Skip to content
No Return Achievements
The Last of Us Part II

No Return Achievements

Conquer the demanding 'No Return' achievements in The Last of Us Part II. This guide details how to unlock trophies linked to the challenging New Game Plus and.

By ···10 min read·Multi-source verified
1 reading this guide  

Conquer the demanding 'No Return' achievements in The Last of Us Part II. This guide details how to unlock trophies linked to the challenging New Game Plus and.

No Return Achievements — The Last of Us Part II Achievements & Trophies

The 'No Return' achievements in The Last of Us Part II are tied to the game's challenging New Game Plus mode and its various difficulty settings. This guide outlines how to unlock these demanding trophies.

The 'No Return' achievements in The Last of Us Part II represent the ultimate test of a player's mastery over the game's mechanics and its brutal difficulty. These trophies are typically awarded for completing the game on its highest difficulty settings, often including New Game Plus, and sometimes for achieving specific feats within those challenging playthroughs. Earning these achievements requires not only a deep understanding of combat, stealth, and resource management but also immense patience and perseverance. This guide will break down the requirements for each 'No Return' achievement, offering strategies and tips to help you conquer the game's most arduous challenges and claim these prestigious accolades.

Grounds for the Achievement (New Game Plus)

The 'Grounds for the Achievement' trophy is awarded for completing the game on New Game Plus. This means you'll need to have finished the game at least once to unlock this mode. New Game Plus allows you to carry over all your collected weapon upgrades, skills, and collectibles from a previous playthrough. This can make subsequent playthroughs significantly easier, especially on lower difficulties. However, the 'No Return' achievements often specifically require completion on higher difficulties, so while NG+ is a prerequisite for some, it doesn't automatically grant the hardest trophies.

Survivor Difficulty Achievements

The game features several difficulty settings, with 'Survivor' being one of the higher tiers. Achievements are typically awarded for completing the game on these settings. For example, you might find trophies like:

  • 'Survivor' Difficulty Completion: Awarded for finishing the game on Survivor difficulty.
  • 'Survivor+' Difficulty Completion: Awarded for finishing the game on Survivor difficulty with New Game Plus.

Survivor difficulty significantly increases enemy aggression, damage, and resource scarcity. Enemies are more perceptive, and ammunition is extremely limited. This mode demands near-perfect execution of stealth, combat, and resource management. It's advisable to have a solid understanding of the game's mechanics and enemy patterns before attempting this difficulty.

Intergalactic Warrior / Platinum Trophy

The ultimate achievement in The Last of Us Part II is often the Platinum trophy, typically named something like 'Intergalactic Warrior' or similar, which requires unlocking all other trophies. This includes the 'No Return' achievements. To achieve this, you'll need to:

  • Complete the game on the highest difficulty (often Survivor or Grounded).
  • Find all collectibles (Artifacts, Coins, Trading Cards, etc.).
  • Fully upgrade all weapons.
  • Fully upgrade all of Ellie's and Abby's skills.
  • Unlock all other miscellaneous trophies.

This is a monumental task that requires multiple playthroughs and meticulous attention to detail.

Grounded Difficulty Achievements

The 'Grounded' difficulty is the game's ultimate challenge, where resources are virtually non-existent, enemies are incredibly lethal, and the HUD is severely limited. Achievements for this difficulty are among the hardest to obtain:

  • 'Grounded' Difficulty Completion: Finishing the game on Grounded.
  • 'Grounded+' Difficulty Completion: Finishing the game on Grounded with New Game Plus.

On Grounded, even a single mistake can be fatal. Stealth is absolutely essential, and every bullet must count. You'll need to master enemy patrol routes, use every environmental advantage, and employ perfect timing for dodges and attacks. Many players opt for speedrunning strategies or specific routes to manage the extreme difficulty.

Tips for 'No Return' Achievements

  • Master Stealth: Learn enemy patrol patterns and use cover effectively. Silent takedowns are your best friend.
  • Resource Management: Scavenge every nook and cranny. Craft only what is absolutely necessary.
  • Weapon Upgrades: Prioritize upgrades that offer the most significant combat advantage, such as increased damage or capacity.
  • Skill Upgrades: Focus on skills that enhance survivability, such as increased health or faster crafting.
  • Practice and Patience: These achievements require practice. Don't get discouraged by failure; learn from each attempt.
  • use the Environment: Exploit choke points, explosive barrels, and other environmental hazards.

Earning the 'No Return' achievements is a badge of honor for dedicated players, sifying a complete understanding and mastery of The Last of Us Part II's challenging gameplay.

100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content