Last Report Review | Only You Can Prevent Earth's Destruction
I’ve watched way too many horror movies and played way too much horror games to ever take a job as a Nation Park Ranger. I would always be convinced that there’s something sinister hiding among the trees. Plus, I hate bugs, dirt, and mostly anything related to the outdoors so it wouldn’t be a great time for me either way. In Last Report, from developer Monopixel Games, there definitely is something hidden in the trees, and it is absolutely not friendly.
In the game, you play as a night shift park ranger whose job is to monitor the park’s camera footage reporting on anything out of the ordinary or against the park rules. You must be on the lookout for unauthorized fishing, campfires, illegal parking and more. While the job seems pretty boring, very quickly you’ll start to realize that something strange is happening in the park and your life and the lives of your fellow rangers may be in danger.
Last Report’s gameplay is very reminiscent of Lucas Pope’s political sim Papers, Please where players must follow a set of rules while checking reports. Reports that are before a certain date and reports with false information are to be tossed, reports with accurate information should be logged in your computer, etc. etc. It’s your typical desk job, until things start to get strange and you begin seeing bodies and other strange phenomena on the camera.
While you try to file your paperwork you’ll be visited by some of your fellow rangers who will help with expanding the story of the game. You can also call some rangers on your radio during different moments of the game. Additionally, you can interact with things around your room. All of these elements come together to create a dark and mysterious atmosphere that will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what might happen next.
In terms of the gameplay described above, it does get a little bit repetitive as you’re instructed to continue doing paperwork as more and more sinister things happen with your other rangers. You have to suspend your disbelief just a bit as you log reports where violence has clearly occurred and you have strange things peeking in your window. Someone’s gotta get that paperwork done, right?
I enjoyed spending time in Last Report. I didn’t know what to expect going in and it exceeded my expectations. That being said, the ending was a bit strange and didn’t particularly motivate me to play it again to get another. But leading up to those last few minutes, the game really immerses you in the dark atmosphere and intriguing story. Grab it if you’re looking for something short, fun and spooky.
Breakdown
Game: Last Report
Developer: Monopixel Games
Publisher: Monopixel Games
Availability: PC
Length: 4+ hours (Multiple Endings)
Reviewed on PC
Final Thoughts
Last Report is a fun, short horror game reminiscent of Papers, Please and I’m on Observation Duty. While the gameplay is a bit repetitive, its story more than makes up for it and will keep players invested from start to finish. It’s brilliantly spooky without relying entirely on cheap jumpscares. And some of its twists and turns are genuinely unexpected. If you’re looking for something scary you finish in one or two sittings, Last Report is a great new horror game I definitely recommend.