Top 7 Shows like The Last of Us to Watch While Waiting for Season 3

Season two of The Last of Us may have just wrapped up, but fans are still reeling from its emotional gut punches, intense character arcs, and hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic world. If you're craving more shows that explore survival, human connection, and the fragile line between hope and despair, you're in luck.

What if a global virus wiped out civilization, and the only hope lay with a time traveler racing against fate? Or what if 2% of the world vanished without explanation, leaving grief, cults, and existential dread in their wake? What if one man's immunity to a zombie virus could be the key to saving humanity, but it came with monstrous side effects?

These shows—and many more—carry the same emotional weight, tension, and thematic depth that made The Last of Us so unforgettable. Check out the full list of the best shows to watch if you loved The Last of Us while you wait for season three.

7. Station Eleven (2021)

Where to Watch: Max
Number of Seasons: 1
Cast: Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Matilda Lawler, David Wilmot

Set in the haunting aftermath of a devastating pandemic, Station Eleven weaves its narrative across two timelines—one during the collapse of civilization and another two decades later. At its heart is a quietly powerful bond between Kirsten, a girl thrust into chaos, and Jeevan, the man who protects her. As society falls, what rises from the ashes isn’t just survival, but a deep reverence for art, memory, and human connection.

Much like The Last of Us, this series doesn’t just focus on the end of the world—it explores why it's still worth living in. The emotional resonance, the emphasis on found family, and the quiet moments of hope amid despair will feel achingly familiar to Joel and Ellie fans. Looking for a beautifully crafted story that redefines what survival really means? Station Eleven is your next must-watch. Hit play and prepare to be moved.

6. Black Summer (2019-2021)

Where to Watch: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 2
Cast: Jaime King, Justin Chu Cary, Kelsey Flower, Christine Lee, Zoe Marlett

If The Last of Us peeled back the layers of the apocalypse to reveal raw human emotion, Black Summer rips the whole thing open and drops you straight into the chaos. Set in the terrifying early days of a zombie outbreak, this pulse-pounding series follows Rose, a mother on a desperate mission to find her daughter. The storytelling is fragmented, the action relentless, and the sense of dread is absolutely unshakable.

What makes it a compelling companion to The Last of Us is its unflinching depiction of survival. Rose’s emotional drive echoes Joel’s — both are fueled by love in the face of overwhelming horror. But Black Summer swaps philosophical reflection for gritty realism, throwing viewers into the heart of a panic-stricken world where trust is rare and danger lurks around every corner.

Craving a no-holds-barred, adrenaline-fueled dive into the apocalypse? Press play on Black Summer—just don’t expect to catch your breath.

5. The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

Where to Watch: Netflix
Number of Seasons: 11
Cast: Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos 

No list of post-apocalyptic shows is complete without the giant that reshaped the genre—The Walking Dead. What began as a survival tale about Rick Grimes waking up in a zombie-infested world quickly evolved into a sweeping saga about power, morality, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Over 11 seasons, we followed an unforgettable ensemble—from the rugged Daryl Dixon to the quietly fierce Carol Peletier—as they battled walkers, rival factions, and their own inner demons. If The Last of Us pulled you in with its morally complex characters and shifting ideas of right and wrong, The Walking Dead delivers that in spades.

It’s less about zombies and more about how people choose to rebuild, protect, and change—often at great personal cost. Characters like Negan blur the line between villain and victim, much like Abby or even Joel himself.

Want a vast, emotionally charged world where survival means more than just staying alive? Dive into The Walking Dead—there’s a reason it became a cultural phenomenon. Plus, with spinoffs galore, the story is far from over.

4. 12 Monkeys (1995)

Where to Watch: Apple TV
Number of Seasons: 4
Cast: Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Kirk Acevedo, Noah Bean

What if the apocalypse didn’t have to happen at all? 12 Monkeys flips the post-apocalyptic genre on its head with a thrilling time-travel twist. Based on the 1995 cult classic, this series follows James Cole, a man from a grim future ravaged by a deadly virus, as he travels back in time to prevent the outbreak. What unfolds is a complex, cerebral battle across timelines—filled with shadowy conspiracies, power-hungry factions, and a surprisingly poignant love story.

