Does Riley die in The Last of Us video game?

The Last of Us episode 7 introduces us to video game character Riley Abel. What was Riley’s fate in the video game that the show is based on?

When Marlene mentioned Riley in the very first episode of The Last of Us, it was clear that she meant something of importance to Ellie and her story. But if you had played the video game series that inspired the HBO and HBO Max show, you already knew that.

Riley Abel had an integral part to play in Ellie’s journey, which ultimately started a chain reaction of events that led her to Joel. Now, in The Last of Us episode 7, we get to meet the character, who is played by Storm Reid on the show.

If you haven’t played the video game and would like to know what the future may hold for Riley on the show, here’s what you need to know.

*** This article contains SPOILERS from The Last of Us and The Last of Us: Left Behind ***

Does Riley die in The Last of Us?

Unfortunately, Riley does die in The Last of Us video game franchise. A close friend of Ellie’s, the pair’s story is played out in expansion pack The Last of Us: Left Behind, showcasing how the two end up in a mall that, unbeknownst to them, is full of infected. When the Runners attack, both Ellie and Riley fight back and win, killing all of the threats. Sadly, they both discover that they got bitten by the infected, prompting them to promise to spend the rest of the time they had left together.

This is when Ellie discovers her immunity to the cordyceps virus, as she does not die or turn in spite of getting bitten. While it isn’t directly revealed what happens to Riley in the hours after she is bitten, we do learn that she succumbs to the infection and dies as a result.

As for whether these events will play out exactly the same on the TV show, the series has mostly played out like its video game inspiration. That said, there have been a few changes here and there, so we don’t know if Riley’s storyline will play out exactly as it did in the source material, but the show has already hinted at the possibility that Riley didn’t make it out alive, referring to her in the past tense.

Are you looking forward to meeting Riley on HBO’s The Last of Us? Let us know in the comments below!