The Last Worker Reviews
With a story that's as empty and meandering as its gameplay, The Last Worker is an ugly, tedious slog that I'm glad to be done with.
Set in an Amazon-like fulfilment centre, this satirical adventure has interesting ideas but fails to adequately explore them
What could've been a comical, perhaps novel, approach to tackling themes of corporatism, consumerism, activism and comfort in the familiar alike, The Last Worker instead can only muster up a mediocre clutter of half-baked ideas that rarely feel properly fleshed out.
Even the game’s most effectively bleak ending, in which Jüngle’s founder, Josef Jüngle, is revealed to have been dead and automated for quite some time, is undercut by him still being very much alive in the other two endings. The Last Worker’s conclusions should feel earned—that is, a consequence of the protagonist’s decisions. Instead, they’re as easy and largely frivolous as just adding something to an online shopping cart.
Although The Last Worker's novel work-gameplay template & tangible proximity to its critiques earns some credit, it often fumbles with the delivery.
With a bit more to say The Last Worker could’ve been a great game, but the paper thin plot and clunky controls hold back what is otherwise a stylish and unique time with or without VR. Hopefully there’ll be more to come from this world as it’s an interesting premise, but for right now it’s a decent couple of evenings spent.
The Last Worker’s principal problem is that it’s a game made for VR that’s better without it. Fulfilling online orders in a capitalism-induced apocalypse is an excellent idea marred by inconsistent execution and confounding restrictions placed on VR movement. It’s short enough not to overstay its simplicity, but it’s not smart enough to make any astute thematic statements.
Plagued by excessive and all-too-frequent load times, the novelty and humor of The Last Worker often lose momentum
The Last Worker's free-flying hovercraft gameplay is inventive, but its most exciting implications are left boxed up
The Last Worker is an enjoyable time, despite some flaws with its gameplay. The regular package handling sections are a lot of fun, especially when discovering the crazy contents within each one, but the stealth and hacking sections can get pretty frustrating. Thankfully, the story is compelling enough to overlook the gameplay shortcomings, and the performances are wonderful all around. If you’ve ever worked as a low employee for a large retailer, then The Last Worker will definitely speak to you on some level.
Set in an original yet eerily familiar universe, The Last Worker stands out with its presentation but could have benefited from a more diversified gameplay.
The Last Worker is an ambitious project and it sticks the landing when it comes to graphics, performance, and voice acting. However, its central box-shipping game is fiddly and the game's pacing doesn't let you get into the flow. Tricky sections requiring repeated checkpoint loads break the immersion and clash with the long, dawdling sections of exploring the Jüngle facility. It's likeable and well-packaged with plenty of character, but it doesn't always deliver.
The Last Worker is as much a satire of the work environment in this phase of capitalism as it is of those video games that seem to be more about work than fun. Overall, this is an interesting and artistically sound production that lacks something to leaves its mark.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While it paints its dystopian future in broad strokes and has some rough edges, there's a worthwhile and enjoyable tale to experience within The Last Worker.
The Last Worker's message is clear and certainly belongs to the narrative hard core of titles like Disco Elysium, Norco, Citizen Sleeper, Fallout.
Review in Greek | Read full review
The Last Worker is yet another excellent example of the maturation process of the video game medium and the creative potential it offers, offering us a truly engaging - if short and linear - journey with memorable characters, capable of stimulating a reflection on sensitive and current issues. Recommended for anyone looking for a thought-provoking and different experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
All in all, The Last Worker is a good game for VR. Without being perfect, it has a good lifespan and an interesting story. Sprinkled with humor and challenges, the game will keep you laughing and occupied for a good while. Admittedly, it's aimed more at fans of series like Borderlands, but can also appeal to everyone. I think the experience is more interesting in virtual reality. That said, it's also playable without this technology. However, if you have the opportunity to try it out in VR, it's worth considering! Finally, there were a few technical issues that made me cringe on a few occasions. For all these reasons, The Last Worker is in my TOP 5 on PS VR2. For those interested, here it is:
Review in French | Read full review
If you’re looking for an immersive but short indie game that you can perhaps play in a single weekend, The Last Worker is perfect for that. The themes explored in the game are timely, especially considering the rise of Amazon as a mega-corporation in the real world. So, in that regard, The Last Worker presents a hypothetical future where capitalism runs amok.
The Last Worker is a great trip into a dystopian world that has a great art style, well written story, and strong voice performances.
An engaging adventure which sometimes plays a bit like Papers, Please!, but focuses much more on the story.
Review in Russian | Read full review