The height of shamelessness: an open-world game blatantly copying The Last of Us has appeared on the PS5 store. Forest Ranger Life Simulator even features Joel’s “twin brother.”
Blatant copying is becoming increasingly common. With the ease of self-publishing on major online stores, many smaller studios or developers are trying to gain recognition by replicating entire games, gameplay elements, and visuals, sometimes running them through AI tools to make them similar but not identical. Forest Ranger Life Simulator is a prime example of this trend, a countryside life simulator that has appeared on the PS5 store and clearly tries to emulate The Last of Us through its visuals.
Developed by Grizzly Games Limited, this project features a protagonist with a beard, hairstyle, and clothing that are strikingly reminiscent of The Last of Us’s iconic Joel. Even the rifle the character carries mirrors Joel’s weapon. However, instead of offering an action-survival experience, Forest Ranger Life Simulator focuses on conservation and restoration tasks, such as fixing bridges, caring for wildlife, and recycling waste in an open-world setting.
A Copycat Game That Even Borrows a Name
While the game doesn’t reinvent open-world survival mechanics, its main issue lies in the increasing number of copycat games flooding the PlayStation Store. Following last week’s fake “GTA 6” and the recent Gray Zone Warfare, Forest Ranger Life Simulator seems to be the latest attempt to mislead inattentive players by imitating established titles.
The controversy extends beyond the obvious visual similarities. The lack of a trailer, additional screenshots, or concrete release information raises questions about the project’s legitimacy. What’s even more curious is that while the title itself isn’t outright plagiarism, there is another game on Steam with the exact same name, developed by a completely different studio and receiving mixed reviews.
The rise of low-quality copycat games on platforms like the PlayStation Store and Steam has sparked ongoing debates in the gaming community. For now, players will have to wait for more information to determine whether this game is a genuine project that overstepped boundaries or just another attempt to exploit the reputation of a beloved franchise.
Source: 3djuegos
