.

As soon as you grab it, you'll realise you aren't alone. There are stalkers in the area now. For anyone that doesn't remember these terrifying monsters from the main campaign, they know where you are at all times and will sneak around the combat arena, waiting for the perfect time to strike.

To be specific, four of these harrowing foes are lurking in the loading bay. Remember, we aren't Joel, so we don't have the power to knock these guys around in hand-to-hand combat. Our tactic instead should be to create as much space as possible between ourselves and the stalkers and take them down with headshots.

Return to the platform with the generator and wedge yourself into a corner. As soon as you see a stalker pop its head around a corner, shoot it. If one sprints towards you, unleash your bullets and take it down. The knife should be a last resort.

When they're dead, hop back into the water with the gas can and head towards the truck furthest away from you. Look for a petrol cap just next to the door on the driver's side and syphon out the gas. Loot everything you can in the area and then take the gas can over to the generator and fill it up.

You'll cue a short scene where Ellie realises the power coming back on has electrified the water. Note to self, that means no more wading through water. Look for a fence to your right that you can now open with the power back on.

Climb the ladder ahead and scale the ventilation shafts leading over the roof. When you can't progress anymore, drop onto the red truck beneath you and then drop onto the platform behind it.

When you reach the platform, follow the path and locate two automated shutter doors that can be opened ahead. Open them both and grab the moveable stack of boxes from the room behind the left shutter. Position the stack of boxes beneath the right shutter.

Climb up onto the right shutter via the boxes between both shutters and then climb back up to the ventilation shafts. Follow them, drop onto the pick-up truck below and you'll officially reach the exit. Head through the doors. Stay crouched though, as we aren't out of the fire just yet.

In the next room, you'll find a clicker ahead of you and a runner to your left. Take the runner out silently and then sneak behind the clicker and take it down. Head into the office ahead of you. Through the window on the opposite side of the room, you'll see a store with a few more runners and clickers.

You can attempt to stealth this if you'd like, but a good way to clear the store is to craft a molotov and then throw a distraction item into a corner. When the infected run to look at it, throw a well-placed molotov to take most of them out in one blow. If you do this from the office window, it's unlikely you'll be seen and it evens the odds significantly.

From here, sneak through the shop and take out whoever's left. When they're finished, head to the front of the store and leave via the shutter. We'll now be back in the area with the helicopter.

Forge ahead and two clickers will emerge from your left. Take them both down and then head back to the now-operational electric gate next to the warning sign.

Left Behind Artifact 09: Atrium Recorder

When reaching the top of the escalator ahead, look to your left and you'll see a tent. Head inside the tent.

Next to the mattress, you'll find the Atrium Recorder. Pick it up and have a listen.

When you've listened to it, leave the tent, head around the corner and make your way up to the helicopter. You'll need to climb the debris to the right. Once you clamber up, cross the beam ahead and jump into the helicopter. You'll cue a cutscene and then it's back to the past.

Fun And Games

After the cutscene ends, we'll enter the doors and see a pleasant surprise. The carousel's works again.

Head towards it but don't do anything just yet. We need to grab something before we progress the story.

Left Behind Artifact 10: Kitchen Note

Head behind the carousel and look for a fast food burger restaurant called Fast Burger.

In the kitchen area, you'll find the Kitchen Note on the side. Grab it to add it to the collection.

When you've got it, return to the carousel and interact with it. Ellie will ride it, cueing a cutscene where Riley presents her with the joke book.

Left Behind Ellie's Jokes

Oh, you thought the puns were over? You thought you beat the campaign and you escaped having to sit through these horrific jokes? Buckle up cause you're in for a rough time.

After you get off the carousel, you'll have the joke book in hand and be able to hit TRIANGLE to cue up a joke. To get all of Ellie's Jokes in this segment you have to keep pressing TRIANGLE until she stops. And it's going to take a LONG time. Sit there and wait if you want 100% completion.

Left Behind Optional Conversation 12: Photo Booth

After you're done with jokes, head down the steps to the right of the carousel. You'll see a photobooth lit up.

Head over to it and interact with it. Inside, you'll get to take pictures with Riley (and even share them on social media). This also counts as the final Optional Conversation of the DLC.

When you're ready, follow Riley up the escalator and to the second floor. Directly ahead of you, you'll see an arcade. Head inside.

We'll want to look for two arcade booths in here. First of all, you'll want to track down the Jak X race car machine on the left. Interact with it and Ellie will play out a sequence where she pretends to be driving (and also throws shade at the game...). That'll pop the Not Everyone's Perfect trophy for you.

After that's claimed, head to The Turning cabinet on the right-hand side of the arcade. You can interact with that too. After a short cutscene, you'll enter a mini-game, with Riley describing what's happening as you put in button inputs. The inputs will be displayed in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.

You'll need to input them before the time runs out to avoid being hit. If you can complete all the button prompts without a single one timing out, then you'll pop the Angel Knives trophy. Congrats if you did that. Beating Black Fang without losing any health would almost be like... a flawless victory or something... wouldn't it?

