The Last Federation

About

The Last Federation is a single player turn-based strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Arcen Games and was released on April 18, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

From the creators of AI War: Fleet Command comes an all-new grand strategy title with turn-based tactical combat, set in a deep simulation of an entire solar system and its billions of inhabitants. You are the last of a murdered race, determined to unify or destroy the 8 others.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+11

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 678 reviews

gameplay52 positive mentions

grinding54 negative mentions

Unique blend of strategy and turn-based bullet-hell combat, offering a fresh take on the 4X genre.
Deep political mechanics with diverse alien races, each requiring different approaches to influence and manipulate.
Engaging gameplay that allows for multiple strategies to achieve the goal of forming a federation.

Steep learning curve with overwhelming information and mechanics that can be confusing for new players.
Combat can become repetitive and tedious, lacking depth and variety over time.
Limited replay value due to the small number of planets and races, leading to similar experiences in multiple playthroughs.

gameplay
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The gameplay of the game is a complex mix of strategic management and turn-based combat, featuring unique mechanics for interacting with various alien races. While the core concept is intriguing and offers a deep simulation experience, many players find the mechanics confusing, poorly balanced, and often irrelevant, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel repetitive and unengaging. Despite its flaws, those who enjoy intricate strategy games may find it rewarding once they navigate the steep learning curve and understand the various systems at play.
- “I love the core gameplay because basically a big simulation is running as the aliens trade, treat, and go to war with each other, keeping track of their economy, fleets, and technology.”
- “Distinctive factions, engaging mechanics, and just enough humor to keep things from getting too serious combine to create a game that's like no other I've encountered.”
- “Great, complex, unpredictable, and rewarding game once you understand the mechanics and can navigate the confusing UI.”
- “I usually love games like this, but the interface, mechanics, and feedback are so bad I absolutely could not even learn the basics.”
- “Where this game fails is a lack of player choice, and issues with the combat mechanics.”
- “Nothing about it particularly excites me; the gameplay feels repetitive and underwhelming, and the diplomacy doesn't strike me as much more than clicking back and forth between various different colored text.”
story
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
69%
14%
The game's story is described as simple and somewhat cliché, focusing on the player's role as the last survivor of an extinct alien race tasked with uniting various factions in the universe. While some players appreciate the emergent storytelling and unique scenarios that arise from gameplay choices, many criticize the lack of depth and development in the narrative, leading to repetitive missions that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative, with mixed opinions on its execution and engagement.
- “Your goal is to prevent more wars and destruction, so you go on a quest to unite the universe as a federation.”
- “What I was not expecting, however, was the storytelling that the game managed to do, and while much of the story is determined by your own actions (and very much read between the lines subtle in a few spots), the setup and the closure was extremely good.”
- “The last federation has you play as an almost godly last survivor of an extinct alien race, who's now made it his mission to attempt to unify the remaining 8 alien races across the solar system (or unify as many as he can and destroy the rest!).”
- “I liked the writing style, but it doesn't really have anything like a story, so gameplay is the primary concern.”
- “Even if it was a game with amazing potential and operated with unique options and was fun for what it is... it is still based on a storyline that is just horrible.”
- “There is no story, so I have no reason to replay it.”
music
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
28%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique themes for each race and the way the music complements various in-game scenarios, making it a standout feature. While some find the music dated or not to their taste, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack fits the game *perfectly*, with each track set to each scenario (trade ship raids, resistance fighter smuggling, invading, defending, etc.) all culminating in an ending song that makes it well worth the trouble those thoraxians give you.”
- “The game has an excellent soundtrack, shiny art, and a very coherent design.”
- “A unique twist on the 4x genre, fantastic soundtrack, great use of both turn-based and pausable real-time elements.”
- “Seriously, whoever made the music should be fished out by a proper studio and work on a good project.”
- “The music is very dated and overall I was completely turned away by the visual elements.”
- “As much as I love 4X games, this seems like a tedious journey through boring text screens, a visually tragic interface, cheesy music, and arcade-style fighting minigames.”
grinding
