With the PS5 remastered edition of The Last of Us Part II, Naughty Dog introduced a completely new challenge: No Return—a roguelike survival mode that forces players to adapt to high-stakes combat under randomized conditions. Featuring a diverse roster of playable characters, unpredictable modifiers, and high-pressure scenarios, this mode brings a fresh level of intensity to the game. Here’s everything you need to know to survive and thrive in No Return.
Adapt or Die: Combat and Pacing
No Return shifts the pace dramatically. Unlike the base game where patience and stealth often pay off, this mode pushes you to move.
- Enemies will gradually track your position, so lingering in corners or camping is a losing strategy.
- Keep moving and think quickly—constantly adapt and reposition.
- Scavenge bricks and bottles frequently to create distractions and steer enemies away.
While stealth is still viable, you’re on the clock, and improvisation becomes key.
Play to Your Character’s Strengths
Each character in No Return has unique traits:
- Abby: Aggressive play is rewarded—she heals on melee kills.
- Ellie: Perfect for stealth—can stealth kill clickers without needing shivs.
Understanding and leaning into a character’s strengths makes a massive difference. Play aggressive characters in wave-based scenarios, and save stealth specialists for more methodical runs.
Scavenge Like Your Life Depends On It
Resource management is even more crucial in No Return:
- You’ll need to craft during encounters—not just between them.
- Explore every inch of the map while avoiding or manipulating enemies.
- The materials and gear you collect carry over between rounds.
During intermission, you get two timers:
- Wave Timer – counts down the time until enemies arrive.
- Preparation Timer – only runs while you’re in your backpack menu.
Use this prep window to craft without sacrificing scouting time.
Know Your Mods and When to Risk It
Mods (modifiers) are the chaotic twist that defines No Return. They can:
- Buff you (e.g., increased damage at low health)
- Hinder you (e.g., invisible enemies, explosive bloaters raining from above)
- Alter the battlefield (e.g., arenas littered with tripwire mines)
Don’t just auto-avoid the bad ones. For example:
- Tripwire mines can be used against enemies, too.
- Negative modifiers may come with bigger material rewards.
Balance the risk vs. reward depending on your current loadout and needs.
Spend Smart, Not Fast
It’s tempting to spend currency on every new gadget, but smart players save for golden-tier weapons and powerful upgrades in later rounds.
- Early game: focus on basic survival.
- Mid-late game: cash in for elite gear.
Hold off unless you’re facing a particularly nasty scenario and need the firepower.
The Hideout is Your Sanctuary
Between rounds, you enter a Hideout—a pressure-free zone. Don’t waste it.
- Reload all weapons
- Heal
- Craft key items
Take your time and use this moment to completely prepare before launching into the next encounter.
Customize for the Win
No Return is deeply customizable:
- Set your preferred difficulty, or tweak individual challenge parameters.
- Custom runs allow full control over mods, enemy types, and bosses.
- Best of all? There’s no penalty to progression or unlocks when customizing.
This makes No Return not only challenging but replayable and tailored to your preferences.
Final Thoughts
No Return isn’t just a side mode—it’s a strategic, high-octane roguelike survival gauntlet that rewards flexible thinking, character mastery, and efficient resource management. With a little practice and a lot of adaptability, you’ll not only survive—you’ll dominate the unpredictable challenges it throws at you.
Time to dive back into the ruins—and this time, make every run count.
My Gaming Tutorials 
Leave a comment