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Last Train Home

A dramatic retelling of the events of WWI through the faces and names of members of the Czechoslovak soldiers on their way home.
Last Train Home Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
88% User Score Based on 3,186 reviews
Critic Score 82%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Last Train Home Game Cover

About

Last Train Home is a single player survival real-time strategy game with a historical theme. It was developed by Ashborne Games and was released on November 28, 2023. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

In "Last Train Home," players lead a group of Czechoslovak soldiers on a perilous journey through war-torn Siberia, aiming to reach home on an armored train. They must manage resources and maintain morale while navigating the harsh environment and conflicts between Russia's Red and White Armies. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes DLC "Last Train Home - Legion Tales," a digital Artbook, and an atmospheric Soundtrack.

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Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
Last Train Home screenshot
+10
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88%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,186 reviews
story763 positive mentions
stability50 negative mentions
  • Engaging mix of resource management and tactical RTS gameplay set in a unique historical context.
  • Compelling story that highlights the struggles of the Czechoslovak Legion during the Russian Civil War.
  • Well-designed missions with various approaches, allowing for both stealth and direct combat strategies.
  • Enemy AI is often predictable and can be easily exploited, making combat less challenging.
  • Resource management can become tedious and repetitive, especially in the later stages of the game.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, such as the stealth system and unit pathfinding, are not well-polished and can lead to frustrating experiences.
  • story
    2,212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Last Train Home" is a compelling narrative based on the real historical events of the Czechoslovak Legion's journey through war-torn Russia after World War I. Players engage with a richly detailed plot that intertwines resource management and tactical missions, creating a sense of urgency and emotional investment in the characters. While the storytelling is praised for its depth and engagement, some critiques highlight a tendency for repetitive mission objectives and a somewhat simplistic portrayal of the conflict's moral complexities. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of strategy and narrative that captivates players throughout their journey.

    • “The story is captivating, detailing parts of (the aftermath of) WW1 that gets little attention in most of Europe, let alone across the pond.”
    • “The story is incredibly good, and the small stories inside are also great as well.”
    • “The game tells a wonderful story in a very interactive and thought-provoking way, and it forces you to make decisions you might not want to make for the betterment of your journey.”
    • “The storytelling is effective and really captures the setting/tension of what it was like after the Great War in Siberia through the eyes of the legionaries, but I wonder if it would have been better to just settle for more CG instead of capturing live action scenes.”
    • “While this style of careful planning and stealth may have been intentional due to story elements and accumulates lots of surplus resources, the missions themselves become very redundant and time-consuming and glaringly reveal the unpolished features of the game.”
    • “The story is basic but my main gripe with the game is its poor mechanics.”
  • gameplay
    834 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Last Train Home" is a blend of real-time strategy and resource management, featuring engaging mechanics that allow for tactical decision-making and unit management. While the game offers a compelling narrative and immersive atmosphere, some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth, particularly in combat and stealth mechanics. Overall, it provides a unique experience with a rich historical context, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay systems.

    • “Neat and tidy mechanics, scenarios of survival and bravery as well as amazing voice acting that takes the story to another level.”
    • “The gameplay blends perfectly ingredients from different strategy branches: it's a real-time strategy when on the ground exploring, looting and approaching enemies; it's a real-time tactics while in battle, due to the tactical pause and the possibility to make really stealth kills; and it's also a resources/squad management inside the train.”
    • “Last train home has rekindled my faith in the genre with its innovative mechanics, thoughtful balance, and deep tactical gameplay.”
    • “An otherwise excellent game completely ruined by complete garbage RTS gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is perhaps the weakest aspect.”
    • “Overall, while the gameplay was not completely bad, it's mostly all meh and leaves a very bad taste in the mouth, as a piece that pretends to be historical and supposedly should offer deep management and decisions, it somewhat tries to do all of that, but in a poor manner, which is really, really disappointing.”
  • graphics
    254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals, art style, and immersive atmosphere, often likening it to titles like Frostpunk and Company of Heroes. However, some players find the graphics to be mediocre or outdated, particularly in terms of color vibrancy and detail, suggesting that while the overall aesthetic is appealing, it may not meet the high standards expected in 2023. Overall, the game is noted for its solid graphical performance and artistic design, contributing positively to the gameplay experience.

