The Last Caretaker

About

The Last Caretaker is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Channel37 Ltd and was released on November 6, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

In a flooded Earth dominated by rusting megastructures, you awaken as the last caretaker, a machine tasked with saving humanity’s future. Explore a vast ocean world, gather scarce resources, and craft tools to nurture human seeds and reactivate the Lazarus Complex. Your choices drive a personal, thought-provoking narrative that shapes humanity’s fate.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,211 reviews

story364 positive mentions

optimization224 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and engaging gameplay loop that combines exploration, crafting, and resource management.
Visually stunning with great graphics and atmospheric sound design, creating an immersive experience.
The game encourages curiosity and experimentation, rewarding players for thorough exploration and resource gathering.

The game suffers from significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and crashes, especially in certain areas.
Many players experience game-breaking bugs, such as items detaching from the boat and save files becoming corrupted.
The controls and user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.

story
988 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
62%
1%
The story in "The Last Caretaker" is a compelling blend of environmental storytelling and narrative exploration, set in a post-apocalyptic world where players uncover humanity's past through logs and interactions with the environment. While many players find the storyline intriguing and emotionally resonant, some criticize it for being sparse or underdeveloped, especially given the game's early access status. Overall, the game shows promise for future expansions of its narrative, with players eager for more content and deeper lore as development progresses.
- “The story is compelling and engaging, drawing players into a world filled with mystery and exploration.”
- “The storyline is a true highlight, featuring compelling character arcs and unexpected plot twists that kept me hooked from start to finish.”
- “The environmental storytelling is absolutely fantastic and doesn't beat you over the head with useless dialog.”
- “The storyline is dull.”
- “The story is a little shallow but it's very early access so I'm good with that.”
- “The story is delivered in a haphazard way that a lot of players will miss entirely...”
optimization
981 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
65%
23%
The game's optimization is a significant concern among players, with many reporting severe performance issues, including frequent frame drops, stuttering, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users have experienced stable performance in certain areas, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization to enhance playability, particularly in complex environments. Many reviewers recommend waiting for further updates before purchasing, as the current state is often described as unplayable or frustratingly laggy.
- “Despite being in early access, the game boasts a remarkably stable performance, with only two minor crashes experienced after an impressive 200+ hours of play.”
- “The game has great graphics and fun gameplay, but it needs better optimization for me to give it a recommendation.”
- “The gameplay loop feels very polished, though there appear to be some optimizations left to do for the team (which I have no doubt they'll do).”
- “Spent hours exploring different 'fixes' people online had for the performance issues. I have an RTX 3080 Ti that's overclocked and Ryzen 9 5900X, and yet the most I could squeeze out of this game was 50 FPS in the starting area. I didn't even bother going farther with the game because I know it'll just get worse as you build and expand.”
- “The game is extremely unoptimized, with frequent frame rate drops, stutters, and even crashes to desktop even on recommended specs. Performance can tank, especially with built-up structures on your ship or in complex areas.”
- “The performance is so horrendous in that place that it actually cripples my enjoyment of the game.”
gameplay
972 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The gameplay of "The Last Caretaker" is characterized by a solid core loop that combines exploration, resource management, and crafting, appealing to fans of survival and building games. While the mechanics are innovative and engaging, players have noted significant bugs, performance issues, and a lack of clarity in some systems, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these challenges, many reviewers express optimism for future updates, highlighting the game's potential for depth and enjoyment once these issues are addressed.
- “The gameplay is fun, the movement is great, and the somewhat unique mechanics are also fantastic.”
- “The core gameplay loop is surprisingly addictive, and recycling entire points of interest ended up being way more fun than I expected.”
- “The gameplay loop is engaging and rewarding.”
- “The systems stop feeling like mechanics and start feeling like responsibility.”
- “Between a lot of unexplained mechanics, various UI bugs, and lots of travel/downtime, you might not enjoy the experience as much as you will a few months/a year from now when the game feels more polished and smoothed out.”
- “The core gameplay loop is decent for a while, but it has a major progression problem.”
graphics
