If HBO’s gripping series The Last of Us has left you craving more stories about survival, zombies, and emotional human drama set in devastated worlds, you’ve come to the right place. The show—based on Naughty Dog’s acclaimed video game—offers not just thrilling action, but also deep character exploration and moral complexity against a backdrop of societal collapse.
While Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger and teased adaptations beyond the original game, there are plenty of novels that echo the same themes of loss, resilience, and what it means to survive when everything falls apart.
Here’s a curated list of 10 books like The Last of Us, perfect for fans who want terrifying creatures, fungal pandemics, broken societies—and the brave souls navigating them.
1. Severance by Ling Ma
This prescient novel—published just before the real-life global pandemic—follows Candace Chen, a millennial navigating New York City as society begins breaking down due to “Shen Fever,” a mysterious fungal outbreak that turns people into zombie-like husks.
What makes Severance especially compelling is its blend of satire, existential dread, and reflections on modern life. While less action-packed than The Last of Us, it hits many of the same emotional beats—loneliness, isolation, and clinging to normalcy in the face of chaos.
💡 If you’re inspired by this kind of speculative storytelling and want to write your own dystopian tale, start with how to structure a novel —a guide that will help you map out your worldbuilding and pacing effectively.
2. Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin
In a world devastated by a testosterone-targeted plague, only those assigned female at birth remain fully human. Beth and Fran, two trans women struggling to survive in this new patriarchy-free world, must contend with both monstrous men and hostile TERF factions who reject their identities.
This gritty, gory, and deeply political story marries horror with identity politics in a way that will resonate with fans of The Last of Us’ complex characterization and social commentary.
3. The Stand by Stephen King
King’s sprawling apocalyptic epic centers around a superflu that wipes out most of the population, leaving survivors to form factions—one led by a benevolent elder, the other by a malevolent force known as Randall Flagg.
Like The Last of Us, The Stand isn’t just about surviving the disaster—it’s about choosing sides, exploring faith, and confronting evil both within and without.
4. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
After a deadly flu wipes out most of civilization, Station Eleven follows a traveling theater troupe wandering across North America preserving art and memory in a world where little else remains.
With its non-linear narrative and focus on memory, connection, and legacy, Station Eleven offers a quieter, more reflective take on the apocalypse—but one no less powerful.
📝 Looking to experiment with timeline structures like Station Eleven? Learn how to plan your story carefully with our detailed article on structuring your novel.
5. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
This unique take on the zombie genre introduces Melanie, a young girl infected with a fungus-based disease that creates ravenous undead hordes. Unlike others, she’s intelligent, compassionate—and possibly the future of humanity.
Fans of Ellie from The Last of Us will find much to love in Melanie’s journey—a child caught between empathy and destruction, science and survival.
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6. The Passage by Justin Cronin
A government experiment goes horribly wrong, unleashing vampiric monsters upon the world. Decades later, humanity struggles to survive while a small group searches for hope and redemption.
Cronin’s blend of thriller, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic horror mirrors The Last of Us in scope and tone—blending character-driven drama with high octane moments.
7. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
Set in a near-future America collapsing under climate change and economic disparity, this groundbreaking novel follows Lauren Olamina as she flees her crumbling neighborhood and builds a new philosophy for survival.
Butler’s prescient vision of societal decline and community-building after collapse makes Parable of the Sower essential reading—not just for fans of The Last of Us, but for anyone interested in ethical leadership and resilience.
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8. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, The Road follows a father and son walking through a barren, ash-covered wasteland, trying to survive in a world stripped of meaning.
Its sparse prose and emotional depth make it a haunting experience—much like The Last of Us. It’s bleak, yes, but also deeply moving and unforgettable.
📘 Writing a novel that tugs at heartstrings requires precision and planning. Check out common mistakes when writing a book to ensure your draft stays impactful and polished.
9. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
When a mysterious sleeping sickness spreads across the U.S., those afflicted begin walking aimlessly toward an unknown destination. As society unravels, a collection of unlikely allies tries to uncover the truth behind the phenomenon.
Part tech-thriller, part horror, and part sci-fi, Wanderers merges multiple genres into a sweeping, chaotic narrative that feels eerily plausible.
10. The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
Though not strictly a post-apocalyptic tale, this gothic horror explores the consequences of playing god with life and death—something that resonates deeply with The Last of Us’ central theme of sacrifice over ethics.
It’s a dark, psychological ride that dives into the morality of scientific experimentation and personal cost—all wrapped in lush, atmospheric prose.
📘 If you’re ready to explore darker themes in your own writing, remember that Book Publishing LLC offers editorial support tailored to genre fiction, helping you refine your voice and vision for publication.
Final Thoughts
The Last of Us didn’t just bring zombies back into the cultural spotlight—it redefined them by grounding horror in humanity. Whether you’re drawn to fungal plagues, fractured families, or the moral dilemmas of survival, these books offer similar thrills, scares, and emotional depth.
And if any of these stories have inspired you to try your hand at writing your own dystopian saga, don’t forget to do your homework:
✔️ Start with a clear structure
✔️ Avoid rookie errors
✔️ Plan your publishing path ahead of time
Whether you’re writing for fun or aiming for publication, Book Publishing LLC is here to help turn your ideas into polished, professional books that readers can’t put down.
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Leave a comment below and tell us which post-apocalyptic books you’d add to this list—we’d love to hear from you!