Last Train Home

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+10

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,955 reviews

story459 positive mentions

grinding31 negative mentions

Engaging and immersive story based on the historical journey of the Czechoslovak Legion during the Russian Civil War.
Unique blend of resource management and tactical combat, allowing for various playstyles and strategies.
Well-designed characters with individual traits and backstories that create emotional investment in their survival.

Enemy AI is often predictable and can be easily exploited, leading to repetitive combat scenarios.
The user interface can be cumbersome, making it difficult to manage soldiers and resources efficiently.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as stealth and cover, feel underdeveloped and can lead to frustrating experiences.

story
1,368 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
64%
2%
The story of "Last Train Home" is a compelling narrative based on the real historical events of the Czechoslovak Legion's journey through Russia during the aftermath of World War I and the Russian Civil War. Players engage with a richly detailed plot that emphasizes the struggles and moral dilemmas faced by soldiers, enhanced by immersive storytelling techniques such as live-action cutscenes and character backstories. While the narrative is praised for its depth and emotional impact, some players note that the missions can become repetitive and the portrayal of the conflict may lean towards a simplistic good-versus-evil dynamic.
- “The story is engaging, dynamic, and has a good flow with plot twists.”
- “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 story of the czechoslovak legion is an excellent plot for a game.”
- “Unfortunately, the missions - which are the heart of the game - simply do not work.”
- “The story mostly makes sense, although I did wish the story would have given an explanation as to why you are traveling to Vladivostok rather than going west and just fighting through to your home country.”
- “The missions get a bit dull and repetitive after a while.”
gameplay
526 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The gameplay of "Last Train Home" is a blend of real-time strategy and resource management, featuring tactical combat reminiscent of classic titles like Company of Heroes and XCOM. While many players appreciate the engaging narrative and unique mechanics, criticisms arise regarding the repetitiveness of missions, simplistic stealth mechanics, and a lack of depth in combat and management systems. Overall, the game offers a compelling experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking intricate gameplay complexity.
- “This game is dangerously addictive; if you enjoy a challenge like the old school Company of Heroes, you will love this. The tactical gameplay is well worth the purchase.”
- “The gameplay is a mix of Frostpunk and Iron Harvest, and it brings its own elements. The unique aspect of managing and upgrading a train adds a refreshing twist to the gameplay.”
- “Last Train Home has rekindled my faith in the genre with its innovative mechanics, thoughtful balance, and deep tactical gameplay.”
- “Mission gameplay is a bit limited, with scouts seemingly quite overpowered compared to other classes and an over-reliance on stealth without the necessary stealth mechanics to make it really rewarding.”
- “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
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style, atmosphere, and detailed environments, often highlighting the stunning animated cutscenes. However, some users note that the in-game graphics can be mediocre or outdated, with washed-out colors and occasional performance issues. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, they are not considered groundbreaking, and there is room for improvement in certain areas.
- “The art style is gorgeous.”
- “The graphics are awesome as well.”
- “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.”
- “Gameplay is decent, graphics are mediocre with washed out colors.”
- “The game graphics are below average.”
- “Why I 'hate' it... AI is stupid, graphics are lacking for 2023, more like early 2000s.”
music
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its ability to enhance immersion and complement the narrative, with many reviewers highlighting its atmospheric qualities and emotional depth. The soundtrack features a mix of original compositions and adaptations of classical pieces, effectively reflecting the game's themes and settings. While some players noted occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's engaging 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 artwork, the story, and the music are excellent; maybe it's somewhat easy to kill the enemies in the normal level, but still fun.”
- “The game is highly immersive; the combination of soundtrack, art style, and characters really makes you think that you are there.”
- “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
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
22%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, effectively blending art, music, and storytelling to create a captivating experience. Players appreciate the unique historical setting, particularly the portrayal of the Russian Civil War, and the emotional connections formed with characters. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as gripping, atmospheric, and a significant highlight, enhancing both the gameplay and narrative.
- “The amazing atmosphere of 'Last Train Home' will make you follow the plot with bated breath.”
- “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!”
- “The very strong point is atmosphere, everything else just okay.”
- “It nails the mood and atmosphere and covers part of WW1 history that is rarely if ever talked about in games.”
replayability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
58%
16%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag among reviewers. While some players appreciate the multiple routes and decision-making that can lead to different outcomes, others find the overall experience lacks significant replay value due to repetitive content and limited variation in gameplay. Overall, it seems that while there are elements that encourage replaying, many players feel that the game does not offer enough incentive to return after completing the campaign.
- “It took me 61.9 hours to complete the campaign, but that just might have been me exploring too much. The game offers a lot of replay value as you have different routes to choose from, and I suspect it gives different versions of the story as well.”