565 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning visuals, atmospheric effects, and detailed environments, particularly the water physics and lighting. However, numerous users have reported significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and graphical glitches, even on high-end systems, indicating a pressing need for optimization. Overall, while the graphics are visually appealing, the current state of performance hampers the experience for many players.
- “The graphics, weather effects, sound, and physics are some of the best I've ever seen in a game, along with the core gameplay loop being utterly brilliant and refreshingly original.”
- “The game captivates from the very start with its eye-catching graphics and smooth gameplay, drawing players into a world of fluid water effects and breathtaking landscapes.”
- “The graphics are excellent, the physics are great, the locations are stunning, the lighting and sound are amazing.”
- “The game is visually stunning; however, it is in vital need of graphics optimization.”
- “I feel misled about this game; I have a decent computer that can play most games on high/extreme settings, but the game never reached 60 fps and today I couldn't get above 15 fps, even after changing the video/graphics settings.”
- “This game is absolutely amazing, but it runs poorly; I have to put graphics all the way down, set it to 60 fps, and turn frame generation and scaling off.”
stability
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is a significant concern among players, with many reporting a wide range of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with physics, input lag, and crashes. While some users note improvements over time and express confidence in the developers' responsiveness to feedback, the overall consensus is that the game remains quite buggy, particularly in its early access state. Players are advised to save frequently to mitigate the impact of these issues, as they can lead to frustrating experiences and hinder progress.
- “The game runs great overall, but it does have high hardware requirements.”
- “It runs great on my Ryzen 9 7950X/RX 7900 XTX system, one crash in the demo, none in the game itself, 50-60 FPS on high settings, 40-50 on epic.”
- “Despite it being early access, I found it smooth and bug-free, but it is quite demanding of the GPU. I have an RTX 4060 and play it on low settings, but I still find the graphics good.”
- “The game is extremely buggy to the point it isn't playable.”
- “Unfortunately, the game has devolved into a laggy, buggy mess around the 100-hour mark, so until the next update, I'll have to set it down and play something else.”
- “However, despite its potential, the game currently struggles with a range of issues—from minor bugs to game-breaking glitches—that significantly impact the experience.”
atmosphere
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The atmosphere of "The Last Caretaker" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and a compelling sense of isolation and exploration. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a haunting yet serene environment, enhanced by atmospheric music and detailed world-building that encourages curiosity and engagement. Despite some technical issues, the overall ambiance and thoughtful pacing make it a standout experience in the survival genre.
- “The atmosphere is spot on and the world has that 'just one more thing to do' pull that makes you lose track of time.”
- “The last caretaker delivers a beautifully atmospheric experience with its haunting visuals.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, a flooded world full of mystery, rusted towers, and remnants of humanity clinging to life.”
- “The same patterns seem to recycle every few minutes, breaking immersion rather than enhancing the atmosphere.”
- “Fighting for your life, near non-stop, in an empty world just feels bad and takes away from the experience and atmosphere of the world... especially when you spend a literal hour or more fully clearing a location just to realize it has no content yet and is a placeholder for future updates.”
- “Because the atmosphere is bleak.”
grinding
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
3%
95%
The reviews indicate a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding it enjoyable and satisfying, particularly in the context of resource gathering and crafting. However, many others describe the experience as tedious and repetitive, especially in the mid to late game, where the gameplay loop can feel overly grindy and less rewarding. While some appreciate the depth and mechanics of the grinding system, others express frustration with the tediousness of tasks like dismantling items and managing resources.
- “You’re expanding capability in meaningful ways, not grinding for grind’s sake.”
- “You’re not grinding for no reason; every system you repair, every structure you restore, and every decision you make feels important.”
- “Resources feel limited but not grindy.”
- “Very repetitive, very tedious.”
- “Fun for the first 10-20 hours, then gets incredibly tedious.”
- “The gameplay loop is less about building interesting stuff and turns into essentially just grinding for enough materials.”
music
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
50%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience of exploration and sailing. Many players find the soundtrack calming and fitting, although some note a lack of variety and repetitiveness, particularly during combat scenarios. Overall, while the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere, there are calls for more dynamic tracks to accompany different gameplay moments.
- “The gentle rocking of the vessel against the waves, paired with the atmospheric music, creates an almost meditative state.”
