Many things have changed since The Last of Us’ initial outing in 2013, and with a rumored remake of Naughty Dog’s smash hit currently in development, it’s not hard imagining the kinds of changes the team may bring to the game.

Since The Last of Us’ release, Naughty Dog has released two phenomenal games in Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us Part 2, each bringing new improvements and groundbreaking features. So, naturally, fan’s minds are currently running wild with the kinds of modifications and updates the remake of The Last of Us might hold. Naughty Dog has learned many things in the past few years and keeps pushing the industry forward with each new release, so it comes as no surprise that many fans are looking forward to experiencing the story all over again.

10 Accessibility Options

The Last of Us Part 2 is easily the most accessible game of its size and scope. Naughty Dog put a ton of effort into allowing just about anyone curious about the game to be able to play it.

As for the first Last of Us, however, there aren’t nearly as many accessibility options for players to fine-tune their experience. It would be incredible to see these features implemented into the remake to enable players from all over to access it.

9 Gameplay Improvements

After Naughty Dog released The Last of Us, they have since put out Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us Part 2. Both games have improved on Naughty Dog’s gameplay mechanics and flow significantly.

Although a great game, The Last of Us hasn’t aged exceptionally well in its gameplay. Movements can feel stiff, and the gunplay isn’t particularly noteworthy either. However, if Naughty Dog implements its polished gameplay from Uncharted 4 and Part 2, The Last of Us would essentially have the one thing holding it back wholly fixed.

8 Improved Cutscenes

Naughty Dog has significantly improved upon its MOCAP and facial capture for their cutscenes, which goes a long way to sell emotional moments.

While the first Last of Us has incredibly emotional moments and great cutscenes, having them remade with Naughty Dog’s latest tech would be awesome, especially the moments that focus on the characters’ faces and emotions.

7 Frame Rate Options

When The Last of Us initially launched on the PlayStation 3, it was locked 30fps and later received a 60fps boost with the PlayStation 4’s Remaster. The Last of Us Part 2 may follow the same process as it launched at 30fps and has eager fans expecting a 60fps patch on the PlayStation 5.

However, it would be nice to see an option for 60/120fps with lower quality graphics and a 30fps option for those who want to see the game running at its maximum potential.

6 Difficulty Settings

The Last of Us may have had Difficulty Options, but Part 2 took it a step further and allowed players to fine-tune the game to their likings.

In The Last of Us Part 2, not only do players have the opportunity to pick between various options of difficulty, but they can also adjust the difficulty for several different gameplay scenarios. Things such as resources found, stealth, friendly AI aggressiveness, enemy behavior, etc., can all be customized. It is a brilliant and valuable addition to the game that needs to return to the remake.

5 Better Stealth

The stealth in The Last of Us Part 2 is genuinely one of the best parts of the game and can significantly heighten its tone and atmosphere. Additionally, if players are patient enough, they can even skip significant parts of the game by being stealthy.

While there is stealth in The Last of Us, it isn’t nearly as effective as Part 2’s and can often feel tedious or unnecessary. In Part 2, stealth felt essential to the gameplay, and it would be great to see this mechanic become a viable solution in the first game.

4 The Workbench

The Workbench in The Last of Us Part 2 is a vast improvement over its predecessor and would make an incredible addition to The Last of Us.

Seeing what type of modifications Ellie and Joel put on their weapons adds immensely to the immersion. Additionally, having different upgrades for the weapons would also be welcomed. Part 2 struck an outstanding balance with its workbench/crafting system, and it would make a great addition to the first one.

3 Open Area Sections

The Last of Us is known for having sections where the player can roam the area and take a breather after an intense battle. However, The Last of Us Part 2 handled this incredibly well, and it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to expand areas in the remake of the first game.

The Last of Us Part 2 had sprawling areas that the player could spend hours walking around and talking to their partner. While the first game does have these moments, the sites aren’t all that big or have many buildings and pathways blocked off. Opening those up would make the world feel more lively and allow for more conversation between them.

2 Smarter AI

Being discarded by some as a “whack-a-mole shooter,” the first Last of Us was hardly a challenge in its gameplay or gunplay. Since that time, Naughty Dog has improved its AI significantly, which can shake the remake up.

In The Last of Us Part 2, the AI will react to the player in practically any situation. If you stay behind too long, they will smoke you out or attempt to flank you. Are you taking them out from long range? They will try to utilize cover to try and move closer to you. They feel more lifelike and reactive to what you do, and the remake drastically needs it.

1 Better Gunplay

Naughty Dog’s past six titles have been cover-based third-person shooters, which they have improved upon drastically with every iteration. The Last of Us, unfortunately, doesn’t have the best gunplay.

The good news, though, is that since The Last of Us’ release, Naughty Dog stepped up its game in terms of how the core shooting mechanics work with Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us Part 2. Having the overhauled, refined, and nearly perfected gunplay in this remake would make the game fire on every cylinder.

NEXT: The Last of Us Part 2: Every Deleted Scene That Didn’t Make It Into The Final Game