The Final Station

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,966 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
The Final Station Game Cover
While it may look simple and even a bit silly on the surface, The Final Station is quite the captivating game. The story and survival aspects have been blended wonderfully, and it leaves you with plenty to mull over long after the credits roll.
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Travel by train through a dying world. Look after your passengers, keep your train operational, and make sure you can always reach the next station. Make your way through swarms of infected at each station. Explore mysterious and abandoned stations looking for supplies and survivors. This is The Final Station.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,966 reviews
story565 positive mentions
replayability24 negative mentions
  • Beautiful pixel art and atmospheric sound design create an immersive experience.
  • Engaging story that unfolds through environmental storytelling and passenger dialogue.
  • Simple yet effective gameplay mechanics that keep the player engaged.
  • The game is very short, taking only about 4-5 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price.
  • The ending is abrupt and leaves many questions unanswered, leading to a feeling of dissatisfaction.
  • Resource management and train maintenance can become tedious and distract from the narrative.
  • story1,683 mentions

    The story of "The Final Station" is a compelling yet convoluted narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world, primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling, NPC dialogue, and notes scattered throughout the game. While many players appreciate the intriguing atmosphere and the gradual unfolding of the plot, they often find the gameplay mechanics—particularly the train management tasks—distracting, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. The ending has been criticized for being abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving several plot threads unresolved, which can detract from the overall experience for those seeking a more coherent narrative.

    • “The story of the game is by far the best element of this game; it's an interesting take on the zombie virus genre.”
    • “The story is intriguing (haven't finished it yet), I love the art and music, and I am sad when I lose a passenger.”
    • “The final station is a fascinating game that tells its story from behind a shrouded veil.”
    • “The story is convoluted, its conclusion is abrupt and disappointing.”
    • “Keeping the train 'operational' only benefits the passengers, who are meant to provide flavor for the story but are secondary to it in every possible regard.”
    • “The story decides what to take and where to go, and this does not change between consecutive playthroughs.”
  • gameplay794 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Final Station" is characterized by its simplicity and repetitiveness, with mechanics that blend resource management and exploration. While some players appreciate the engaging atmosphere and narrative, many criticize the gameplay for being tedious and lacking depth, particularly during train management segments that detract from the story. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable moments but often feels like a vehicle for its plot rather than a compelling gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay is simple but very good, which makes it a game that is easy to learn but hard to fully master.”
    • “This game has a fantastic post-apocalyptic atmosphere and some fun mechanics that involve you maintaining your train as the game takes you on a perilous journey.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging enough, the story is probably awesome but what I gathered is enough and art creates a beautiful atmosphere.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and the story is both confusing and kind of simple (like there are a bunch of odd plot holes that don't really get explained).”
    • “The game has some very solid gameplay to it, but it fails to mix it up resulting in an ultimately dull gameplay experience.”
    • “While the actual main gameplay of exploring these stations and areas is fine (if a bit derivative), the sections on the train are absolute misery.”
  • atmosphere349 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and mysterious qualities, effectively capturing a post-apocalyptic world filled with tension and intrigue. Players appreciate the combination of stunning pixel art, haunting sound design, and a compelling narrative that unfolds through environmental storytelling. While some critiques mention repetitive gameplay and a lack of clarity in the story, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is the game's standout feature, making it a captivating experience for those who enjoy atmospheric storytelling.

    • “This game has a fantastic post-apocalyptic atmosphere and some fun mechanics that involve you maintaining your train as the game takes you on a perilous journey.”
    • “The atmosphere is excellent, the world-building feels great, and they really made sure to make it feel like you were constantly struggling to get by - but not too much.”
    • “I just finished both the entire main campaign and DLC in a single sitting, this is one of the most immersive, atmospheric and interesting apocalyptic games out there, the great visual style, ambiance, entertaining gameplay and ambiguously alluring story made this a unique experience more than worth its price that leaves you wanting to explore more.”
    • “The game, of course, has its own atmosphere, but in fact it is terribly monotonous.”
    • “For a game so story and atmosphere focused, the ending is confusing and non-sequitur to most players.”
    • “Unfortunately, there's simply not enough story to uphold that atmosphere.”
  • graphics307 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful pixel art style, which effectively creates an atmospheric and immersive experience. Many players appreciate the charming and simplistic visuals, noting that they complement the game's narrative and emotional depth, despite some criticisms regarding character design and occasional graphical issues. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's storytelling and mood.

    • “The graphics are stunning if you like pixel art; it gets better and better with each train stop.”
    • “I was thoroughly impressed with the pixel art style and aesthetics of this game along with the simple but addictive gameplay loop.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely beautiful, especially given this pixelated art style.”
    • “This game felt like a project from a small team, which I tend to like, but I think it was a little too caught up in a grayscale aesthetic and being mysterious to have much personality.”
    • “The graphics seem a little underdone in a lot of places and there's nothing memorable about the character design.”
    • “I don't see how this game is a gig and a half of memory, especially considering the simple graphics.”
  • music268 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and emotional depth, effectively enhancing the overall experience and mood. While many players appreciate the minimalistic and well-placed soundtrack that complements the game's visuals and story, some express a desire for more frequent musical cues, as certain moments felt too quiet. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and haunting atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is superb and really enhances the atmosphere of the game without being overbearing.”
    • “The music suits the environments and the mysteriousness of the game perfectly... and of course there's the story... let me tell you that everything, from the delivery of the story to the actual plot of the game, is done with the utmost perfection.”
    • “The music gives off the perfect vibe of a world coming to its end; if you don't buy the game, at least look up the OST if you are into somber ambient music.”
    • “The only thing I would say as cons is that the soundtrack is not always present in the game.”
    • “There is no music to the game, the combat is brainless and exploring levels is not so much a puzzle as a painful groan.”
    • “I know it's supposed to be post-apocalyptic and focusing on the quietness to stress the situation; however, it's just way too quiet and there could have been music that still expresses that sentiment without leaving you feeling bored from the silence.”
  • replayability82 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its very low replayability, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and short playtime of around 3-6 hours. While some players appreciate the story and atmosphere, they express disappointment that there are few incentives to replay, aside from achievements or minor details that may have been missed. The lack of alternative endings or difficulty options further diminishes the potential for replay value.

