The Last Federation

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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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 339 reviews

gameplay26 positive mentions

grinding27 negative mentions

Unique concept that combines strategy and turn-based combat.
Diverse alien races with distinct political systems and interactions.
Engaging gameplay that allows for various approaches to achieve goals.

Steep learning curve with overwhelming information and mechanics.
Combat can become repetitive and lacks depth over time.
Limited replayability due to the small number of planets and races.

gameplay
99 mentions
26 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is a complex blend of strategy, simulation, and turn-based mechanics, offering a unique experience that some players find engaging while others deem confusing and unbalanced. While the core concept of managing intergalactic diplomacy and influence is intriguing, many reviewers note that the execution suffers from a lack of clarity in mechanics and a cumbersome interface, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel repetitive and underwhelming. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy deep strategy games but may frustrate players seeking a more straightforward or action-oriented experience.
- “I love the core gameplay because basically a big simulation is running as the aliens trade, negotiate, 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 strategy game with lots of ways to win and good gameplay.”
- “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.”
- “It's not fun; most of the mechanics aren't important, although they seem interesting, and they seem to be implemented extremely poorly.”
- “The majority of the gameplay isn't space-shooting, but managing and negotiating between the different alien space races.”
story
59 mentions
17 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple and somewhat cliché, focusing on the player's role as the last survivor of an 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.
- “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!).”
- “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 artwork is top-notch, the story setting itself is very good, and I enjoy the idea of playing some mastermind behind the scenes.”
- “I didn't even complete two missions or play any combat or get to do anything whatsoever; it forced me to sit there waiting for the second mission to complete.”
- “There is no story, so I have no reason to replay it.”
- “All in all, the ship-to-ship fighting got old really fast, and the plot sucked; the ending was disappointing as all hell.”
music
37 mentions
68 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its catchy and fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the unique themes for different races and the ability of the music to complement various gameplay scenarios, making it a standout feature. While some opinions vary, the general consensus is that the soundtrack is a significant asset, often described as worth the price of admission alone.
- “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
28 mentions
7 % positive mentions
-4 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging part of the experience. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of missions and battles, leading to long hours spent on unfulfilling tasks such as grinding for money and reputation. While some elements of combat and strategy are appreciated, they are frequently overshadowed by the grind-heavy gameplay that detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “The combat is great when it's not too grindy, but the rest of the game feels too dry and distant.”
- “I've tried hard, but I just can't get into it.”
- “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
27 mentions
33 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the top-notch artwork and vibrant visuals, particularly in battles, while others criticize the simplicity and lack of depth in the overall graphical presentation. Many users appreciate the hand-drawn art style and static backgrounds, but note that the gameplay is heavily text-based, which diminishes the impact of the graphics. Overall, while the visuals are considered decent and fitting for the game's style, they do not stand out as a major highlight.
- “The artwork, world-building, and wry humor are all great.”
- “Graphically, the battles are very pretty, but the 4X mode leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “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
17 mentions
29 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it offers significant depth and variation through randomly generated elements and multiple strategies, others feel limited by its simplicity and lack of diverse environments. Many appreciate the potential for replaying with different approaches, but the steep learning curve and certain design choices may deter some players from fully engaging with it multiple times.
- “Fantastic devs. Lots of replayability if it sinks its hooks.”
- “Though the game is relatively short (I've played through it twice in 13 hours), it has massive replay value due to the multiple open-ended options and random elements.”
- “The game has replayability in that you can try and 'win' it in several different ways, so there's still reason to play it after beating it.”
- “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
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as wry and engaging, effectively balancing the serious gameplay with comedic elements that enhance the experience. While many players appreciate the distinctive and often hilarious scenarios, some find the humor inconsistent, with certain moments feeling dull or overshadowed by design flaws. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the game's unique charm, 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
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates significant stability improvements since its initial release, running smoothly without major bugs or glitches. Players have noted that the turn-based space combat functions well, contributing to a generally stable gaming experience.
- “This game has improved from its buggy beginnings.”
- “Overall, the game ran without any bugs or glitches, and the space combat was fun and ran on a turn-based system, but sadly I just couldn't get into it.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect has been criticized for being misleading, as the game is more text-based than advertised, which some players found disappointing, though opinions on the writing quality vary.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
- “The in-game purchases are not just cosmetic; they significantly impact gameplay, which feels unfair to those who don't want to spend extra.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its appealing music and art, contributing to an immersive experience.
- “I really love the game's atmosphere; the music and art are beautifully crafted.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is captivating, with stunning visuals and an immersive soundtrack.”
- “The game's atmosphere is enchanting, blending its art style and music to create a truly unique experience.”