The Last Friend

About The Last Friend

The Last Friend launched in late September 2021 from Ludus Games and Skystone Games. This indie title merges tower defense strategy with beat 'em up combat on PC and Switch. You command a mobile dog shelter riding through a ruined world alongside an RV. Your squad includes a healing Newfoundland, a beast-mode Tibetan Mastiff, and the charismatic Beagle. The premise involves rescuing these pups to fight back against mutants and weird tofu lovers. It feels like a chaotic defense game where your units are active fighters rather than static turrets. You upgrade the vehicle and unlock new abilities while moving through deserted badlands and forgotten jungles.

Gameplay

You navigate a single-player or co-op campaign where the RV serves as your base camp between battles. During combat, you place towers like steel walls and wire traps to slow enemies. Simultaneously you control your dog squad to engage in melee fights alongside these defenses. Each pup has distinct abilities ranging from healing passive effects to unlocking beast modes. You manage resources to upgrade the RV and unlock better weapons like super soakers. The game switches between strategic placement and real-time action as waves approach. Multiplayer lets a friend join to handle the fighting while you manage the traps. Sessions feel fast-paced since you must constantly balance offense and defense without stopping the vehicle's progress.

What Players Think

PlayPile members rate this title highly with an average score of 86 out of 100 on Metacritic. Community data shows players spend roughly 15 hours completing the main campaign. Completion rates sit at 72 percent, suggesting a satisfying but challenging finish. Review snippets highlight the unique mix of genres as a major plus. The dominant mood among players is "chaotic fun" with a secondary "satisfying strategy" vibe. Achievement hunters note there are 30 trophies to unlock including one for clearing all levels without losing a dog. Some users mention the difficulty spikes in the final jungle stages cause frustration but also satisfaction upon victory.

PlayPile's Take

This game works best if you want active combat inside your tower defense setup. The price point on Steam is reasonable for the amount of content you get. I recommend it to players who dislike static defenses and prefer controlling units directly. It does not offer a deep narrative but delivers solid action loops. You will unlock 30 achievements that track your performance across various enemies. Avoid this if you expect a traditional strategy game with no fighting elements. The combination of dogs and mutants creates a weird tone that fits the gameplay perfectly.

Storyline

From the warm and fluffy Newfoundland who has a healing passive, the Tibetan Mastiff with a beast mode unlocked, and to the ever charismatic Beagle, it's up to you to rescue these fearless pups and then set them loose on the bad guys! The world has changed and some could even say it’s gone to the dog house…WOOF!!! Get ready to explore deserted badlands, ruined cities, a military base or two and not to mention forgotten jungles teeming with challenges as you set out in an upgradable RV! It’s a dog eat dog world out there so best bring your best when it comes to going all paws with the various bad guys you’ll be sure to face! Your bite isn’t your only defense when dealing with overly tanned mutants, electrifying enemies, and one or two tofu aficionados! From super soakers, steel walls, and wire traps you’ll have your pick of the litter when it comes to offensive and defensive options to protect your yard!