Last Flag – Fun Hero Shooter with Potential

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• DEVELOPER: Night Street Games
• PUBLISHER: Night Street Games
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: Hero Shooter
• RELEASE DATE: April 14, 2024
• STARTING PRICE: 11,99€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Last Flag is a third-person, 5v5 hero shooter with a bright, cartoonish presentation, simple mechanics, and a clear focus on objective-based PvP. For around ten euros, it does offer a decent amount of fun upfront, and I can’t deny that there’s something enjoyable about its fast-paced, chaotic matches. At the same time, this is also a very niche game that currently struggles with a lack of content and, more importantly, a lack of players. And for a multiplayer-only experience like this, that’s a serious problem.

Easy to pick up and understand

The core gameplay revolves around a twist on capture the flag. Instead of simply grabbing a flag in plain sight, one player hides it at the start of the match, forcing the opposing team to locate it using map control. You capture points labeled A, B, and C, which act as scanning systems that slowly reveal the flag’s location. Once you find it and bring it back to your base, the enemy team has a short window to return it.

It’s a clever system that creates tension, especially in the late game when everything becomes chaotic and team coordination actually matters. Those final moments, where one team is desperately trying to recover their flag while the other defends it, are easily the most exciting part of the experience.

However, getting to that point isn’t always as engaging as it should be. The early game feels underwhelming, with you spending time destroying robots for currency that barely feels impactful. Upgrades exist, but they lack feedback and impact, and the game doesn’t do a good job of making you feel rewarded for progression.

Even basic things like unlocking cosmetics are buried in menus, instead of being presented in a satisfying or flashy way. For a genre that thrives on constant dopamine hits and progression systems, this is a noticeable weakness.

The roster itself is small, with only nine characters available, and while they are distinct in terms of abilities and playstyles, the balance between them feels inconsistent. Some characters feel extremely strong and versatile, while others are borderline useless due to low damage output or underwhelming abilities. You can swap between playstyles freely, which is nice, but it also removes that sense of attachment and mastery that most hero shooters rely on.

Has potential but can it survive?

Mechanically, the game is very easy to pick up. Shooting feels simple, almost too simple, with no recoil and a strong reliance on basic aiming rather than deeper mechanics. This makes it accessible, but it also means it lacks depth in the long run. Matches can start to feel repetitive after just a few hours, especially since there are only two maps, and in my experience, I only played on one map, never getting chance to experience the second one. That lack of variety becomes a real issue quickly, especially when combined with the absence of ranked play or long-term progression systems.

Another major problem is matchmaking and player population. The game desperately needs a stable player base, but right now, it just doesn’t have one. Queue times can vary wildly depending on when you play, and the skill gap between players in matches is all over the place. One game you’re playing with complete beginners, the next you’re getting steamrolled by highly experienced players. Spawn camping is also a thing, which only makes these uneven matches more frustrating. For a PvP-focused title, this inconsistency hurts the overall experience a lot.

There are definitely positives. Visually, the game looks great, with clean, colorful environments and a style that fits its tone perfectly. The maps are compact, which keeps the action flowing, and there’s rarely a moment where nothing is happening. Teamplay is also genuinely important here, which I appreciate.

You can’t just run around solo and expect to win, you need to stick with your team, coordinate, and actually think about your approach. The game is also significantly more fun when played with friends, especially if you’re communicating. Solo play is viable, but it heavily depends on the teammates you get, which is always a gamble.

The music, surprisingly, is one of the more disappointing aspects. Despite the involvement of Imagine Dragons, it lacks impact and memorability. It’s there, but it never really elevates the experience or sticks with you, which feels like a missed opportunity. I wanted more of Dan Reynolds voice, more of his music, but we just get a soundtrack in the background that exists.

The final verdict

At the end of the day, Last Flag is a solid game with a genuinely interesting core idea, but it feels like it launched without enough content or systems to support long-term engagement. It has its moments, especially in those chaotic, high-stakes matches, but it struggles to keep you invested beyond a few hours. Without a stronger player base, more maps, better progression, and improved balancing, it’s hard to recommend it wholeheartedly, even at its low price. There’s definitely potential here, but right now, it feels more like an early access game than a fully realized release.

Review copy provided by the publisher