In the HBO series The Last of Us , a fungal infection has taken over Earth, rendering the United States an apocalyptic landscape that protagonists Joel and Ellie need to traverse. Fans unfamiliar with the video game, from which the series was adapted, might assume this is just another zombie show packed with action and gore. However, the series, whose first season recently concluded, has not only won over gamers with high expectations, but also people who don’t play video games. “No one could have anticipated this, this reaction and how positive it’s been and how broad it’s been in its reach,” says Neil Druckmann, Naughty Dog co-president and the creator and writer of the video game, who was also the co-creator, writer and an executive producer on the show. “And to see a whole bunch of new people connecting with these characters … and hearing how they interpret the material and what they like or not like, it’s just been really fascinating to me,” he says. The series premiere drew 4.7 million viewers in the US, based on Nielsen and HBO data, making for HBO’s second-largest debut, behind House of the Drago n. HBO said the finale drew a series high of 8.2 million people. The show explores relatable themes like coming of age, grief, finding hope and parenthood. It’s not all about zombies – the infected create the conflict, but aren’t the only antagonists, for there are worse and scarier things lurking in this apocalypse. The performances haven’t gone unnoticed by fans, who are already speculating about Emmy nominations for both Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel, and Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie. Shazam! Fury of the Gods: curse of the DC Extended Universe strikes again The show’s plot is simple, but the key to its success is complex characters, explains avid gamer, writer and filmmaker Michael Tucker. “I think, because it’s focused on those character arcs and relationships, and how the story world puts pressure to force those forward, those things are really accessible and universal,” says Tucker, the creator of the YouTube channel Lessons from the Screenplay. The television format allows the plot and characters to develop slowly, unlike a movie. With a video game played for hours, that length helps the viewers develop empathy toward the characters. Video games being recognised as a form of storytelling isn’t new. Kim Shay, 26, isn’t a gamer, but she saw social media buzz around the video game years before the HBO series was even announced. She watched full playthrough videos of the game on YouTube and was immediately captivated by the story. “The storytelling is immaculate on that game,” Shay says. Video game adaptations are turning heads in Hollywood. Netflix has had success with its own video game adaptations, Arcane , adapted from the online game League of Legends , and Castlevania , adapted from a gothic horror action-adventure video game series of the same name. But at the same time, others have flopped. Creating a successful adaptation isn’t as simple as recreating the game shot for shot. But having the game’s creators involved in the project was something that made The Last of Us , whose critically acclaimed first instalment was released on PlayStation 3 a decade ago, special. While Druckmann played a big role in the series, voice actors from the video game acted on the show as well – including Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, who voiced Joel and Ellie in the game. Creators need to have an open mind on what stays and what changes, Druckmann says. As Hollywood looks toward more video games, Druckmann emphasises that the love and hard work that goes into a video game should still be the main priority to its creators. “It’s my love for video games, it’s paramount,” Druckmann says. “The stuff that’s exciting to me is we’re always trying to do something new, because the language of what a video game story can be is broader than any other medium.”