After performing a grisly fatality, you'll cue a cutscene. When it ends, we'll find ourselves in a maintenance tunnel. Follow the route until you reach Riley, cueing a second cutscene. Once it ends, it's time for war.

The Water Fight

When we leave the cutscene, it's time for the truest test The Last of Us has offered yet. Pick up that super soaker cause we're about to have a water fight for the ages.

The rules for this mini-game are simple. Tap R2 repeatedly to reload the water gun and then aim and hold R2 to fire. You can see how drenched both Ellie and Riley are in the bottom corner, so the idea is to fill up Riley's bar as quickly as possible.

Take cover behind the nearby display cases and fire when ready. Riley will attempt to strafe out the way, but will stop firing accurately if you hit her before she hits you. Circle around the display case to stop her from flanking you and you'll eventually win.

However, that's only the first step of this game. Step two is a game where Riley hides and Ellie seeks her out with the water gun. Whoever gets hit first loses. After Ellie's finished counting, listen out for Riley's footsteps as you run around. It shouldn't take her long to run out in the open at which point you shoot her.

We'll then play for a third time. This time, Riley will play a little smarter, although the general tactic is the same. Walk forward, listen for footsteps, take the shot. Win and that's the end of the mini-game. You'll cue a nice long cutscene.

The Enemy of My Enemy

When we regain control, we'll be back in the current timeline. Head forward and round the corner after exiting the helicopter.

Left Behind Artifact 11: Crew Photo

After heading around the corner, look to your right for a doorway into a path labelled "Hard Hat Area". It'll have a "no entry" sign above it.

At the end of this path is the Crew Photo. Add it to the rucksack.

Return to the path and vault over the cart towards the Octopus Records store. As you do, two hunters will run from a nearby shop while being pursued by a clicker. When the clickers are dead, it'll just be you and three hunters.

Take out the one on the left with the newly acquired bow that landed to your right, and then move through the record shop taking out the other two when they're on their own. After they're dead, loot all the arrows and crafting items nearby.

Left Behind Artifact 12: Duct Recorder

When you're ready, move down the path to the right of the record shop, passing the restrooms and the vending machine and entering the vent at the end of the route.

Follow the blood trail through the vent and you'll find the last soldier. Take the recorder next to him to find the final artifact of the chapter.

At the end of the vent, you'll arrive at a sports shop. You'll see a swarm of infected below you and four hunters entering the store. There's only one thing to do here. Grab a brick or a bottle and throw it at one of the survivors. The infected will run for them, setting both sides against each other.

After the chaos has subsided, leave the shop and head for the overturned vending machine outside. Climb up and over, landing in a large store. Grab any supplies you can then move forward. A group of hunters will come down the icy slope in front of you. Luckily, our new tactic will work wonders against them.

Wait for them to move towards you and hit one with a bottle. Infected will come flooding out of the room to your right, taking down the hunters. Move through the chaos and ascend the icy slope. At the top, you'll find a shutter. Pry it open to re-enter the entrance to the mall.

As we approach the store we left Joel in, we'll hear hunters talking ahead. Time for our final battle. We'll have to take all these guys out with the small amount of equipment we have. This can be difficult, mainly as supplies are scarce and the game doesn't prep you for the fact you're going to be facing several waves of enemies. For the first wave, play things quiet. Use distraction items to lure the hunters away and take them out one by one.

After you take out the final hunter of this wave, loot every item you can in the area. When you're geared up, go to the padlock outside of Swirls Frozen Yoghurt and interact with it. Another wave of hunters will appear, although these enemies know where you are and will come out guns blazing. Dip away from the boxes near the padlock and head inside the shop to your left.

Find cover and, if you have enough bullets, stay there for the duration of the wave, taking out any enemies that come near. After you've dispatched the majority of the hunters, a final wave of infected will join the fray, taking out any final hunters and then coming for you. At this point, run away. When you manage to find a decent amount of space to aim and shoot, turn and take down any infected pursuers. Once all the runners are down, aim for the clickers.

When everything is dead, return to the door and interact with the padlock again.

Escape From Liberty Gardens

We'll now cut back to the past one final time. When we catch up with young Ellie and Riley, they've barricaded a door to keep the infected out.

When you regain control, follow Riley until she reaches a steel shutter. Help her open it and then crawl beneath it. Grab the cart nearby and wedge it beneath the shutter. Continue following Riley.

In the next area, jump through an open truck nearby and then sprint to the door on the opposite side of the room. When you arrive, keep following Riley and then crawl through the narrow space between the boxes and the wall ahead.

Riley will get attacked by a runner, so stab her attacker and then continue following her. The rest of the chase mostly sees you sticking to Riley like glue until you scale a scaffolding outside.

Climb to the very top and Ellie will slip, cueing a cutscene. Kick your feet up and watch the scene play out. You've completed Left Behind.