The Last Caretaker

Survival· Crafting· Base Building· Automation

Early access since Nov 2025

Explore a drowned Earth, restore lost systems, and raise the last human seeds in this first-person survival-crafting adventure. Build, scavenge, defend, and launch humanity back to the stars.

86% positive · 14K reviews

Not yet

In early access, content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Not yet

In early access, content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Where to buy

Steam Updated 12 Oct 2026 $34.99 Green Man Gaming Steam key Updated 12 Oct 2026 $34.99 IndieGala Steam key Updated 12 Oct 2026 $34.99

Prices in USD, as listed by each store.

Buying through an affiliate store helps support the site

Evaluation

The Last Caretaker entered Early Access on November 6, 2025 and has since received a steady stream of substantial updates from developer Channel37 Ltd. Five major named updates have shipped since launch: Update 01: Last Humans (December 16, 2025), Update 02: Ocean — The Final Frontier (February 11, 2026), Update 03: Curiosity Wakes (March 18, 2026), Update 04: Below Us (May 13, 2026), and Update 5.0: New Horizons (June 24, 2026). Between major updates, the team has also shipped an unscheduled feature update (Update 3.5: Shadow Drop, April 15, 2026) and regular bug fixes. This represents a major content release roughly every 6–8 weeks since launch. The most recent developer communication is from June 25, 2026, when the team livestreamed a showcase of Update 5.0's content. Update 5.0 introduced significant new systems including Project Eden (visible world restoration), Committee mechanics, Project Jonah (a whale encounter questline), Cultural Memories, a new research facility, multiple new tools, and ocean/weather improvements. The developer described this as moving the game "from survival toward restoration" and stated "the mission continues" — signalling ongoing development intent. The game's store page still carries the Early Access flag, and the developer has not announced a 1.0 release date or indicated that Early Access is drawing to a close. The update cadence remains active and the scope of each update continues to be substantial.

Evidence

Developer livestream showcasing Update 5.0 content and answering community questions — most recent official communication as of today's date.

news post · Jun 25, 2026 source development ongoing

high

Update 5.0: New Horizons launched, adding Project Eden (visible world restoration), Committee mechanics, Project Jonah whale questline, Cultural Memories, Research Outpost Theta-9, new tools, boat expansion, and ocean/weather improvements. Developer states 'the mission continues.'

news post · Jun 24, 2026 source content shipped

high

Media

Details

Developer

Channel37 Ltd

Publisher

Channel37 Ltd

Achievements

Platform

Windows

Controller

full support

Steam Deck

Playable

Players

Single-player

Survival Crafting Base Building Automation Open World Sandbox First-Person Resource Management Management Exploration Atmospheric Simulation Post-apocalyptic Lore-Rich Sci-fi

About this game

The world you knew is gone.

You awaken as the last active Caretaker, a machine built for one purpose: save humanity. Across a vast ocean covering the ruins of Earth, you must recover human seeds, restore the Lazarus Complex, and prepare the next generation for launch into orbit.

The Last Caretaker is a first-person survival-crafting game about systems, choices, and purpose. Every resource matters. Every structure has a reason to exist. Every success gives humanity one more chance.

SAVE HUMANITY

Recover human seeds and return them to the Lazarus Complex. Manage their growth, restore memory data, and prepare them for life beyond Earth.

BUILD WHAT YOU NEED

Scavenge abandoned facilities, dismantle wreckage, and recycle materials into tools, weapons, power networks, and essential modules. Restore the machinery needed to keep the mission alive.

DEFEND THE FUTURE

Rogue machines, hostile systems and the world itself will push back. Repair and maintain, upgrade your equipment, and protect what remains.

LAUNCH TO THE STARS

Restore ancient launch infrastructure, chart the ocean, gather resources and memories, and send the humans you raised into orbit. The mission is not survival for its own sake. It is a continuation.

A WORLD WITH HISTORY

Explore silent Sanctuary docks, Refuel Outposts, Underwater cities, and long-forgotten Seed Vaults. The story is uncovered through places, logs, memories, and the remains of a civilization that tried to outlive its own world.