The Final Station

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,257 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.
Starting at $2.47Buy now
Get on Steam

"The Final Station" is a post-apocalyptic adventure game set in a dying world, where you travel by train, maintaining its condition and scavenging for supplies. Encounter infected hordes when you exit the train and decide whether to help survivors or loot their bodies. With limited supplies and ammo, it relies more on strategy than combat, spanning across 5 chapters.

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

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,257 reviews
story951 positive mentions
replayability32 negative mentions
  • Incredible atmosphere and environmental storytelling.
  • Engaging and mysterious story that keeps players invested.
  • Simple yet effective gameplay mechanics that are easy to learn.
  • Repetitive gameplay loop that can become tedious over time.
  • Ending is abrupt and leaves many questions unanswered.
  • Train management mechanics can distract from the story and dialogue.
  • story2,814 mentions

    The story of "The Final Station" is a complex and intriguing narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world, primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling, passenger dialogues, and scattered notes. While many players appreciate the atmospheric depth and the gradual unfolding of the plot, some find the execution lacking, with vague elements and an abrupt ending that leaves numerous questions unanswered. Overall, the game is praised for its rich lore and emotional impact, though it may require multiple playthroughs to fully grasp the story's nuances.

    • “It's one of the best games I've ever played, to be honest. The story and atmosphere are incredible; there are some issues with it, but they're vastly overshadowed by the good sides of this cinematic masterpiece.”
    • “The storytelling in 'The Final Station' excels greatly, presenting a compelling narrative that unfolds gradually as you progress through the game.”
    • “The story is intriguing and I can't say much about how it unfolds in the end. The atmosphere is great, and the way the story is delivered through the environment and character interactions is captivating.”
    • “The story is convoluted and the gameplay becomes boring and excruciatingly difficult.”
    • “The story is difficult to piece together as it's given to you via side character dialogue that you can barely read because you're too busy maintaining the train or keeping your passengers from dying.”
    • “The story is pretty simple and lacks depth; it’s not hard to figure out what’s going on even if you’ve missed a bunch of the notes and dialogue.”
  • gameplay1,419 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Final Station" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and repetitiveness. While the game features a blend of resource management and survival mechanics, the core gameplay loop often feels tedious, particularly during train maintenance sections that detract from the narrative experience. Despite its engaging story and atmospheric visuals, the lack of depth in gameplay mechanics has led some players to feel that the game does not fully capitalize on its potential, making it more suitable for those who prioritize narrative over gameplay complexity.

    • “Gameplay is simple but gets the job done, and is balanced enough to reward strategy and feel challenging without making it too difficult to progress.”
    • “I was constantly engaging with fairly enjoyable spooky gameplay, learning new things about the world, and knowing I was making actual progress towards some sort of resolution.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, and sometimes the survival aspect (keeping your train passengers alive) gets in the way of the story more than anything, but good lord does this game have atmosphere.”
    • “The gameplay consists of just two gameplay sections that are used over and over again; you’ll see them both in the first 20-30 minutes and then that’s all you’ll be doing for the rest of the game.”
    • “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 gameplay feels like an old browser game and at the same time most of them would be more enjoyable as it becomes too repetitive too soon and even new enemies from the DLC don't make up for the fact that it loops too soon.”
  • atmosphere600 mentions

    The atmosphere of "The Final Station" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively combining pixel art, sound design, and environmental storytelling to create a tense and engaging experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and curiosity in a post-apocalyptic setting, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive and the story may feel vague or underdeveloped. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as the game's strongest feature, drawing players into its mysterious world.

    • “The atmosphere is dark and the people you meet add to the overall experience.”
    • “The game's use of lighting and shadow creates a hauntingly atmospheric experience, making you feel the isolation and eeriness of this forsaken world.”
    • “The final station is an atmospheric journey through an interesting world, which for a couple of evenings spent in it will bring you a lot of positive emotions.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is as cold and relentless as the vacuum of space.”
    • “The game has a mysterious atmosphere that can suck you in; I hear that the DLC explains more about the story.”
    • “The atmosphere is very well done but falls flat when you realize that there is nothing outside of the zombies that would even pose a threat to you.”
  • graphics538 mentions

    The graphics of "The Final Station" primarily feature a pixel art style that, while not groundbreaking, effectively conveys the game's atmosphere and narrative. Many players appreciate the charming visuals and detailed backgrounds, which enhance the post-apocalyptic setting, though some feel the pixel graphics are overused in indie games. Overall, the art style is considered beautiful and immersive, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact despite its simplicity.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, they don't feel lazy at all.”
    • “The pixel graphics look great and the game has an amazing atmosphere.”
    • “The pixel graphics lend brilliantly to the array of unique environments rushed past you during the train sequences.”
    • “The pixel graphics are a dime a dozen when it comes to indie games, so I can't really give them points for any kind of creative art style.”
    • “Probably fine if you're into low-quality pixel graphics games, but it's not something I can recommend.”
    • “The graphics seem a little underdone in a lot of places and there's nothing memorable about the character design.”
  • music436 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall mood and immersion, particularly during key moments. However, many reviewers noted that the soundtrack is sparse, often leaving long stretches of silence that can detract from the experience, with some wishing for more variety and presence throughout gameplay. Despite these criticisms, the music is often described as beautiful and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's emotional weight and storytelling.

