Mastering The Last of Us Part II Remastered: A Grounded+ Difficulty Run Guide

When I first loaded up The Last of Us Part II Remastered on my PlayStation 5, I thought I knew what I was getting into. I had beaten the original on hard, survived a few permadeath attempts, and felt ready for the Grounded+ difficulty. I was wrong. The Grounded+ difficulty run is not just a harder version of the game. It is a complete rethink of how you approach every encounter, every resource, and every movement. After spending weeks on a no damage run with all collectibles, I learned things about Naughty Dog's design that I never noticed before.

What Makes Grounded+ Different

Grounded mode in the original game was already punishing. Enemies hit harder, supplies are scarce, and you have less health. Grounded+ takes that foundation and removes almost all of your safety nets. Listen mode is gone. No more wallhacks to see enemy positions. Healing is slower and less effective. The biggest change is that you die in one or two hits from most attacks. On a grounded+ difficulty run, a single mistake often means restarting the encounter.

I am not exaggerating when I say that the first few hours of my grounded+ difficulty run were brutal. The encounter in the supermarket with Ellie Williams felt impossible until I realized I had to use every tool available. Bricks, bottles, the environment, and patience. Rushing never works. Naughty Dog crafted these spaces with multiple paths and sightlines, and Grounded+ forces you to learn them.

Preparing for the Run

Before I started, I made sure I had a solid understanding of the game's mechanics. The remastered version on PS5 runs at a smooth 4K resolution with HDR, and the DualSense controller adds another layer of feedback. Every arrow drawn, every melee hit, every click of the workbench feels more tactile. For a grounded+ difficulty run, that feedback matters because it helps you read the room.

One of the first things I did was map out every workbench location. Workbenches let you upgrade weapons and craft tools, and on Grounded+ you need every upgrade you can get. The skill upgrades are also critical. I prioritized stealth and movement skills early on. The game gives you a 300 percent increase in skill points compared to lower difficulties, which sounds generous until you realize you need every single one to survive.

Another key preparation was deciding on chronological mode. This is a new feature in the remastered version. It replays the story in strict chronological order rather than the original dual timeline. Playing through Abby Anderson's sections and Ellie's sections in the order they happen actually helped me understand the encounter design better. I could see how Naughty Dog built tension across both perspectives without the narrative jumps. For a grounded+ difficulty run, chronological mode is a fresh way to experience the game, though it does not change the actual difficulty.

The No Damage Challenge

A no damage run on Grounded+ is a different beast. You cannot afford to get hit even once. That means every encounter has to be near perfect. I spent hours on some sections, learning enemy patrol routes, sightlines, and the exact timing of their alerts. The game's AI is smarter than most people give it credit for. Enemies flank, call out positions, and search methodically. On a grounded+ difficulty run, you learn to respect that AI.

One trick I found essential was using the photo mode to pause the game and study the environment. Photo mode freezes the action, letting you look around corners and spot enemies you might have missed. It is not cheating, it is a tool. The game even has a dedicated photo mode button on the DualSense controller. I used it constantly.

Collectibles add an extra layer of difficulty. You cannot just sprint through an area. You have to search every room, every corner, every optional path. On Grounded+, that means exposing yourself to danger. I had to balance the risk of getting hit against the reward of finding a trading card or a note. The game has a collectibles tracker, but it only shows if you have been in a room. It does not tell you where the item is. That part is up to you.

I also made sure to upgrade the weapons as soon as possible. The workbench in chapter 2 is your first chance, and I spent every part I had on the revolver silencer. Silenced weapons are a lifesaver on Grounded+ because they let you thin out enemies before the alarm is raised. Weapon upgrades like the scope for the hunting pistol or the faster reload for the shotgun can make or break a fight.

Skill upgrades are equally important. I focused on the survival tree first. Faster healing, better dodge timing, and more efficient use of resources. By the time I reached the hospital with Abby, I had most of the key skills unlocked. The game gives you that 300 percent boost, but you still have to choose wisely. Every point matters.

Lessons from the Trenches

After finishing my grounded+ difficulty run, I came away with a few lessons that apply to anyone attempting this challenge.

• Patience is your best weapon. Rushing into a room gets you killed. Wait, watch, and move slowly.
• Use every tool. Bricks, bottles, arrows, and even your own footsteps. The environment is full of options.
• Memorize workbench locations. You cannot upgrade weapons if you cannot find the bench.
• Learn the AI patterns. Each enemy type reacts differently. Clickers are fast but predictable. Human enemies communicate and flank.
• Take breaks. The frustration is real. Stepping away for an hour helps reset your focus.

Permadeath is a separate option that some players combine with Grounded+. I did not use it for this run because one death on a no damage run already resets the encounter. Permadeath would have sent me back to the beginning of the entire chapter. That is a level of punishment I was not ready for, but I respect those who attempt it. The game warns you when you select permadeath that it is designed for experienced players. It is not lying.

The Payoff

Completing a grounded+ difficulty run with no damage and all collectibles is one of the most satisfying achievements in modern gaming. The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PS5 Pro looks incredible in 4K with HDR, and the gameplay holds up under this pressure. Every encounter becomes a puzzle. Every item you pick up feels earned. Every checkpoint you pass is a small victory.

I also appreciated how chronological mode changes the pacing. Without the flashbacks, the story feels more linear but also more intense. You experience the full arc of Abby Anderson and Ellie Williams without the narrative distance. It is a different way to play, and it works well on a grounded+ difficulty run because you are already focused on survival, not on piecing together timelines.

If you are thinking about trying this yourself, I recommend starting with a normal Grounded run first. Get used to the resource scarcity and the enemy awareness. Then move to Grounded+. The jump is steep, but the game gives you the tools to handle it. The DualSense controller's haptic feedback, the 4K resolution, the smooth frame rate on PS5, and the careful encounter design all come together to create a challenge that feels fair, even when it is brutal.

In the end, my grounded+ difficulty run took me over forty hours. I died hundreds of times. I restarted encounters more times than I can count. But when I finally saw the credits roll, I knew I had earned it. The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a masterpiece of game design, and playing it on the highest difficulty reveals layers of depth that most players never see. If you have the patience and the will, I highly recommend the journey.