The Cutest and Scariest Enemy in The Last of Us

How one of the most terrifying animals in the game tears out your heart

The Last of Us conjures up images of tension, heartache, and dread driven by fungus. There is danger everywhere in this harsh world, from the grim, decaying cities to the infected that hide in the shadows. But out of all the Clickers, Bloaters, and Stalkers, one adversary sticks out for being, well, sort of cute in addition to having the ability to be deadly.Just make in mind to always carry a few soul gems in your bag, join the Mages Guild early, and invest in intelligence and willpower. With the correct resources, you’ll be prepared to  take on the enchanted realm of Cyrodiil spell by spell.

What Caused This?

Let’s retreat. One of The Last of Us’s most recognisable infected adversaries is the Clicker. Clickers lose their vision and use echolocation to find their way around, which accounts for the eerie clicking sound they emit. This infection lasts long enough for the Cordyceps fungus to rupture through their faces. They are strong, erratic, and frighteningly swift.

New Outer

However, the gaming community started to warm up to them in between the hideous growths and piercing screeches. Fan art started to appear: Clickers as pets, plush toys, and infant Clickers with big, naive eyes. What started off as pure horror fuel gradually evolved into something more: the franchise’s oddly endearing mascot.

The Science of Horrible and Adorable

This contradiction is effective for a reason. Big eyes, small noses, and round features are examples of “baby schema” that the human brain is programmed to react to. Fan interpretations soften their appearance and appeal to those instincts, but Clickers lack all of that. If toddlers were blind and murderous, their shuffling, high-pitched noises, and even awkward gestures could pass for toddler behaviour. Players are drawn to the dark humour created by the stark contrast between their seeming innocence and deadliness. People have developed a fondness for characters like gremlins, the Demogorgon from Stranger Things, or even the Xenomorphs from Alien. The terror gets more emotionally complicated the more adorable the monster is thought to be, and The Last of Us thrives on emotional complexity.

The Adorable Clicker Has Been Completely Adopted by Fans

Players have recreated the Clicker in dozens of amusing ways on Reddit, Instagram, and TikTok. There are:On Etsy, crocheted Clicker dolls are for sale.Cosplayers wearing pacifiers and dressed as “baby Clickers.”Clickers are shown in animated parodies attempting to live their best zombie lives, including dating, creating bread, and raising tiny fungal families. The community now uses it as a coping mechanism for the harsh reality of the world Naughty Dog created. Perhaps the world isn’t all horrible if you can find something endearing about the game’s most scary foe.

The Last of Us Is About Connection, Not Just Fear

The Last of Us is really about relationships: the ties we create, the tragedies we face, and the extent we will go to in order to keep the people we care about safe. Therefore, it makes sense that even the most hideous of foes would be woven into that emotional fabric. By accepting the Clicker as more than simply a monster, the fandom accomplishes what the game does best, which is to make us recognise the humanity hidden beneath the rot and decay.

Concluding remarks

Because of what it stands for, rather than how it appears, The Last of Us’ most adorable adversary is also its most terrifying. It reflects the way we simultaneously interpret humour, empathy, and fear. Sometimes it’s reassuring to think that even Clickers want to snuggle in a world where the infected are hiding everywhere.

Would you give one a hug? Most likely not. But admit it — you’d definitely buy the plushie.

DPV NATION