There is something oddly satisfying about jumping into a game world where the possibilities feel endless, where you can go about your journey in any way you want. This was the feeling I had when I played The Last Caretaker at gamescom 2025. Developed and published by Channel37, a small game studio based in Helsinki, Finland, the game tasks you with saving humanity. It may sound like a daunting mission, but it presents the challenge with promise and variety. Yes, there is an ultimate goal, but how you reach it is ultimately up to you. You are humanity’s last hope, and The Last Caretaker gives you all the tools to approach the task however you see fit.
I won’t lie: when I walked into my first meeting at gamescom 2025, I didn’t know what to expect. With so many games on display and every studio vying for attention, you often have to make quick choices about what to see, and sometimes you are surprised. This was one of those times. After briefly meeting the team as they set up for the week, I was seated with a build of the game and given an overview of the studio and how the project came together.
The team’s energy and excitement for the game were undeniable. Speaking with Channel37 co-founder Antti Ilvessuo, I learned about the concept behind the game, received a quick outline of what was possible, and was then guided through a demo showcasing its early section. I was impressed by how polished it felt for a title developed by a small team, especially given the scope and scale on display. Even the first area alone, I was told, kept players exploring for hours before moving on to the more expansive parts of the game.
You play as the titular Last Caretaker, a robot tasked with preserving the final traces of humanity and sending them into space. You do this by cultivating the last remnants, helping them build memories, exploring vast oceans for resources, and upgrading your ship to withstand longer journeys across the seas. The world still has much to offer. Of course, there are obstacles along the way: hostile creatures and rogue robots stand in your path. But with the ability to craft or break down almost everything in the environment, the possibilities for how you approach your journey feel endless. As daunting as that may sound, it is equally exciting to experience.
The Last Caretaker does an excellent job of introducing the various systems at play. The opening segments set the tone while teaching you the basics of survival. You learn how to connect wires for energy, link them to different sources, and see how the many systems fit together. Most compelling, though, is the crafting system, which creates the potential for an experience unique to each player.
Nearly everything in the environment can be collected and broken down into resources, which you can then use to build whatever you need. At the beginning, your crafting options are limited. But as you progress and develop your abilities, that list expands rapidly—from simple tools to advanced power collection systems and intricate machines that work together to aid you on your mission.
I should take a moment to talk about the look of the game. Even though The Last Caretaker is built by a small team, it looks stunning. The physics and animation work together to create a world that feels lived in and ready for discovery. Even small details, like how the water reacts when bay doors open, look carefully crafted by people who clearly care about what they are building.
Some elements draw from the No Man’s Sky playbook, but they are presented in a way that feels fresh and exciting. I am not usually a big player of survival crafting games, but there was something intriguing about this one. Even with just a small taste of what the full game will offer, I am excited to see what more is possible.
“Even though The Last Caretaker is built by a small team, it looks stunning.”
I also had a chance to try a bit of combat. Despite the game not being built as a shooter, it felt solid, giving you enough control that it never came across as tacked on or an afterthought. The weapon system itself was interesting: the gun I used was powered by energy, meaning you could spend your own reserves to generate ammunition. This introduced a risk-versus-reward element, giving you more firepower at the cost of your own life. As with every other system in the game, how you approach it is entirely up to you, and that is part of the experience.
The Last Caretaker has a lot happening, and at first, I worried it might feel overwhelming or lack the polish needed to hold it all together. Instead, Channel37 has managed to deliver something both well thought out and refreshing. The scope of the world is especially impressive. Each location is built by hand and feels complete. Later in my session, I explored an oil rig and was stunned by how expansive it was. Ilvessuo showed me that anything within sight could be explored, even the towers on the rig, which offered their own secrets for those willing to climb them.
To make all this possible, you have your ship, which serves as your home base while at sea. It begins relatively simply, running on fuel, but the design allows you to chain connections, build complex power systems, and eventually move away from oil if you choose. You can also stockpile different energy sources to power your ship. Much like the crafting system, your ship and the choices you make will shape how your journey unfolds. Even from the small segment I experienced, it was clear that this is the kind of game people could sink countless hours into and still find more to do.
With The Last Caretaker slated to launch first in early access, much is still up in the air regarding how the final game will take shape. But based on what I’ve seen, the project is in good hands. Speaking briefly with the team after my demo, they hinted at ideas for future development. Depending on how players engage with the game, those features could evolve over time.
What’s certain, though, is that The Last Caretaker is full of potential. Its systems offer opportunities for emergent gameplay that go beyond what the developers originally intended. If you are a fan of survival crafting games, this is one to keep on your radar. The passion of the Channel37 team is undeniable, and I am eager to see how The Last Caretaker grows as it moves into early access and beyond.
