The Last of Us (opens in new tab) is still months away from being released on PC. Nevertheless, with a TV premiere scheduled for next week, it would be a great way to enjoy Naughty Dog's film while waiting for the game's release.

While movies based on video games don't exactly set the world alight, it's quite different when it comes to recent TV adaptations: shows like Arcane (open in new tab) and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (open in new tab) have received widespread acclaim, while Halo TV series (open in new tab) are not bad (and gave us the opportunity to do this (open in new tab))

Judging by the critical response, "The Last of Us" is likely to join the ranks, with a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (opens in new tab) across dozens of critical reviews, enjoying such breathtaking superlatives as:

Of course, the show is not perfect; in its review, the BBC noted that some scenes are "too gamey for television" and that the second half of the series feels a bit run down. And, of course, the power of "immersing oneself in that world" through gameplay is not present in the non-interactive version of the story.

"And yet I don't feel the slightest objection to calling this the best game adaptation of all time," wrote reviewer Stephen Kelly, bringing things back to the "pretty close to perfect" lane. For fans of the game, it's a supremely crafted, respectful, yet surprising adaptation, and for those who've never held a controller, it's the heart and soul of the game - a condensed version of its bloodthirsty characters, neat plot, and mature themes of love and loss." It is, to borrow Ellie's joke, "an outstanding work in its field."

"Critics are not infallible, and your assessments will vary, but when you see this all-encompassing consensus, you have to wonder if maybe they're on to something.

The Last of Us will air on HBO (open in new tab) and HBO Max on January 15 in the US and on Sky Atlantic and Now on January 16 in the UK. Fair warning to PC gamers who plan to play The Last of Us for the first time in March: the TV version may differ from the game, but it will still reveal important aspects of the story, so you may want to avoid watching the show until you fully understand it.