No Return, for returning players especially, is as good a reason as any to be picking up The Last of Us Part II Remastered this month when it launches for PlayStation 5.
It’s a jam-packed roguelike mode that time and again recontextualises and presents the game’s visceral and stark combat in so many different lights. I always found it novel to be fighting a faction like The Rattlers in one of Seattle’s dilapidated parking garages, as they only feature in the game’s closing chapters far away from the so-called Emerald City.
Another thing I love about No Return is how it places us in the shoes of so many different characters from within The Last of Us Part II’s universe. I refrain from referring to them as good or bad as the game is deliberate in its attempts to humanise all sides in this grey world, so I’ll do as they do and refer to the characters as either Ellie-aligned or Abby-aligned.
Here’s a rundown of all of the playable characters, their unique skins, and how to unlock the lot.
These all presented as challenges from within the No Return menu. It’s also worth noting that unless a character is specifically mentioned, these challenges can be completed by any character.
Ellie-Aligned
Ellie
Complete 2 encounters with Ellie
Unlocks Dina as a playable character
Upgrade all Perseverance skills as Ellie
Unlocks Ellie’s ‘Plaid’ skin
Kill 4 enemies with Molotovs in one encounter
Unlocks Ellie’s ‘Rain Jacket’ skin
Collect every gun in one run as Ellie
Unlocks Ellie’s ‘Savage Starlight’ skin
Dina
Complete 3 encounters with Dina
Unlocks Jesse as a playable character
Kill 4 enemies with trap mines in one encounter
Unlocks Dina’s ‘Hangout’ skin
Craft 10 times in a run
Unlocks Dina’s ‘Casual’ skin
Craft a health kit, Molotov, trap mine, and stun bomb in a run
Unlocks Dina’s ‘Patrol’ skin
Jesse
Complete 3 encounters with Jesse
Unlocks Tommy as a playable character
Purchase 10 items from the Trading Post in one run
Unlocks Jesse’s ‘Festival’ skin
Kill 3 enemies with pipe bombs in one encounter
Unlocks Jesse’s ‘Patrol’ skin
Tommy
Complete 4 encounters with Tommy
Unlocks Joel as a playable character
Kill 5 enemies in one encounter while zoomed in with a scope
Unlocks Tommy as an ally in No Return
Complete a run with only your initial gun or guns
Unlocks Tommy’s ‘Patrol’ skin
Complete an encounter where every kill is a headshot
Unlocks Tommy’s ‘Sweatshirt’ skin
Complete an encounter without missing a single shot
Unlocks Tommy’s ‘Winter’ skin
Joel
Complete an infected encounter as Joel
Unlocks Joel as an ally in No Return
Kill 6 enemies using the same gun without reloading in an encounter
Unlocks Joel’s ‘Casual’ skin
Kill 3 enemies with shivs in one encounter
Unlocks Joel’s ‘Salt Lake City’ skin
Hit 5 enemies with a bottle or brick in one run
Unlocks Joel’s ‘Winter’ skin
Complete a bloater boss encounter as Joel
Unlocks Joel’s ‘Boston’ skin
Abby-Aligned
Abby
Complete 2 encounters with Abby
Unlocks Lev as a playable character
Gain 50 health from melee kills and attacks in one encounter
Unlocks Abby’s ‘Vintage Naughty Dog’ skin
Upgrade 3 melee weapons in a run
Unlocks Abby’s ‘Bomber’ skin
Complete an encounter with all melee kills
Unlocks Abby’s ‘Badlands’ skin
Lev
Complete 3 encounters with Lev
Unlocks Yara as a playable character
Get 7 kills with explosive arrows in one run
Unlocks Lev’s ‘Santa Barbara’ skin
Craft 20 arrows of any type in one run
Unlocks Lev’s ‘White Shirt’ skin
Complete an encounter with all bow kills
Unlocks Lev’s ‘Abby’s Jacket’ skin
Yara
Complete 3 encounters with Yara
Unlocks Mel as a playable character
Complete a Seraphite encounter as Yara
Unlocks Yara’s ‘Safehouse’ skin
Defeat 3 Seraphite brutes
Unlocks Yara’s ‘Aquarium’ skin
Mel
Complete 4 encounters with Mel
Unlocks Manny as a playable character
Craft 8 health kits in a run
Unlocks Mel’s ‘Aquarium’ skin
Heal 80 health with one health kit
Unlocks Mel’s ‘Seattle’ skin
Manny
Fully upgrade any gun
Unlocks Manny’s ‘Winter’ skin
Kill 5 enemies with incendiary shotgun shells in one run
Unlocks Manny’s ‘Firefly’ skin
See our full review, more guides and other content for The Last of Us Part II Remastered right here.
