Being a roguelite mode, The Last of Us Part II Remastered's No Return play mode can feel overwhelming, especially during the first couple of runs. With upgrades and weapons having to be procured as the run proceeds, you need excellent knowledge of the game's combat mechanics to complete runs successfully.
And yet, things are not as complicated as they may look like at a glance. No Return mode is actually quite manageable if you keep a few things in mind as you plan your run and defeat all the enemies that will get in your way.
How to Complete Runs Easily in The Last of Us Part II Remastered No Return Mode
While it is true you do not have much control in No Return mode, you still have enough to plan a run with as little trouble as possible. For example, you can pick a path with the Encounter types that you feel more confident completing. As a general rule, you may want to avoid the Hunter Encounters as much as possible, as they are more challenging, and enemy waves don't stop until the timer runs out. If you haven't had much luck with weapons, or you are low on resources or crafting components, this Encounter type is likely to be your last.
Which Encounter type in The Last of Us Part II Remastered No Return mode you may feel more confident in depends on a lot of factors, but generally, you may want to pick a path that features those your character is best suited for. Lev, to make an example, is a stealth-oriented character, so picking Assault Encounters, where enemies start in search is a very good idea, as you will have the time to survey the map, grab resources, and start laying out ambushes. On the other hand, characters who are more offense-oriented, like Abby and Joel, work great in Assault Encounters with enemies starting in offense and even Hunted encounters. When picking encounters, also always make sure to pick those with favorable Encounter mods, as the increased rewards you can get for unfavorable ones are often not worth it. Unless you have mastered the game's combat system to a high degree, you will have a hard time dealing, for example, with invisible enemies.
With all the randomness involved, completing No Return runs sometimes boils down to luck. Luckily, the game doesn't feature any content locked behind difficulty, so you are not forced to play at, say, Grounded mode to experience everything this The Last of Us Part II Remastered new play mode has to offer. In case things feel too difficult for you, just lower the difficulty. It will result in a more enjoyable experience and will potentially prepare you for harder difficulties should you want to increase the challenge level in the future.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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