    • “The stunning visuals and well-crafted narrative make every hour invested in the game a thrilling adventure, offering a compelling journey from start to finish.”
    • “Actually stunning how pretty the game looks and there has been so much effort put into the graphics.”
    • “The graphics, illustrations, and narration are stunning.”
    • “Gameplay is decent, graphics are mediocre with washed out colours.”
    • “The game graphics is below average.”
    • “Why I 'hate' it... AI is stupid, graphics are lacking, for 2023 not enough for sure (more like early 2000's).”
  • music
    114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth, with a well-crafted soundtrack that adapts to gameplay situations, transitioning from calm to intense as battles unfold. Many reviewers noted the effective use of period music and classical adaptations, which contribute to the immersive experience, although some mentioned instances of repetitive tracks. Overall, the combination of music, art, and narrative creates a compelling and atmospheric gaming experience.

    • “The music in them changes according to the current situation, where at first it is calm, but as the battle progresses, the music becomes faster and more dramatic.”
    • “The music is excellent, mixing fast battle themes and more nostalgic ambient melodies.”
    • “The art, music, and gameplay are really well blended and atmospheric.”
    • “The music is sombre, depressing, and fits perfectly with the vibe of the game.”
    • “Caution: don't turn on the game's soundtrack!”
    • “Music plays over other music in some levels (specifically the last level, where there were three songs playing over each other).”
  • atmosphere
    84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, blending art, music, and gameplay to create a captivating experience. Reviewers highlight the historical authenticity and emotional depth, with a strong focus on the game's setting and narrative that enhances the overall mood. Many note the effective use of sound and visuals, contributing to a gritty and atmospheric environment that keeps players invested in the story.

    • “An immersive, atmospheric, and historically engrossing title that masterfully combines the RTT, RPG, and resource management genres.”
    • “The moody music, the graphics when zooming in from the nicely built landscape of the map down to the details of your train to see your crew work and drive from one war-torn village to the next are all things that create an amazing atmosphere.”
    • “I absolutely love the atmosphere of this game and the care and attention put towards being historically authentic.”
    • “The game is filled with an atmosphere of anti-Soviet and later Russian government.”
    • “Broad positives: novel concept and setting, rewarding difficulty curve, effective hurried atmosphere.”
    • “It nails the mood and atmosphere and covers part of WW1 history that is rarely if ever talked about in games.”
  • stability
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant issues such as crashes and glitches, particularly during startup and mission loading. However, others report a mostly smooth experience with only minor bugs that do not detract from gameplay. Overall, while many players find the game enjoyable and well-optimized, a notable portion highlights persistent stability problems that need addressing.

    • “So far, no glitches or bugs; it looks very polished.”
    • “The game is almost bug free; I encountered three minor bugs during the 70 hours of gameplay, none of them game-breaking.”
    • “The game runs great and is well optimized, while the graphics are really nice to look at.”
    • “Spent half an hour trying to get the game to even get out of the main menu because it either crashes on startup or when trying to start a new game. I can't seem to find a fix for this, and the devs have posted some troubleshooting steps, none of which are helpful.”
    • “Very buggy game with unclear mechanics.”
    • “However, it has a lot of fundamental flaws, glitches, and issues which are on a basic level that I think really need to be polished up, as it's a bit ridiculous they're already advertising their future DLC when there are missions I cannot actively do because if I load in, one of my squad members will glitch and run to a random part of the map and become impossible to exfil.”
  • grinding
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, particularly in terms of resource management and troop assignments, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the depth of resource gathering and train upgrades, many feel that the repetitive nature of these tasks, along with the lack of auto-save features and streamlined troop management, leads to a frustrating experience. Combat and stealth mechanics also contribute to the sense of tedium, with players often feeling overwhelmed by the need to micromanage their troops.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I'm really trying to find the fun, but I'm really finding the game tedious.”
    • “Upgrading the train is just a tedious exercise in gathering resources, reassigning people, and then assigning them back to their regular job a minute later.”
    • “The crew management just feels tedious, even on lower difficulties.”
  • replayability
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting significant value due to branching paths, character development, and varied tactics, allowing for multiple playthroughs. However, others feel that the content can become repetitive and that the overall replay value is limited, often citing a lack of incentive to replay after the initial campaign. Overall, while many enjoyed the game enough to play through multiple times, opinions on its replayability range from high to quite low.