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging experience. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of missions and battles, particularly in the late game, where grinding for resources and reputation can lead to long, unfulfilling sessions. While some combat elements are praised, the overall sentiment suggests that the game suffers from a lack of variety and meaningful interaction, making the grinding feel excessive and detracting from the strategic enjoyment.
- “I have spent ten hours grinding money in really boring missions or basically looking at the screen as I felt my cells slowly die.”
- “This game looked promising, but it only took about 2 hours for it to turn into a grindfest for me. Once I saw that all I was really doing was grinding reputation, money, and waiting for other factions to do something, I just stopped.”
- “Unfortunately, it suffers from a lack of variety in the missions which becomes extremely grindy towards the end game.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the hand-drawn artwork and static backgrounds as top-notch, while others criticize the simplicity and lack of impactful visuals. Some players appreciate the quirky and bright aesthetic, likening it to older titles, while others find the graphics underwhelming and filled with errors. Overall, the visuals are seen as decent but not groundbreaking, serving more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point.
- “The artwork, world-building, and wry humor are all great.”
- “Reminds me of the simplicity of Space Rangers 2's 'arcade sequences', but in space, like above a planet, with way better graphics.”
- “As with AI War (another awesome game these guys made), the graphics are quirky and bright.”
- “The visuals are pretty simple though and a lot of the gameplay, particularly the political side of things, is text-based, whilst the combat looks like a regular space shooter.”
- “There might as well be no graphics, because they don't really do anything.”
- “Horrible graphics.”
replayability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
62%
9%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and variety due to randomly generated elements, while others find it limited by a lack of randomness in maps and races. Many agree that while it offers multiple ways to approach gameplay, the initial learning curve may deter some players from fully exploring its potential. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some highlighting significant replay value and others deeming it lacking.
- “Fantastic devs. Lots of replayability if it sinks its hooks.”
- “With a randomly generated solar system, there's a healthy amount of replayability.”
- “Though the game is relatively short (I've played through it twice in 13 hours), it has massive replay value in the multiple open-ended options and random elements.”
- “It has a steep learning curve and little replay value.”
- “No replay value for me.”
- “There are some drawbacks: small font size makes it barely playable on a laptop if you have bad eyesight, you can't break a 'fear empire', and the races/map isn't random, which reduces replay value - a DLC or v2 of the game may fix this?”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as wry and engaging, effectively balancing the serious gameplay with lighthearted moments, such as amusing writing and quirky mechanics. While many players appreciate the comedic elements and find them integral to the experience, some feel that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain aspects feeling dull or overshadowed by the game's serious tone. Overall, the humor contributes to a unique and entertaining atmosphere, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
- “Distinctive factions, engaging mechanics, and just enough humor to keep things from getting too serious combine to create a game that's like no other I've encountered.”
- “The artwork, world-building, and wry humor are all great.”
- “You're the big kid on the playground, watching the little kids play their games of pretend, and you insert yourself in, and since you're bigger than them, you're cool, so you can basically make them do things that you think are funny.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates significant stability improvements since its initial release, running smoothly without bugs or glitches. Players have noted that the turn-based space combat functions well, contributing to a stable gaming experience.
- “This game has improved from its buggy beginnings.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being misleading, as advertisements suggest a more dynamic experience than what is delivered, which is primarily text-based. While some players appreciate the narrative focus, others find the writing lacking in engagement.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its appealing music and art, contributing to an immersive experience.
- “I also really like the game's atmosphere, as the music and art are pretty nice.”

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30h Median play time

21h Average play time

1-40h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Last Federation is a turn-based strategy game with science fiction theme.

The Last Federation is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 21 hours playing The Last Federation.

The Last Federation was released on April 18, 2014.

The Last Federation was developed by Arcen Games.

The Last Federation has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

The Last Federation is a single player game.

Similar games include Endless Space, Endless Space 2, Stellaris, Galactic Civilizations II: Endless Universe, AI War: Fleet Command and others.

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