- “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.”
- “I don't see a lot of replay value with this. There are a few bugs still present, the UI and unit control is a fight in and of itself. You could probably find similar games that are worth your money rather than Last Train Home.”
- “Minimal replay value is its only real knock as you can, in theory, do things differently and try two different paths at two different points, but the game itself is roughly the same.”
- “The game just isn't that replayable after you finish and know what is going to happen.”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
11%
86%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, particularly in terms of resource management and troop assignments. While some enjoy the strategic elements of upgrading and managing the train, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of tasks and the lack of automation, leading to a sense of monotony in gameplay. Combat and mission execution also contribute to this feeling, as players often encounter situations that require excessive micromanagement and result in a less engaging experience.
- “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.”
optimization
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
49%
23%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including low frame rates, stuttering, and crashes, particularly on higher settings or specific maps. Conversely, others report smooth gameplay with minimal bugs and good performance on high-end systems. Overall, while some users find the game well-optimized, many feel it struggles with optimization, especially for lower-end hardware.
- “Performance was good, no hiccups on highest settings (Ryzen 5 5600X + Radeon RX 6900XT).”
- “On a technical level, the game runs smoothly, with minimal bugs or glitches, ensuring a seamless gaming experience.”
- “The game runs great and is well optimized, while the graphics are really nice to look at.”
- “I have a Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3080, 32GB of RAM and it can't get more than 30 FPS, with constant stuttering.”
- “Six crashes in about sixty hours isn't too much, but I'm of the opinion that a well-optimized game definitely shouldn't crash like that.”
- “Poor optimization: maybe it was my PC but some maps seemed poorly optimized, glitchy and resource hungry.”
stability
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
3%
74%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant crashes and bugs, particularly during startup and mission loading, while others report a mostly smooth experience with minimal issues. Many users noted that while there are occasional glitches, they are generally not game-breaking and can often be resolved with updates from the developers. Overall, the game appears to be well-optimized for some, but still has notable stability concerns that need addressing.
- “So far no glitches or bugs, looks very polished.”
- “The main mechanics of the game are bug-free and provide a means to keep playing.”
- “The game is almost bug-free (I encountered three minor bugs during the 70 hours of gameplay, none of them game-breaking).”
- “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. I think they 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.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the quirky mechanics, such as the ridiculous behavior of armored vehicles and the antics of their crew members. Many moments evoke laughter, from the exaggerated portrayal of enemy soldiers to the humorous bugs that lead to bizarre situations, like a repeatedly resurrected alcoholic crew member. Overall, the game balances its serious themes with a lighthearted tone, making for a uniquely entertaining experience.
- “Seeing an armored car pivot on the spot like a merry-go-round was hilarious initially, until I learned that I can't actually drive the thing from point A to point B.”
- “I had some hilarious bugs, like one of my crew members was dying over and over; he had the alcoholic trait and after his death would appear back on my train. I had to bury that guy eight times, never gave him alcohol.”
- “The game also has a lot of humor and personality, with quirky characters and dialogue.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, particularly for players with ties to central or eastern Europe, as it explores themes of sacrifice, camaraderie, and despair amidst conflict. Players report becoming deeply invested in the fates of their soldiers, with heart-wrenching moments that challenge their moral decisions and evoke a strong emotional response. The narrative and character performances enhance this emotional engagement, making it a memorable and thought-provoking experience that resonates long after gameplay.
- “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.”
- “The cast's performances are so convincing that you'll find yourself emotionally invested in their fates, creating a profound connection that lingers long after the game is over.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Character development in the game is seen as uneven, with some paths being more advantageous than others, leading to a mixed experience. While the integration of character growth with gameplay elements like team management and tactical choices enhances replayability, players express a desire for deeper character arcs, particularly for female characters and beyond the advisor's limited storyline. Overall, the potential for richer character development remains a noted area for improvement.
- “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 truly enjoy the game, you should keep the train running with whoever you have.”
- “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, but if you want to enjoy the game truly, you should keep the train running with whoever you got.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The monetization approach of the game is seen as a positive alternative to current trends, with some users appreciating the advertising that led them to it. However, concerns are raised about the game's fundamental flaws and glitches, particularly the premature promotion of future DLC despite unresolved issues in the current gameplay.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content without forcing microtransactions.”
- “Like a safe haven in today's monetization schemes that disguise as games.”
- “However, it has a lot of fundamental flaws, glitches, and issues which are on a basic level. I think it’s really 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, becoming impossible to exfil.”