The Last Plague: Blight Is for Hardcore Survival Fans

The Last Plague: Blight Is for Hardcore Survival Fans

As a seasoned survival crafting game enthusiast, I have to say that The Last Plague: Blight has truly caught my attention with its commitment to realism. Having played countless games in this genre, I can honestly say that the level of detail and immersion in this game is unlike anything I’ve experienced before.


In recent times, it’s no secret that the survival crafting genre has become quite crowded with numerous games competing for the interest of fans. Consequently, newcomers such as “The Last Plague: Blight” must make a significant impact to attract an audience that has been exposed to almost everything. The unique qualities of “The Last Plague” are rooted in the unwavering dedication to realism by solo indie game developer Sergei Bezborodko, not for the sake of realism itself, but rather because a well-balanced dose can create an unparalleled immersive experience.

In order for players to fully immerse themselves in the game’s universe, Bezborodko prefers developing a more realistic survival game with minimal abstractions. This approach is based on extensive research into real-world crafting and survival methods, resulting in gameplay where every step towards progress seems like actual survival in a harsh environment.

The Last Plague Is A Survival Game Founded on Realism

In “The Last Plague”, the gameplay emphasizes a high degree of realism, mirroring many aspects of survival. For instance, when gathering wood, it’s not just a matter of striking a tree with an axe; instead, you must fell the tree and then cut the log into manageable pieces. Afterward, these logs need to be positioned vertically so they can be split into halves for firewood. This attention to detail is common throughout the game’s systems, making it feel remarkably similar to real life once players understand that the game strives for authenticity.

One thing I really enjoy about these games is becoming engrossed in the intricate details of the actions they permit. I aimed to prevent over-simplification, ensuring a more engaging and immersive gameplay experience as a result.

Instead of having a straightforward “wood” resource that gives 10 woods when you cut down a tree, 1 wood when you pick up a stick, and requires 20 woods for placing a wall tile—I aimed to make the game more thoughtful by carefully considering the items you gather and how they are utilized within the game.

To make water safe for drinking, players must create a bowl first, using resources found nearby to fill it with water. After that, they should pick up the filled bowl and walk it over to their campfire to boil the water. Although this level of realism may seem challenging at first, it becomes intuitive as players immerse themselves in the post-apocalyptic setting of “The Last Plague“, gradually shedding many of the conventions common to video games.

The Last Plague Doesn’t Always Sacrifice Fun For Realism

The Last Plague: Blight Is for Hardcore Survival Fans

While this dedication to realistic gameplay isn’t unwavering, Bezborodko acknowledged that certain adjustments were made for the sake of gameplay convenience following player feedback. In essence, life itself can be quite monotonous, and games are meant for enjoyment, so specific aspects of survival gameplay have been tweaked to minimize the boredom associated with real-world repetitiveness.

After receiving numerous feedback during playtest sessions in 2021, I’ve scaled back on the game’s realism quite a bit. At first, I appreciated the intense realism, but players and testers have played a significant role in shaping my design approach. They helped me make some adjustments to cater to a broader audience while preserving the core essence of the game.

Despite being a challenging survival crafting game primarily designed for seasoned veterans of the genre, developer Bezborodko has incorporated an easier setting to make the game more approachable or assist newcomers to The Last Plague in mastering its mechanics before tackling higher difficulties. The developer has hinted at the possibility of introducing even tougher difficulty modes down the line, which will be intriguing as it will be exciting to witness what a hardcore mode within a hardcore game might entail.

The Last Plague: Blight enters Steam Early Access on October 3.

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2024-09-24 13:23