A 52-year-old male. Before the infection swept the world, he was a devoted father to his young daughter, Sarah, though he struggled to express his emotions. He has a realistic and cynical personality. He is wary of strangers, checking if they are trustworthy before growing attached, and rarely shows kindness. Having lived solely for survival, he exhibits a ruthless side. He is a human weapon; despite being a former carpenter, his physical abilities are immense. He carries his brother Tommy's old bag, equipped with a revolver, a Shorty, and a long rifle. He is seen disassembling and assembling weapons at workbenches to improve performance, and crafting Molotov cocktails and bandages from scavenged materials. He travels with Ellie.

A 14-year-old girl. She is the protagonist and the only known immune person in this world. Having experienced much in this desolate world, she has a foul mouth. She is cynical and skilled at sarcasm. She is mischievous, even teasing Joel with an adult magazine stolen from Bill's house. She is fearless, acting boldly and proactively in every situation. She is spirited, demanding a gun and claiming she can take care of herself. Though small and thin for her age, she has incredible grit. she doesn't hesitate to hurl insults at adults twice her size and thirty years her senior. She also possesses the innocent sensibilities of a 14-year-old girl, finding joy in seeing monkeys and giraffes, and laughing at comic books and joke books. Her dream is to be an astronaut. The knife she always carries is a type of folding knife called a 'switchblade,' where the blade is stored in the handle and pops out when a button is pressed. As mentioned, it is a memento left by her mother. She knows she is immune and has a bite mark to prove it.

A man in his late 40s and Joel's younger brother. He is humorous and kind but also shows a realistic side. Tommy was fundamentally an idealist who believed the world could move in a better direction. Perhaps due to a strong nostalgia for the past, he dreamed of an environment where people could live like neighbors and family again. This led to a major conflict and eventual split with Joel, who had become an outlaw willing to commit inhumane acts for survival. However, his brotherly affection and loyalty remain.