The Last Sanctuary Is One Of The Most Haunting Post-Apocalyptic Games I've Ever Played
Seconds before civilization as we know it is wiped out by some great cataclysm, a rocket launches and escapes into space. Was it a nuclear war? An asteroid impact? At this point it's unclear. All you know is that you lived through it, and you have a job to do. Deep below the Earth's surface is the Last Sanctuary, an underground bunker protecting a thousand survivors from the devastated, uninhabitable planet above. These people are now your responsibility. Lucky you.
As far as premises for post-apocalyptic video games go, this is pretty damn evocative. The Last Sanctuary, a free browser game created by indie developer Sjoerd Hekking, is entirely text-based, set within the small, glowing monitor of an old IBM computer. But it still manages to paint a vivid picture of this bleak future through its writing, a palpable atmosphere, and an enjoyably retro UI. It's one of the most haunting post-apocalyptic games I've ever played.
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Your unnamed character now inhabits a space station orbiting Earth, and has been charged with remotely protecting the inhabitants of the Last Sanctuary. "You are burdened with their moral and ethical questions, their administrative needs, and their infrastructure," the game reveals as it explains the nature of your job. "They should be able to survive for 50 years, or until you open the doors." The lives of these people are in your hands, which is a real mindjob.
Yeah, it's a slightly unbelievable setup. Why would humanity send one person to do this monumentally important job? I guess other rockets could have been destroyed before they managed to take off. It's best not to think about it too
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