The Last of Us Part II Cheats & Secrets guide screenshot

Cheats & Secrets

Overview



The Last of Us Part II does not contain any traditional cheat codes, debug menus, or console commands accessible during regular gameplay. Naughty Dog designed the game without such features. However, there are several developer-intended hidden features, Easter eggs, and secret interactions that reward thorough exploration. Additionally, the game’s extensive accessibility options allow players to enable effects that function similarly to cheats (e.g., infinite ammo, one-hit kills), though these are officially listed settings and not hidden secrets. This guide covers all legitimate hidden content, including Easter eggs, references to other Naughty Dog titles, and optional story details.

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Hidden Settings (Cheat-Like Accessibility Options)



The Accessibility menu, accessible from the main screen or pause menu, includes several toggles that dramatically reduce difficulty. These are not secrets but can be used to mimic cheat codes:
  • Infinite Ammo (under Gameplay Modifiers): All weapons have unlimited ammunition.

  • One-Hit Kills (under Gameplay Modifiers): Any enemy (including bosses) dies in a single hit.

  • Infinite Crafting (under Gameplay Modifiers): Crafting does not consume resources.

  • Invisible While Prone (under Gameplay Aids): Enemies cannot detect you while you are lying down.

  • Auto-Aim and Auto-Dodge: Available in Combat or Navigation settings.


    • To enable: From the pause menu, go to Options → Accessibility → Gameplay Modifiers and toggle on the desired settings. These options do not disable trophies or achievements.

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    Easter Eggs & Developer-Intended Hidden Content



    1. Uncharted Reference – “Macho Nacho” Poster


  • Location: Chapter 10 – “The Ski Lodge” (Abby). After entering the main lodge, go to the back office on the first floor. There is a small break room with a poster on the far wall showing a character eating a nacho platter, labeled “Macho Nacho”. This is a direct reference to the fictional film series from the Uncharted franchise.

  • How to find: From the main lobby, head through the door behind the front desk, then turn left into the office. Look behind the desk on the back wall.


    • 2. The Last of Us Part I Callback – “I’m a Dinosaur” Note


  • Location: Chapter 7 – “Hillcrest” (Ellie). In the basement of a house on the northeast side of the neighborhood, inside a locked room. The note reads, “I’m a dinosaur” – a beloved line from the first game’s “Sam & Henry” chapter.

  • How to find: Begin at the Hillcrest safe house (where you meet Jesse). Exit and head left, then take the second right. Look for a house with a basement entrance. Inside, a note on a desk repeats the phrase.


    • 3. Hidden Recording of the Cordyceps Origin


  • Location: Chapter 14 – “The Marina” (Ellie). On the boat dock, inside a small shed near the water. A cassette recorder plays a scientist’s log about the early spread of the fungus.

  • How to find: After the cutscene where Ellie and Dina enter the marina area, inspect the dock shed closest to the entrance. The recorder is on a shelf.


    • 4. The “Rat King” – Not an Easter Egg, But a Secret Boss Fight


  • Location: Chapter 8 – “The Hospital” (Abby). After descending into the lower levels, you encounter the Rat King, a massive, multi-part infected creature. This is a mandatory boss fight but is often considered a secret encounter because it is heavily foreshadowed and visually shocking. No specific trigger; it’s part of the main story.


    • 5. Easter Egg Graffiti – “PS4” Logo


  • Location: Chapter 9 – “The Seraphites” (Ellie, first visit). In the school library, on a pillar near the main staircase, there is a small, faded graffiti that reads “PS4” in the classic PlayStation logo font.

  • How to find: Enter the library, head to the central staircase, and look at the pillar directly to your left. You may need to use a flashlight to see it clearly.


    • 6. Unused / Secret Dialogue Lines


  • Fighting the Seraphite Sisters: In the encounter where Ellie fights two women armed with axes (Chapter 5 – “The Seraphites”), if you stealth kill one without alerting the other, the surviving sister will shout unique, panicked dialogue that plays only if you use that specific strategy.

  • Ellie’s Drawings: As you progress, Ellie’s journal automatically updates with sketches. Some drawings appear only if you missed certain optional conversations or failed to interact with specific objects. For example, not talking to Dina about her past in the synagogue before leaving will result in a blank page instead of a drawing.


    • 7. Photo Mode Secrets


  • Rat King’s Face: Using Photo Mode during the Rat King’s death animation allows you to zoom in on its face, revealing detailed modeling not easily seen in combat.

  • Invisible Objects: Some environmental objects (like certain collectibles) disappear after being picked up, but Photo Mode can capture them in their original positions if you activate it before interacting.


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    Developer-Intended Hidden Story Content



    Optional Conversations & Missable Journal Entries


  • Dina’s Tattoo: Near the start of the game (Chapter 1 – “Jackson”), talk to Dina while she is at her patrol post. If you ask about her tattoo, she will show it. Later in the game, a related note becomes available in the synagogue.

  • The Library Key: In Chapter 9 – “The Seraphites”, you can find a hidden key behind a loose brick in the library. This key opens a locked drawer in the same room containing a note with the code to a safe later in the chapter (safe rewards: rare crafting materials). The key itself is missable if you leave the area.

  • The “Dog” Grave: In Chapter 6 – “Downtown Seattle”, there is a fenced-off dog cemetery. If you read all the gravestones, you unlock a hidden journal entry from Ellie reflecting on her own dog (from The Last of Us Part I).


    • Area-Affecting Secrets


  • The Dreaded Room: In Chapter 12 – “The Aquarium” (Abby), there is a room with a padlocked door. The combination is found later in the same chapter (code: 3-7-1). Inside, you find a note about a character named “Izzy” and a rare pistol upgrade. This area is entirely optional.


  • The Nursery: In Chapter 11 – “The Farm” (Ellie, epilogue), you can return to Ellie’s nursery after the final cutscene. Inside, there is a drawing of Joel and Ellie that you cannot see during the main story. To see it, replay the chapter from the chapter select menu after finishing the game.


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Conclusion



While The Last of Us Part II lacks traditional cheat codes, it rewards curious players with hidden details, references to other Naughty Dog games, and optional story threads that deepen the narrative. The accessibility options can be used to bypass difficulty, and the missable Easter eggs offer an incentive to explore thoroughly. No trophies are locked behind these secrets, but discovering them adds to the game’s rich atmosphere.