- “There’s something deeply peaceful about just sailing, listening to the music, and letting the world pass by.”
- “The experience is incredibly immersive, thanks to its breathtaking visual design and an ambient soundtrack that perfectly sets the tone for exploration.”
- “Sound design is okay, but the game suffers from a noticeable lack of memorable or dynamic music.”
- “Some pretty big issues: music is pretty repetitive, battle music seems always too loud for one little leech trying to sneak up on me.”
- “However, I hate the pointless AI-generated voiceover (that keeps playing off-screen for some reason) and the soundtrack is also AI-generated with no variety.”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its themes of isolation, purpose, and the poignant journey of a robot caretaker nurturing the last human seeds in a flooded world. Players find the environmental storytelling and subtle lore to be deeply impactful, creating a strong emotional resonance despite a light plot. While some reviews note moments of emotional emptiness, the overall consensus is that the game offers a rewarding and touching experience, making it a standout in the atmospheric survival genre.
- “There is something incredibly special about piloting your custom-built ship through the silent, rusted ruins of a flooded Earth; it’s like Subnautica met Wall-E and it’s just as heartbreaking as it is beautiful.”
- “The sense of isolation and purpose as the last robot tasked with restoring life to a dead world creates a powerful emotional resonance, enhanced by environmental storytelling and subtle lore.”
- “Caring for the last human seeds adds real emotional weight and turns the whole journey into something meaningful and unforgettable.”
humor
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its quirky physics and unexpected bugs, which often lead to hilarious moments, such as boats capsizing or robots launching into the air. Players appreciate the comedic elements introduced by the AI and the absurdity of certain situations, making the gameplay experience both entertaining and rewarding. Overall, the game's charm lies in its ability to create laugh-out-loud scenarios amidst its early access challenges.
- “There's some buggy stuff but nothing truly game-breaking, unless you accidentally capsize your boat, but that's still pretty funny.”
- “The funny thing is, you gave these objects sounds that would make you think they were as heavy as boulders, yet if your tipsy robot bumps into one, it goes flying.”
- “It was ridiculous, chaotic, and hilarious, but it is the kind of weird moment that makes you love the game even more.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The game's replayability is mixed among users; while some find it infinitely replayable and enjoyable, others note that the fixed map and lack of unique challenges limit long-term engagement. Many anticipate improvements and additional content that could enhance replay value, but currently, the experience may not warrant hundreds of hours of play. Overall, it shows potential for replayability, especially as the game continues to develop.
- “Infinitely replayable.”
- “So much to do, great gameplay loop, and as it seems to be developing, we should get a great replayability value with tons of content slated for the next 2-3 quarters.”
- “It is well worth the price and is extremely playable/replayable.”
- “Tentatively recommending because what's there is already great fun, but don't expect hundreds of hours of replayability.”
- “As with many single-player survival games, it's a fixed map without unique challenges to your world, which means once you play it, you know how it goes. Been there, done that; it's not all that replayable.”
- “The whole experience can be summed up in 70-90 hours, and if you don't min-max or fiddle with your ship much and don't explore every nook and cranny of 75% of locations, it can probably go down even more. There is no real replayability or an end-game to sink more hours into.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
80%
The monetization aspect of the game includes in-game purchases and a toggle for ads, which some players find cumbersome due to its impact on gameplay and control layout. While there are concerns about early access titles feeling unfinished or like cash grabs, many users appreciate the developers' efforts to optimize the game, making it enjoyable despite the monetization elements. Overall, the game is seen as a positive example in the early access space, with room for improvement in control schemes.
- “Microtransactions are well-balanced and don't feel intrusive.”
- “The in-game purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate that the monetization model is fair and allows players to progress without spending money.”
- “Most early access titles just feel unfinished and like a cash grab.”
- “You could use ads (which is only a toggle function currently) but using ads gives you a movement penalty. This is normal, but when it's the only way to use the gun in combat, many of the fights feel like I'm sitting there like a turret, instead of running and jumping around the environment like I would prefer.”
- “[i] microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the main character design is well-crafted, showcasing a blend of depth and relatability that enhances the overall narrative. Players appreciate the thoughtful progression and evolution of the character throughout the game, which adds emotional weight to the story. Overall, the character development is seen as a strong point that enriches the gaming experience.