How Many Episodes Are in The Last of Us? Full HBO Series Guide and Release Schedule

Wondering exactly how many episodes are in HBO’s hit adaptation of “The Last of Us”? Season 1 delivers a tightly paced run of nine episodes, each designed to capture a crucial chapter from the acclaimed PlayStation game while expanding the backstory of Joel, Ellie, and the post-pandemic world they inhabit. Episode count and release order 1. Episode 1 – “When You’re Lost in the Darkness” 2. Episode 2 – “Infected” 3. Episode 3 – “Long, Long Time” 4. Episode 4 – “Please Hold to My Hand” 5. Episode 5 – “Endure and Survive” 6. Episode 6 – “Kin” 7. Episode 7 – “Left Behind” 8. Episode 8 – “When We Are in Need” 9. Episode 9 – “Look for the Light” Key details every fan should know • Total episodes: 9 • Average runtime: 50–60 minutes (Episode 1 runs 81 minutes; the finale is 43 minutes) • Streaming home: Max (formerly HBO Max) in the U.S.; local HBO partners or Sky Atlantic/Now in many regions • Binge vs. weekly: All nine episodes are now available on-demand, so you can marathon the entire season in roughly 8 hours. Why only nine episodes? Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann opted for nine installments to mirror the game’s seasonal arcs without filler. Combining select plot beats—like merging two chapters into Episode 1—kept the narrative lean yet emotionally impactful. Episode highlights • Episode 3 is already hailed as one of TV’s best standalone love stories, offering new material beyond the game. • Episode 5 drops mid-week during its original run to avoid Super Bowl overlap, an unusual scheduling twist that now sits seamlessly in the streaming lineup. • The finale, Episode 9, faithfully recreates the game’s climactic hospital sequence while adding subtle character nuances that fuel debate among longtime fans. Will Season 2 have more episodes? HBO has confirmed a second season that begins adapting “The Last of Us Part II.” Early interviews hint at a storyline spanning multiple seasons, but the exact episode count remains unannounced. Expect updates closer to the production start date; filming is slated to commence once current industry schedules align. FAQs How long does it take to watch the whole season? Plan on eight to nine hours, including bathroom breaks and the credits’ haunting music. Is there a post-credits scene? No traditional Marvel-style tags, but Episode 9 ends with an impactful cut-to-black that serves as its own conversation starter. Do I need to play the game first? Not at all. The show stands on its own, yet playing the game adds extra context to character motivations and Easter eggs sprinkled throughout each episode. Bottom line If you searched “how many episodes in The Last of Us,” the magic number is nine. With every chapter now streaming, it’s the perfect time to experience one of television’s most lauded video-game adaptations before Season 2 expands the saga.