The Last of Us Part 3 Needs to Steal an Acclaimed Game Mechanic from Space Marine 2 to Stay Relevant

The Last of Us series has been one of the best in gaming and The Last of Us Part 3 is one of the most awaited titles. Naughty Dog and Neil Druckmann have already confirmed that a third title is coming and we know exactly what they can do with the upcoming game.

What the third title could do is use the Swarm Engine seen in games like Space Marine 2. Why you ask? Well, hordes are an established trope in zombie media. Apart from that, we’ve seen it done well already in games like Days Gone. But with the Swarm Engine, it can reach a height of quality that we haven’t seen before.

The Last of Us Part 3 Has So Many Options To Explore

The Last of Us Part 2 took daring steps in character development. The depiction of Ellie’s maturation and moral struggles amidst a broken world was full of controversial narrative decisions, and Naughty Dog could build on this in Part 3.

In the upcoming sequel, one thing the devs could do is take inspiration from a popular zombie media trope and add hordes. Ellie could face even more challenges not just from single enemies but from swarming groups like we often see on TV or in other games.

I’ve seen enough, the swarm engine is another custom engine better than UE5 pic.twitter.com/2oa3pymHuy

— Dante (@TheoCrusaderr) October 15, 2024

One of the reasons Space Marine 2 has garnered so much attention is its proprietary Swarm Engine, which allows for hundreds of enemies to swarm the player simultaneously.

I have understood why I love risk of rain(1, 2, returns) Helldivers 2, and Space marine 2… They’re horde shooters, and I have very bad aim, so I technically hit all my shots just cause there’s so many of them pic.twitter.com/JAVCjCkhlT

— Ol’ Apprentice (@YaBoiApprentice) September 22, 2024

Another reason Naughty Dog may want to look at Space Marine 2’s mechanics is that the swarm concept could create a unique story dynamic in TLOU Part 3. Ellie’s character arc, which has evolved from a teenage survivor to a vengeful fighter, could

The Story Could Also Use The Swarm Feature

There’s also the question of how The Last of Us can keep its emotional storytelling while integrating large-scale, swarm-based combat. The relationship between Ellie and her surrogate father figure, Joel, and her own growth as a survivor is the series’ emotional backbone.

Naughty Dog has already outlined The Last of Us 3, but it’s not in development yet.

Neil Druckmann says “I did write an outline for a story, that we’re not making – but I hope one day can see the light of day – that explores a little bit what happens after this game. We’ll see.” pic.twitter.com/K5fA8xDte1

— The Last of Us News (@LastofUsPartII) April 28, 2021

In Part 3, Ellie could assume a role as a guardian or mentor to a new character, such as JJ. Imagine a situation where Ellie is fighting for her life but also defending Dina or JJ from an infected swarm. In a way, it would add to her already-developing character

Unlike Space Marine 2’s battlefield-oriented approach, The Last of Us thrives on slow-burn suspense and psychological tension. A swarm of enemies, if managed with The Last of Us’ more grounded approach, could serve as a metaphor for Ellie’s relentless inner battles.

Given the anticipation surrounding The Last of Us Part 3, fans are eager to see where the devs will take us next. Director Neil Druckmann has hinted at an outline for Part 3, though no specific details have been revealed.

Do you think this would work in TLOU Part 3? Let us know in the comments!