Neil Druckmann is a video game designer, writer, and director. He was born on December 5, 1978, in Israel, and grew up in the United States. Druckmann is best known for his work on the critically acclaimed video game series’ The Last of Us and Uncharted.
Druckmann started his career as a programmer in 2004, working for Naughty Dog on Jak 3. He quickly rose through the ranks at Naughty Dog, eventually becoming the creative director of The Last of Us, which was released in 2013. The game was a commercial and critical success, winning multiple awards and receiving universal acclaim for its story, characters, and gameplay.
Neil Druckmann also co-wrote and directed the game’s sequel, The Last of Us Part II, which was released in 2020. The Last of Us’ success would later be adapted for TV, with The Last of Us Season 1 airing in 2023, with a Season 2 being confirmed as being in production.
Neil Druckmann Games
| Year | Game | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Jak 3 | Gameplay programmer |
| 2005 | Jak X: Combat Racing | Gameplay programmer |
| 2007 | Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune | Game designer, co-writer |
| 2009 | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Co-lead game designer, co-writer |
| 2009 | Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier | Original design and story |
| 2013 | The Last of Us | Creative director, writer |
| 2014 | The Last of Us: Left Behind | Creative director, writer |
| 2016 | Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End | Creative director, writer |
| 2017 | What Remains of Edith Finch | Playtester |
| 2017 | Uncharted: The Lost Legacy | Head of narrative development |
| 2020 | The Last of Us Part II | Creative director, lead co-writer |
| 2022 | Return to Monkey Island | Cameo voice role |
| TBA | The Last of Us Multiplayer | Vice president, co-president |
As well as Druckmann’s credits in video games, he has also seen success in television, recently working as an executive of the Uncharted movie and The Last of Us HBO series.
