How will The Last of Us end? How the game’s dramatic conclusion reveals the details of the season finale

The Last of Us has been critically acclaimed as the best video game adaptation of all time, but it’s coming to an end soon.

The post-apocalyptic thriller has proven to be a huge hit with audiences and is “approaching” an average of 30 million viewers per episode on HBO Max and other on-demand viewing options.

But since it’s based on an immensely popular PlayStation game of the same name, which debuted in 2013, can viewers expect it to end in a similar fashion?

Here, FEMAIL explores what could happen in the series finale on Sunday based on the game’s own dramatic conclusion.

The series is based on a video game of the same name that has basically the same plot (Ellie and Joel in the video game, pictured)

The Last of Us is set in an alternate United States that has been devastated by a mutated Cordyceps fungus that turns humans into terrifying creatures and has wiped out most of humanity.

The series centers on Joel (Pedro Pascal), who has been tasked with taking a young woman named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to the West, hoping that her immunity to the fungus could help create a cure.

So far, the story has largely followed that of the game created by publisher Naughty Dog with a few notable alterations. including the change in the overall timeline, as well as the in-depth exploration of the relationship between lovers Bill and Frank.

But, with the series finale set to air on March 12, fans are wondering if it will deviate from its source material yet again.

The PlayStation game comes to a dramatic conclusion after Joel and Ellie finally catch up with a group of fireflies in Salt Lake City, Utah.

One of the leaders tells Joel that they can create a vaccine by extracting the mutant strain of the Cordyceps fungus from the teenager’s brain.

She describes it as a “necessary procedure” but admits that Ellie would not survive the surgery.

But that’s a sacrifice that Joel is not willing to do and instead goes in for the kill to save Ellie from the operating table.

The PlayStation game comes to a dramatic conclusion after Joel and Ellie finally catch up with a group of fireflies in Salt Lake City, Utah (in-game still)

One of the leaders tells Joel that they can create a vaccine by extracting the mutant strain of the Cordyceps fungus from the teenager’s brain (in-game image)

She describes it as a “necessary procedure” but admits that Ellie wouldn’t survive the surgery, but that’s a sacrifice Joel isn’t willing to make (in-game screenshot).

The 14-year-old boy wakes up after the whole ordeal is over to Joel leading them out of town before he lies to him about what just happened (game frame)

The 14-year-old wakes up after the whole ordeal is over to Joel leading them away from town.

He lies about what just happened and convinces her that the fireflies had already found other people immune but were unable to create a cure.

The pair return to their brother Tommy’s settlement of Jackson, Wyoming before the game ends.

It seems likely that the series will end in a similar fashion, having been set up all along with the same overarching plot.

It’s important to note that the HBO series has already been renewed for a second season, which will be based at least partially on the video game sequel.

In the build up to its release, fans have said they are hopeful that series one “ends the same way the game did.”

In the build up to its release, fans have said they are hopeful that series one “ends the same way the game did.”

One wrote: “Excited for the people who didn’t play the game to witness The Last of Us season finale.”

Another added: “As someone who has played our last game, I can’t wait to see how people react to the season finale next week.”

And a third said: ‘People are not ready for The Last Of Us season finale.

“I can’t wait to see the reactions from people who don’t know anything about the game.”