THE LAST WORKER Review: Capitalist Dystopia In View

It’s just about time to clock in for yet another shift as developers Oiffy and Wolf & Wood Interactive, along with publisher Wired Productions, launch their game The Last Worker. Creating a visual representation of a capitalist dystopia, this first-person adventure game takes players through an interesting series of event. Of course, you are on the clock so you can also expect to get some work done! The question players face going into a game like this is how entertaining is an on-the-clock adventure? Let’s dive in.

Story

Kurt is the literal last worker of a company, surrounded by the robotic replacements filling all the other roles that fellow humans did before, he does his best to just get through each do doing what he does best. His work at Jüngle involves a lot of package distributions, so the day-to-day operations of getting his assigned packages, ensuring to handle appropriately, and sending it to the right department. Of course, this requires the use of Jüngle technology and thus you will get around with the aid of your JünglePod.

One day, his usual day is interrupted by a little robotic bird from a group known as SPEAR. This leads him on an adventure to help fight back against letting the monopolized corporations control various aspects of life. It is on this adventure that he learns just how deep the pockets of Jüngle truly go and the harm that they cause.

Ultimately, this leads him to decide what he wants to do next. Will he continue to do his usual job until he can’t anymore or will he work with SPEAR, trusting that they are somehow better despite knowing so little about them in the first place?

Gameplay

The game begins with your best friend Skew have messed up hardware that his him “accidentally” running the first-day tutorial on the job again. Other than finding out where his name comes from as he explains his name is SKU, you get a solid break down of your controls and how to operate your handheld Jüngle device. On the JünglePod, you are able to move in any direction, including up and down, as this pod hovers above the ground and can be suspended in the air. They also show you how to utilize your GPS that will always guide you to your next box to collect from the storage units.

When you gather a box you must check for any damages, which would be visually seen on the box or heard from audible loose pieces moving around, and both the size of the box and the weight sticker on it. Once you place it on the pod, you can see how much it really weighs with the pods scale meter. If any information is incorrect or there is damage, you will switch your JüngleGun to the sticker setting and place the proper label sticker on the box. Bad boxes go to the red drop off tubes for recycling and good boxes go to the blue drop off tubes for shipping.

Other than doing what can really only be explained as actual work, you will be on an adventure with Skew and the SPEAR unit bird. This adventure will lead to more attachments for your JüngleGun, like a hacking tool and eventually an EMP. You’ll need these as you will often be sneaking around various security robots. There are a few different security robot types, but if you get caught by even one you go back to the last checkpoint.

This game is full of little mini-game tasks. From using the standard JüngleGun function to turn cranks to turning the cubes to match the proper shape to hack something, you’ll be faced with various little puzzle-like challenges when you aren’t sneaking. Of course, sometimes you’ll be doing these challenges while sneaking as well, but that is later in the game after you get used to it.

At the end of the game, you will be presented with two gameplay elements that aren’t anywhere in the previous sections of the game. However, I can’t share any of these details without spoiling the game, so just expect a big ending chapter.

Audio and Visual

Curiously enough, they went with an art style that is akin to the comic book style. That’s not to say they have the dots to accent a background or anything, but the heavy shading and contrasting color choices to extenuate the visuals are heavily used. It is actually a really nice choice and helps keep this dystopian ideal kept in the fantasy world where we want to keep it as long as possible.

As for the audio in the game, aside from pretty great voice acting, the music and sound effects are all pretty standard. I wasn’t blown away by anything, but I did find myself immersed in the various moments of the game and the blend of music and sound effects always plays a big role in making that possible.

Replayability

There are a few different endings, but you can unlock them pretty quickly as it is just making different choices at the end of the game. Once you beat the game, you can just reload the scene before the choices begin and go down a different path. It really doesn’t take long at all. So, while I wouldn’t say the multiple endings are a reason to replay the game, some completionists will find themselves doing the actual job in the game to unlock each of the different packages there are to send out. Every package has an actual knock-off or comical item in it, so I can see some players wanting to see what the full list entails.

What It Could Have Done Better

Here we have another game that really doesn’t have many issues. Sure, there are a handful of small glitches and issues that they can patch out as bugs are found and reported, but the game is very solid overall. My only complaint is the one that is also a compliment - the game is too short! Finishing in just under four hours left me wanting the adventure to have held a few more chapters.

Also, to nitpick a little, I wasn’t too keen on different endings. They didn’t feel like they properly matched up and gave the same energy based on the choice that was made. Only one ending really drove the moment that was there, but the other two I wasn’t keen on.

Verdict

The Last Worker is quite an entertaining take on a capitalist dystopia! If you like adventure games and don’t mind some segments of the game being a comically styled job simulator, then this is a game you will definitely enjoy. There is a lot to love and the humor is pretty on par with the atmosphere the game is placed in - some dark jokes, some silly jokes. This is definitely a game I recommend to those looking to experience a journey that’s just a little bit outside the norm.

The Last Worker is out now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store, as well as in virtual reality with PCVR, Meta Quest 2, and PlayStation VR2.