    • “Replayability is surprisingly nice; you always find new details or extra bits of lore that went unnoticed in your last playthrough.”
    • “That just means more replay value, though.”
    • “There is definitely replay value in this game if you're one for achievement hunting/completionism.”
    • “It is definitely a short game, and it doesn't have much replayability.”
    • “The game is completely on the rails - you literally have to visit every location on every station, there is only one way to get through each station, so replayability of the game is close to zero.”
    • “This is a very linear story, and appears to have 0 replay value.”
  • grinding52 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and overly simplistic, with players often feeling bogged down by micromanagement tasks related to passenger care and train maintenance. Many reviews highlight that this grind detracts from the narrative experience, as players frequently miss out on character dialogues while managing resources. While some find the grinding rewarding in terms of achievements, the general consensus is that it significantly hampers immersion and enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “My only complaints are directed towards the game's achievements, most of which rely on fully playing through the DLC again and again and the tediousness of the passenger management system, which prevented me from enjoying dialogues between characters by constantly demanding greater attention to their health and tasks to manage the train itself.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious (combat and train 'management') and some choices are mind-numbing from the developer.”
    • “While the visual design is strong and the developers do a good job of evoking mystery and tension, Final Station is ultimately 5 hours of tedious gameplay with no payoff.”
  • emotional34 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, with some players feeling deeply moved and others expressing a sense of disconnection. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create poignant moments and a haunting atmosphere, leading to strong emotional reactions, including tears and a sense of hopelessness. However, some players felt that gameplay mechanics detracted from the emotional experience, as they struggled to engage with the narrative fully, resulting in a bittersweet or unsatisfying conclusion.

    • “This game is a pixel and emotional masterpiece; sure, it can be a short game, but god, does it hit hard.”
    • “After completing this game, I cried... 100% cried after going through so much I just couldn't believe that it ended that way.”
    • “You come upon events in the story that, in my opinion, feel more emotional and harrowing than in most big-budget games.”
    • “Overall, Final Station has brilliant art, but the story is boring, the gameplay is repetitive and uninteresting, and the enemies don't feel like they fit in a horror game.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted to be hit-or-miss, with some players finding it entertaining and funny, particularly in the context of its unique atmosphere and story. However, others feel that the humor doesn't consistently land or translate well, leaving some layers of wit unappreciated. Overall, while there are moments of humor that shine through, it may not be enough to satisfy all players.

    • “I liked the atmosphere, mechanics, humor, and the story that isn't so directly told.”
    • “Entertaining, funny and quite an interesting story.”
    • “Funny train game :]”
  • stability5 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting no glitches and a smooth experience, while others have encountered significant bugs, particularly with controller support and note reading. Overall, the game is described as feeling unfinished, akin to an early access title, with stability issues detracting from the overall experience.

    • “It's beautifully made; I encountered no glitches, and the story leaves room for speculation.”
    • “It's not buggy, and involves a lot of backpedaling, beating things with your gun, exploring, gathering loot, and plot-relevant notes.”
    • “I did not like the buggy controller support (played fine with keyboard and mouse) and glitches when reading notes.”
    • “Short and buggy, like an early access game but without the expectation for them to do any more.”
    • “Buggy.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the main character undergoes a personality change, it lacks justification and depth. Some players appreciated the unexpected inclusion of story elements and character arcs, but overall, individual character development is seen as minimal and unmemorable.

    • “The game included so many more elements of character development and story than I thought possible.”
    • “I bought this thinking it'd just be a survive till the end, no real plot like 'This War of Mine' (good game also), so I was pleasantly surprised to see story and character developments, as small as they may seem.”
    • “The main character specifically changes personality throughout the game, and while that would be acceptable as character development, nothing actually happens to him to justify it.”
    • “Despite this, however, the individual character development is nonexistent.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game is highly optimized, delivering a consistent 144fps and running smoothly even on older hardware, such as a 7-year-old laptop. Players appreciate the swift combat and engaging mechanics that enhance the overall performance experience.

    • “Performance was very good: a solid 144fps from start to finish.”
    • “The game runs smoothly on my 7 year old laptop.”
    • “The game moves at a pretty decent clip at all times, combat is swift and decisive, there's a nice 'saving survivors' mechanic that really makes you feel like the fates of these people's survival is based on your performance.”
    • “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during intense combat sequences.”
    • “Despite the engaging gameplay, the optimization is lacking, causing long loading times and occasional crashes that disrupt the experience.”
    • “The graphics are impressive, but the poor optimization means that even high-end systems struggle to maintain a stable frame rate.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization model includes microtransactions that are perceived positively as they contribute to a good cause. Additionally, players engage in managing a train between levels, which adds a layer of gameplay beyond the standard sidescroller shooting experience.

    • “Microtransactions for a good cause.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items.”
    • “It's frustrating that progress is heavily gated behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra.”
    • “The game is fun, but the aggressive microtransactions overshadow the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 46 analyzed playthroughs

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