Indie game of the week: The Last Caretaker

In our weekly indie section, we’re recommending The Last Caretaker from Channel37, an independent studio based in Helsinki.

The Last Caretaker has been in Early Access for almost a year and just got update 6.0 on PC; it feels like a good time to highlight it here: a survival game with clear goals, melancholy sci-fi, and the fantasy of rebuilding what’s left after the catastrophe.

What is The Last Caretaker?

You are a Caretaker, guardian of humanity’s last seeds (effectively a DNA bank) on a drowned Earth. The goal is to restore humanity and eventually launch it back to space: the same fantasy as Subnautica or Factorio, but with boats, fog, and ruins.

First-person survival: scavenging scrap on expeditions, crafting, expanding a floating base, and wiring power between generators and machines. Exploration on foot or in vehicles, base defense, and a story that unlocks new areas. Single-player only. On Steam and Epic since 6 November 2025; 1.0 is planned for spring 2027 (PC and Xbox, Game Pass on console).

What draws me to this game?

On paper it sits with survival games where the map matters as much as inventory (Subnautica, Raft…), but with a strong identity, the kind of title that can spike in popularity after launch. If you know WALL·E, the vibe is similar: a lone robot tending what’s left of humanity in an empty world… except here you also carry a gun (and more tools) when the mission needs defending. The look is cohesive and striking; you can tell Unreal Engine is being pushed hard.

6.0 — The Jump (19 October 2026) adds North Bastion, heat mechanics, and new quests. Channel37 publishes a clear Road to 1.0 for spring 2027: from Last Humans (December 2025) through the current jump, with bonus drops (Shadow Drop, Deck Drop) and three future milestones still marked «classified». So far, the dated beats on the chart have landed on schedule.

On Steam reviews are still very positive (thousands of ratings) and it won Finnish Game of the Year 2025; official screenshots show a polished UI and atmosphere.

On Steam the base price in Europe is €29.99; there is currently a 20% discount (€23.99). Check the offer end date when you buy. The interface and subtitles include Spanish (among other languages); voice acting is in English.

Enough talk: here’s how it looks in official shots:

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Why it hooked me

What stands out is a survival that feels fairly complete and covers several bases: shooting, building, exploration, and story. One moment you’re sailing calmly; the next you’re shooting to hold the base. That keeps grinding from being the only reason to continue.

It is still Early Access, and as we noted, 1.0 is planned for spring 2027. One to watch, and we may come back to it later.

Will you enjoy this game?

• Yes, if… you want first-person survival with a story, modular bases, and ocean exploration, and you do not mind hours in an Early Access title that already has a reputation and steady updates.
• Not so much, if… you need co-op, hate typical survival upkeep, or want a fully finished game: months remain until 1.0 and polish is still coming.

The one caveat

On Steam the overall rating is very positive (over 13,600 reviews). The most helpful negative posts still praise boats, scavenging, and atmosphere, but flag early access rough edges: the raising humans stretch at the Lazarus Complex (slow, poorly explained, and gates the main story), objectives that sometimes need a wiki or forum, long trips between zones, and crashes or lost progress, especially after big patches like 6.0. Some players also reject the game over generative AI in its writing. None of that erases the majority enthusiasm, but go in with realistic expectations.

Conclusion

The Last Caretaker is our indie of the week because, on PC today, a survival game can be ambitious without feeling like a second job: atmosphere, narrative thread, and patches that open new regions. 6.0 is a solid entry point if you only tried the Steam Next Fest demo or skimmed the roadmap.

• Game: The Last Caretaker on Steam (also on the Epic Games Store; links on thelastcaretaker.com)
• Studio: Channel37 · Game site

Next week, another pick. If you have an indie you think fits this section, email me at contact@inlobby.gg.