Last Year The Nightmare

Last Year: The Nightmare is a fun, albeit shallow experience that could use more content and reasons to keep playing. In the increasingly crowded market of asymmetrical online horror games, Last Year manages to streamline a lot of what usually makes these types of games so frustrating to play.

75%Game Brain Score

gameplay, atmosphere

graphics, stability

77% User Score Based on 476 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 12 reviews

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Last Year The Nightmare is a single player and multiplayer action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Elastic Games and was released on October 26, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS Halloween night. 1996. A group of teenagers awake to find themselves trapped in a dark, twisted reflection of their sleepy hometown of Forest Hills. As they make their way across the East Side High School campus, they realize they are being hunted by a supernatural force taking the forms of fearsome killers. Relentlessly pursued, the teens must band together to fight back, sur…

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 476 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game is very fun to play, especially with friends, and has a unique horror experience.
The graphics and atmosphere are well-executed, creating an engaging environment.
The gameplay mechanics are enjoyable, with a good crafting system and various character classes.

The game suffers from a very low player base, making it difficult to find matches without a full group of friends.
There are numerous bugs and balance issues, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The developers have seemingly abandoned the game, resulting in a lack of updates and support.

gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics and fun factor, especially when played with friends, though it requires a minimum of six players to start. While some users note that it lacks balance compared to its predecessor, "Afterdark," and has less smoothness and content, the overall experience remains enjoyable and worth trying, particularly during sales. The game features intriguing elements beyond typical running and shooting, with varied areas that enhance the gameplay experience.
- “Very good mechanics; with time, you can learn them all.”
- “It has intriguing gameplay; you're not just running around or shooting stuff all day.”
- “Stamina will be a bit less than typical if you're used to playing Afterdark as a survivor - but the gameplay is still as fast-paced as Afterdark.”
- “Gameplay-wise, I prefer Afterdark, but the areas in this one are better because it's more open, for example, the gym area.”
- “The gameplay is fine for the type of asymmetrical game it is.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie ambiance and masterful execution across various maps, enhanced by improved graphics and a haunting soundtrack. While some players feel that the imbalance in survivor numbers can detract from the experience, the overall tone is considered a standout feature, making it a captivating experience, especially during themed events like Halloween.
- “This game is a beautiful masterpiece with an eerie ambiance and spooky atmosphere. It's a shame with the current situation of elastic games, but I think that one day elastic games might get a publisher and continue content.”
- “The atmospheric tones in each of the maps are amazingly executed along with the soundtrack.”
- “You know who you are and last year doesn't need nor want you ;) For everyone else, this is certainly an experience worth trying; atmospherically, it's a masterpiece.”
- “In each game, there is only 1 killer and 5 survivors, but survivors can be more than 5... it is really killing the atmosphere.”
- “This game is a beautiful masterpiece with an eerie ambiance and spooky atmosphere; it's a shame with the current situation of elastic games, but I think that one day elastic games might get a publisher and continue content.”
- “- Graphics are slightly better (lighting, reflections) - tone and atmosphere is scarier because of it.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The graphics of the game have received positive feedback, with users praising the impressive visuals and sound effects that enhance the co-op horror experience. Improvements in lighting and reflections contribute to a scarier atmosphere, making this version visually superior to its predecessor. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, adding depth to the gameplay.
- “Awesome graphics for this kind of co-op horror game!”
- “Graphics are slightly better (lighting, reflections) - tone and atmosphere is scarier because of it.”
- “The graphics are slightly better (lighting, reflections), but the tone and atmosphere are scarier because of it.”
- “If you really want to buy this game, buy the other version called 'Last Year' since that is the one that will continue to receive updates. This classic version, which came out in 2018, has better graphics, but overall, the other version is much better.”
- “The graphics and sound effects are just wow!”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, lag issues, and unbalanced gameplay. While some players note minor visual glitches, the overall experience is marred by significant technical problems, leading to frustration and confusion, particularly regarding game invites and tutorials.
- “The game is very buggy and the fact that your mic is always on makes me feel uncomfortable.”
- “Unbalanced and very laggy/buggy most of the time.”
- “I had to look it up on Reddit to figure this out and I ended up wasting half an hour downloading the wrong game and then troubleshooting why I couldn't accept my friend's game invite or find a tutorial.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its limited content, featuring only three maps that lead to repetitive missions, which can become monotonous. However, playing with friends can enhance the experience and make the gameplay more enjoyable despite the lack of variety.
- “The story is lacking depth and fails to engage the player.”
- “The narrative feels repetitive and uninspired, making it hard to stay invested.”
- “There are only a few maps, and the constant repetition of missions quickly becomes tedious.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's optimization is generally considered inferior to its predecessor, which has received multiple patches to enhance performance. While the newer version boasts improved graphics and easier matchmaking, players recommend opting for the older version, "Last Year," for a more stable experience. Overall, the current version lacks the same level of performance optimization as the earlier release.
- “This version has better graphics, it is easier to find a game, and it is better optimized compared to the other version.”
- “The performance is not as optimized as the other version of the game, which had multiple patches specifically to address performance.”
- “If you want to buy this game, go ahead; this version is better optimized, but the other version is much better overall.”
- “Performance is not as optimized as the other version of the game; the other game had multiple patches specifically to address performance.”
- “First things first, if you really want to buy this game, buy the other version which is called 'Last Year' since that is the one that, in the case that the game revives, will continue to update. This is the classic version, which came out in 2018 for Discord, while the other is the most recent version of the game. If you still want to buy this game, go ahead. What is better in this version than the other is the graphics; they look better, it is easier to find a game, and it is better optimized, but in the rest, the other version of the game is much better.”
- “Performance is not as optimized as the other version of the game; the other game had multiple patches specifically to address performance.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with players noting that it includes numerous events that can provoke genuine laughter. While some users express disappointment in other aspects of the game, they still acknowledge its comedic value, suggesting it can be entertaining enough to warrant a playthrough.
- “There are lots of events which will literally make you roll on the floor laughing; it's a very amusing game.”
- “Yes, funny good.”
- “Youtubers played this game and I was like 'OMG, I need that game, it's so good!' but now I just want my money back. But sadly, it's way too late. I hope y'all aren't as dumb as me; it's funny when you make a priv.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric tones, which enhance the overall experience across various maps. Players recommend purchasing the ultimate edition for access to the soundtrack, further emphasizing its quality and contribution to the game's ambiance.
- “The atmospheric tones in each of the maps are amazingly executed along with the soundtrack.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game is so demanding that it may require a second life, suggesting it can be excessively time-consuming or challenging.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability, with some users rating it as average (5/15), suggesting that the game may not offer enough incentives or varied experiences to encourage multiple playthroughs.

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73%Critics’ scoreBased on 12 critic reviews

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8h Median play time

6h Average play time

2-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Last Year The Nightmare is a action game with horror theme.

Last Year The Nightmare is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Last Year The Nightmare.

Last Year The Nightmare was released on October 26, 2020.

Last Year The Nightmare was developed by Elastic Games.

Last Year The Nightmare has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Last Year The Nightmare for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

Last Year The Nightmare is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Last Year, In Silence, Secret Neighbor, Monstrum 2, White Noise 2 and others.

Last Year The Nightmare

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