Last Train Home
Release Date: November 28, 2023
Strategy, World War I, RTS, tactics, survival, historical, singleplayer
Steam
A survival RTS set during the Russian civil war. Last Train Home tasks the player with leading the Czechoslovak region back to their homeland.
Last Train Home is a real-time strategy game (RTS) based on true events with significant survival elements. It was developed by the Czech studio Ashborne Games - the co-creators of Comanche from 2021 - and published by THQ Nordic.
Plot
Last Train Home is set during the Russian civil war - an armed conflict that took place in 1917-1922, between the Red (communists/Bolsheviks) and White (royalists striving to bring the tsar back to power) armies. The protagonists are the soldiers of the Czechoslovak Legion - a real military formation created during World War I, made up of Czech and Slovak prisoners and deserters formerly fighting in the Austro-Hungarian army.
The unit was trapped on the wrong side of the conflict. Our task is to help them return to their homeland aboard the titular last train. The armored train serves as a means of transportation through the Syberian wilderness - though only barely protecting the soldiers from the cold - and as a weapon against both armies.
Mechanics
Evacuating from Russia requires many diffferent stops along the way - to resupply on food, medicine or to fix the malfunctioning train. During these segments Last Train Home plays like an RTS. The game offers several challenging missions, in which we must achieve predetermined objectives, choosing our own strategy.
Their difficulty depends on many various factors. One such factor is our soldiers' combat potential - they're less effective when hungry, for example. Chosen tactics play an important role too. Some missions can be completed quietly, lowering the likelihood of losing men. Not every soldier is suitable for stealth though, which is why we must pay attention to their traits.
Deaths of squadmates and difficult moral choices bring consequences affecting the gameplay. As an example: we can decide the fates of several innocent civilians by taking them along with us or leaving them behind. If we take them along, we'll have more mouths to feed. If we leave them behind, our soldiers' morale will drop due to guilt.
The titular train serves as a base of operations of sorts. Between missions we can repair it and modify it, assigning soldiers to specific tasks - such as taking care of the wounded - to provide our squad with the best possible living conditions. We can also upgrade our squad here too - we can award soldiers and train them, granting them new skills (such as hunting or knowledge of herbs) and giving them better gear.
At each stage of our journey we discover our soldiers' backstories. Their experiences affect such matters as how easily a soldier gets depressed or how they judge our choices. Last Train Home, however, does feature settings that let us limit these effects, for players who'd prefer to enjoy the story rather than be challenged.
Trivia
Since the game is based on real events, the developers made an effort to make it historically accurate. As an example, our squad includes women, as historically they were active combatants despite the Czechoslovak Legion officially not allowing it.
Technical aspects
Apart from the squad management sections, the rest of the game makes use of an isometric perspective. Last Train Home features only a singleplayer story campaign.
Videos and Screens
[1:17] Last Train Home trailer #11
[1:45] Last Train Home trailer #10
The main pros of the game
- Historical Setting: The game explores a unique historical perspective of the aftermath of World War I and the Czech Legion's journey, which many players found engaging and original.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The combination of real-time tactical combat and resource management on an armored train was praised. Players enjoyed the mix of strategy and survival elements, as well as the engaging mission variety.
- Art and Soundtrack: The artwork and soundtrack received positive remarks, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Character Development: Players appreciated the depth of character backstories and the ability to manage and upgrade soldiers, adding a personal touch to the gameplay.
- Replay Value: While some noted minimal replay value, others found the game to offer a solid 40 hours of content with different paths and choices.
The main cons of the game
- AI Issues: Many players criticized the enemy AI for being dull and not challenging enough, leading to gameplay that could feel repetitive and too easy, especially when using stealth tactics.
- Mission Design: Some users felt that the missions lacked depth and complexity, often favoring stealth over other strategies, which could make the gameplay feel monotonous.
- Resource Management: While some enjoyed the management aspect, others found it too easy, with an abundance of resources leading to a lack of challenge.
- Bugs and Technical Issues: A few reviews mentioned bugs that could disrupt gameplay, although they were often fixable with quick reloads.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Enemy Variety and Interaction: Players expressed a desire for more enemy types and dynamic responses to combat situations, such as detection and reinforcement mechanics.
- Weapon Drops: Many users wished for enemy soldiers to drop weapons and ammo upon defeat, enhancing the realism and resource management aspect of the game.
- Improved Train Management: Some players felt that the train management system was tedious and could be better integrated into the gameplay or narrative.
- Difficulty Options: A request for more challenging gameplay options, such as an Ironman mode or a more balanced difficulty curve, was noted by several users.
- More Engaging World Map: Some reviews indicated that the world map and points of interest were not as engaging as expected, and improvements in this area could enhance the overall experience.
In conclusion, Last Train Home offers a compelling blend of historical narrative, strategy, and resource management, though it has room for improvement in AI behavior, mission design, and difficulty balancing.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 86 votes. 23 players anticipated the game.
Last Train Home Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Ashborne Games
Publisher: THQ Nordic / Nordic Games
Last Train Home System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Quad Core 3.0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / Radeon RX 570 or better, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Six Core 3.0 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce RTX 2060 / 8 GB Radeon RX 5700 or better, Windows 10 64-bit
Last Train Home - North or South, Penza Choice Explained
In this article we will talk about Penza choice in Last Train Home. If you are wondering whether you should go north or south, then read our guide.
How to
Damian Gacek
December 5, 2023
Last Train Home Guide - Tips for Beginners
In this guide we will present you some tips for Last Train Home. Read our text to learn more about the game.
How to
Damian Gacek
December 5, 2023
How to Delete Saves in Last Train Home. Save Location Explained
In this guide we will tell you how to delete saves in Last Train Home. You will need to find save location to do that.
How to
Damian Gacek
November 29, 2023
Last Train Home - Console (PS4, PS5, Xbox) Release
In this guide we will tell you about console versions of Last Train Home. Learn about PS4, PS5 and Xbox ports.
How to
Damian Gacek
November 29, 2023
Czechoslovak Legion RTS Last Train Home Launches
Today will see the release of survival strategy game Last Train Home. The first reviews of the game are very positive - critics praise both performance and gameplay.
video games
Adrian Werner
November 28, 2023
Siberian Odyssey Strategy Game Last Train Home Release Date and Demo
Last Train Home is heading to PCs, but you can check out a demo version of this unusual game right now.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
October 9, 2023
Military RTS Last Train Home Requirements and New Trailer
A new trailer has been released for the promising survival RTS Last Train Home, in which we lead a group of Czechoslovak Legion soldiers on an armored train through Siberia.
video games
Adrian Werner
August 6, 2023