While The Last of Us immerses us in a decaying world, 12 Monkeys dares to ask if the collapse can be undone altogether. Both series delve into themes of sacrifice, destiny, and the devastating cost of saving humanity. Also, just like Joel and Ellie, the emotional stakes here are deeply personal—what would you risk to protect the one you love, even if it means rewriting history?

Craving a mind-bending, emotionally rich ride that blends sci-fi spectacle with apocalyptic urgency? Start 12 Monkeys and prepare to question everything—especially time itself.

3. The Leftovers (2014-2017)

Where to Watch: Max
Number of Seasons: 3
Cast: Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Chris Zylka, Carrie Coon

What if the end of the world didn’t come with monsters, but with silence? The Leftovers imagines an Earth forever changed after 2% of the population vanishes without warning. No explanation, no pattern—just absence. And in the wake of this sudden departure, those left behind struggle with an unbearable question: Why not me? Across three haunting seasons, the series delves deep into grief, spiritual crisis, and the desperate search for meaning in a world that no longer makes sense.

Much like The Last of Us, The Leftovers isn’t about the catastrophe itself—it’s about the emotional wreckage it leaves behind. Themes of survivor's guilt, fragile human connection, and the quiet ache of hope are front and center. If you loved the tender, introspective third episode of The Last of Us—yes, that one—The Leftovers turns that emotional depth into its entire essence.

If you're ready for a powerful, slow-burn drama that hits you right in the soul, press play on The Leftovers. It’ll break your heart—and you’ll thank it for doing so.

2. Z Nation (2014-2018)

Where to Watch: Syfy
Number of Seasons: 5
Cast:  DJ Qualls, Keith Allan, Russell Hodgkinson, Kellita Smith, Nat Zang

What if The Last of Us took a detour through chaos, comedy, and a touch of absurd brilliance? That’s Z Nation—Syfy’s wild, unpredictable take on the zombie apocalypse that ran for five deliriously entertaining seasons. Don’t let its offbeat tone fool you: this show packs heart, horror, and surprisingly sharp commentary on survival and sacrifice.

At the center of the chaos is Murphy—not your average survivor. Like Ellie, he's immune to the zombie virus, but his immunity comes with a twist. After being injected with an experimental vaccine, Murphy slowly mutates into a bizarre human-zombie hybrid, teetering on the edge of becoming the very monster he’s supposed to help cure.

Alongside a ragtag group of survivors, including the fearless Roberta Warren and tech-savvy Citizen Z, the journey to save humanity turns into a cross-country road trip full of danger, dark laughs, and downright wild scenarios.

Think of it as the rebellious cousin of The Last of Us—less brooding, more biting (literally), but just as dedicated to asking: what does it mean to survive when the world falls apart? If you like your post-apocalyptic shows with action, heart, and a healthy dose of insanity, Z Nation is your next watch.

1. The Stand (2020-2021)

Where to Watch: Paramount+
Number of Seasons: 1
Cast: James Marsden, Odessa Young, Owen Teague, Alexander Skarsgård 

At the top of the post-apocalyptic throne sits The Stand—a sweeping epic of good vs. evil straight from the master of horror himself, Stephen King. In a world decimated by a government-engineered superflu that wipes out 99% of humanity, what remains isn't just ruins and sorrow—it’s a brutal battle for the soul of what's left.

As the dust settles, two camps emerge. On one side: the gentle, prophetic Mother Abagail and her band of moral survivors. On the other: the sinister, magnetic Randall Flagg, a dark messiah with devilish powers and a chilling smile. With civilization gone and only chaos in its place, The Stand transforms into a haunting spiritual war, where every character must decide if they’ll stand for light or be seduced by darkness.

This 2020 limited series brings new life to King’s iconic novel with a star-studded cast including James Marsden, Alexander Skarsgård, and Whoopi Goldberg. And while it shares The Last of Us’s DNA in exploring the human condition after a plague, The Stand raises the stakes—offering a cataclysm not just of survival, but of faith, destiny, and the eternal struggle between hope and despair.

If you're looking for the ultimate story of humanity on the edge, where every choice could tip the scale between salvation and ruin, The Stand reigns supreme.