    • “The soundtrack is superb and really enhances the atmosphere of the game without being overbearing.”
    • “The music is both beautiful and emotional, and goes really well with the game.”
    • “The music, atmosphere, and pixel art of the game are flat-out fantastic - but neither the story nor the gameplay are up to scratch.”
    • “Not having voice over is a stylistic choice I can respect, but typically it’s done to allow the music to really shine or emphasize the sound of the environment, neither of which is the case with this game.”
    • “A bit more diversity in the soundtrack would have been welcome, as the repetition can become noticeable during extended play sessions.”
    • “The only thing I would say as cons is that the soundtrack is not always present in the game.”
  • replayability119 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its extremely low replayability, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and lack of alternative choices or endings. While some players appreciate the initial experience and the story, they express disappointment that there is little incentive to replay once completed, often suggesting it is best enjoyed on sale due to its short length and minimal replay value.

    • “Replayability is surprisingly nice; you always find new details or extra bits of lore that went unnoticed in your last playthrough.”
    • “It has wonderful replay value, in my opinion; it feels like the kind of game I'd be happy to play over and over again just for the joy of traversing the unique buildings and fighting the infected.”
    • “The replay value is the fun of doing this over again and perhaps figuring out a few more plot and worldbuilding elements you'd missed; nothing is randomized.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game lacks replay value, but is worth the 3-4 hours you spend playing through it once.”
  • grinding104 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that the gameplay loop detracts from the overall experience. Tasks such as managing passengers and resources on the train often interrupt narrative engagement, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. While some players appreciate the story and atmosphere, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding mechanics significantly hinder enjoyment, making the game feel like a slog rather than a rewarding adventure.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “As if this wasn't tedious enough given your low movement speed, the game also has the gall to sandwich in conversations with tons of story and worldbuilding in these sections.”
    • “The gameplay itself is repetitive, just tedious and hard enough to be annoying, but not hard enough to be very skillful.”
    • “The tedious gameplay in all aspects means that most of the experience is spent slogging through one encounter to get to the next.”
    • “Managing the train is repetitive, tedious, and lacks any form of complexity.”
  • emotional55 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its ability to evoke strong feelings through its soundtrack, art, and narrative, often leading to profound emotional responses, including tears. However, some players felt disconnected due to gameplay mechanics that hindered their engagement with the story, resulting in a lack of emotional investment in characters and events. Overall, while the game has moments of emotional depth and resonance, it struggles with balancing gameplay and narrative to maintain a consistent emotional connection.

    • “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.”
    • “The game achieves a satisfying, affecting, and resonant emotional and tonal narrative through the complementary uses of gameplay and world-building, with sparing use of plot and character.”
    • “Overall, Final Station has brilliant art, a boring story, repetitive and uninteresting gameplay, and enemies that don't feel like they fit in a horror game.”
    • “Overwhelmingly mediocre gameplay, a boring story, and a walking simulator DLC; it's a waste of time.”
    • “Pretty boring story with monotonous gameplay and little depth, except for a few good-looking background animations near the end of the game, which is undoubtedly where most of the effort went into developing this disappointment.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding it entertaining and quirky, while others feel it lacks depth and clarity. There are moments of clever dialogue and amusing character interactions, but the overall comedic impact varies, leaving some players wanting more cohesive humor throughout the experience. Despite these mixed feelings, many appreciate the lighthearted elements that enhance the game's atmosphere and replayability.

    • “Lots of replayability & some funny, interesting & neat quirks.”
    • “Surprisingly deep world building, great humor, fun mechanics in surviving the monsters and keeping your crew and train going.”
    • “The background dialogue of characters you meet in the safe zones can be humorous; characters comment on you just barging into their homes, or the fact that they live in a hallway.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance and high frame rates, even on older hardware. While there were minor stuttering issues towards the end, they did not significantly affect gameplay, leading to a generally positive reception regarding performance.

    • “Performance was very good: a solid 144fps from start to finish.”
    • “The game runs smoothly on my 7 year old laptop.”
    • “The game runs smoothly and never has frame drops, and I encountered no glitches.”
    • “The game moves at a pretty decent clip at all times, combat is swift and decisive, but there was a little stuttering towards the end that never lasted long and never had an impact on the gameplay.”
    • “Game worked perfectly, so you shouldn't be afraid about performance.”
    • “Pricing and performance are not well balanced, leading to a frustrating experience.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The stability of the game received mixed reviews; while some players reported a smooth experience with no glitches or frame drops, others encountered significant bugs, particularly with controller support and note reading. Overall, the game appears to have stability issues reminiscent of early access titles, despite its polished presentation.

    • “The game runs smoothly and never has frame drops, and I encountered no glitches.”
    • “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, exploring, gathering loot, and plot-relevant notes.”
    • “I did not like the buggy controller support (played fine with keyboard and mouse) and glitches 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 noticeable personality change, it lacks justification through meaningful events. Some players appreciated the unexpected depth of story and character elements, 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.”
  • 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 model 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 monetization tactics really ruin the experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

Buy The Final Station

Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 62 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games