The Last Of Us: Echoes Of The Past Perfectly Bridges The Gap Between Games

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Published Mar 14, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT

Known as 'Cyberpunk 2077's' biggest fan, Angharad is a Welsh games writer who thrives in anything related to digital storytelling. If a video game explores the intricacies and horrors of womanhood, she is there.

Thanks to previous work at GAMINGbible, GameByte, The Loadout, Game Luster, Angharad has built a strong understanding of both the digital world and what fans want from it and is eager to share her thoughts and expertise with readers.

Since The Last of Us released on the PlayStation 3 way back in 2013, its popularity has seen the franchise grow into a household name thanks to multiple remasters, an award-winning sequel, and even a television show that is expected to run for three seasons. Telling the story of a smuggler tasked with transporting a young girl across a post-apocalyptic America, the story has captured both hearts and minds for over a decade, and the love for the Naughty Dog franchise shows no signs of slowing down.

The Last Of Us: Echoes Of The Past Is A Great Prequel

At the time of writing, The Last of Us franchise consists of The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II, with a third installment not yet having been officially confirmed by Naughty Dog. However, with many fans feeling as though the story is far from over, a call for a third entry is as prevalent as ever, but in the meantime, there is one release which could serve as the prequel we all deserve.

Created by Lumen Productions, The Last of Us: Echoes of the Past is a fan-film set after the events of the first game, and just before the second, offering us an insight into what Joel and Ellie were up to in the aftermath of their tryst with the Fireflies. The film, which can be viewed on Lumen Production's YouTube page, follows the pair as they embark on a series of scavenging missions, and considering that this is a mere fan-film, its production and cinematography are not to be scoffed at.

When a horde overruns the outskirts of Jackson, Joel and Ellie are separated in the chaos. While Joel desperately searches for her, Ellie is left alone to fight the infected in the dark and memories that refuse to let go.

The Last Of Us Fans Are Seriously Dedicated

With real-life actors and a dedicated crew behind it, The Last of Us: Echoes of the Past is just one of many examples as to why The Last of Us fans are some of the most creative in the gaming sphere. "That was a great job," one glowing review read. "The actor of Ellie was awesome, the actor of Joel was awesome too, and that was more than a fan-made. I hope you make the next episodes soon if you have any plans for that. Good luck." Another agreed, adding, "This is good work. It clearly feels "fan-madey" but still captures all the important parts just right. And while I know it's not ideal to compare works, this Ellie feels more like Ellie than HBO-Ellie ever did."

With season three of HBO's The Last of Us expected to be the last, and with The Last of Us Part III not yet being announced by Naughty Dog, it is fan projects such as The Last of Us: Echoes of the Past that may just keep us going following the content drought, and if they are at this level of professionalism, I cannot wait to see more.