    • “50 hours of fun easily, with significant replay value.”
    • “Lots of different ways to beat missions and plenty of replay value due to constant decision making that has various effects and outcomes.”
    • “The character development for your teams, base management for the train, path options on the track and varied tactics in each scenario are all pieced together so well to make this a highly replayable addition to my Steam library.”
    • “Game threw a triple sky bomb on four of my soldiers and got a 3k for it in the final fight. Stealth sucks, doesn't feel replayable, stacking into crafting nades and artillery cannon gives free wins and has some genuinely buggy movement.”
    • “Overall, it's enough to last you around 30 hours, but not much replayability though.”
    • “I'm somewhat curious how skipping optional missions would affect later ones (if at all) and what the alternative routes would have been like, but repeating a lot of content feels like too much of a slog for the extra replay value.”
  • optimization
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing crashes and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems and during specific mission maps. While many users report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others highlight significant stuttering and resource demands that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game is enjoyable, its optimization could be improved to better accommodate a wider range of hardware.

    • “Cool tactical strategy game, modern visuals, captivating story, well optimized.”
    • “Overall the game feels really well made, performance is smooth and I haven't encountered any bugs or glitches.”
    • “The game runs great and is well optimized, while the graphics are really nice to look at.”
    • “Some pathing issues block your soldiers, leading to avoidable deaths, and reloading your saves (you can quick save) takes ages; that doesn't seem optimized.”
    • “Poor optimization: maybe it was my PC, but some maps seemed poorly optimized, glitchy, and resource-hungry.”
    • “Stuttering on medium settings on an RTX 4070/7800X3D while running DLSS on a real-time strategy game is unacceptable.”
  • humor
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the exaggerated portrayal of characters and situations, such as the clumsy enemy AI and the ridiculous mechanics of stealth gameplay. The game balances tragic themes with humorous moments, including the absurdity of managing a train and the blunt propaganda that adds a layer of satire. Overall, while some aspects may be unpolished, the humor often enhances the experience rather than detracts from it.

    • “It's funny that you can lower the Red Army's attack on your train (the red bar) by simply starting and stopping the engine of the train quickly (start, stop, start, stop, start, stop), and just like that, the threat is gone even though you haven't moved much! Lol.”
    • “The stealth approach was also very overpowered towards the mid to end portions, allowing for some hilarious solo-man approaches where one speedy soldier simply rushes through and one-shots a Russian patrol before dashing back into a bush.”
    • “The propaganda is present and hilariously blunt.”
  • emotional
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of these games is profoundly impactful, particularly for players from central and eastern Europe, as they navigate themes of hardship, survival, and camaraderie amidst chaos. Players report becoming deeply invested in the fates of their characters, experiencing a range of emotions from heartbreak to inspiration, which enhances the strategic gameplay. Overall, these titles are praised for their ability to evoke strong emotional responses, making them must-plays for those seeking a meaningful gaming experience.

    • “It's tough, it's heartbreaking, it's beautiful.”
    • “Witnessing the camaraderie and despair of your soldiers amidst the chaos of revolution adds emotional depth to the strategic decisions.”
    • “This game broke me emotionally and had me fully engaged for 80 hours.”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is seen as uneven, with some paths being more rewarding than others, and a notable lack of depth for most characters aside from the advisor, who primarily experiences PTSD. While the integration of character development with gameplay mechanics enhances replayability, players express a desire for more substantial growth and diversity, particularly for female characters in combat roles. Overall, the character development feels limited, but it is still an enjoyable aspect of the game.

    • “The character development for your teams, base management for the train, path options on the track, and varied tactics in each scenario are all pieced together so well to make this a highly replayable addition to my Steam library.”
    • “I’d say that there are some paths for character development that are easier or more beneficial than others; some characters are just better. But if you want to enjoy the game truly, you should keep the train running with whoever you got.”
    • “A little more character development would be nice, especially since the game includes females in combat roles.”
    • “The only character development you get is your advisor Langer, and his entire schtick is developing PTSD, even though he just sits in the train all the time.”
    • “I’d say that there are some paths for character development that are easier or more beneficial than others; some characters are just better.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for promoting future DLC despite existing fundamental flaws and glitches that hinder gameplay. Players feel that the focus on advertising new content is premature given the unresolved issues affecting the current experience.

    • “However, it has a lot of fundamental flaws, glitches, and issues that are on a basic level. I think these really need to be polished up, as it's a bit ridiculous they're already advertising their future DLC when there are missions I cannot actively do because if I load in one of my squad members, they will glitch and run to a random part of the map, making it impossible to exfiltrate, to give one example.”
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82%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews
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38h Median play time
39h Average play time
12-60h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 34 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Last Train Home is a survival real-time strategy game with historical theme.

Last Train Home is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 39 hours playing Last Train Home.

Last Train Home was released on November 28, 2023.

Last Train Home was developed by Ashborne Games.

Last Train Home has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Last Train Home is a single player game.

Similar games include Expeditions: Rome, Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance, All Quiet in the Trenches, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus and others.