Last Days of Lazarus – Review

Shadows of the past and fractured reality

Last Days of Lazarus is an indie narrative adventure game, developed by Darkania Works and published by GrimTalin, released in June 2022.

Essentially, it’s a “walking simulator” with psychological horror accents, exploring themes like family, faith, guilt, and social decay, in a setting heavily inspired by post-communist Eastern Europe.

Intense Story

The action follows Lazarus, a man who returns home after his mother's suicide to reunite with his sister, Lyudmila. However, what should be a family reunion quickly becomes a strange and tense experience: reality seems to unravel, and supernatural and hallucinatory elements come into play, affecting the protagonist's perception of the world.

Narratively, the game deals with heavy subjects: family trauma, guilt, the influence of religion and propaganda on the individual, as well as the fear of the unknown. The atmosphere and dialogues reflect influences from Eastern European culture, with subtle references to Orthodox rituals and local superstitions, which lends authenticity to the environment.

Although the story is captivating, critics have noted that the narrative thread sometimes becomes confusing in the second half, with some ideas introduced without sufficient development. Nevertheless, the constant tension, the feeling that “something isn't right,” and the well-dosed supernatural elements keep the player interested.

Simple Gameplay

Last Days of Lazarus’s gameplay is linear and focused on exploration, such as interacting with objects and solving simple puzzles. There are no battles or actual action elements, which places the emphasis on the narrative thread and atmosphere.

Environmental exploration is satisfying: architectural details, props, and how they can be manipulated contribute to the story. However, interactions are sometimes inconsistent or imprecise, and puzzles can seem trivial or repetitive for experienced players.

The game's duration is short, around 3-4 hours, which makes it suitable for a quick experience but limits narrative depth and replay opportunities. Also, the slow pace can be perceived as a challenge for those accustomed to more dynamic titles.

Mysterious Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the game's strong point. Environments inspired by decadent Eastern European spaces are detailed and realistic, and their combination with supernatural elements creates persistent tension.

The gothic aesthetic, religious influences, and Orthodox symbolism provide a distinct visual identity, and the game manages to convey the social and psychological degradation of the characters and the environment. These details are complemented by the audio design: subtle music, sound effects, and moments of silence contribute to an immersive and tense experience.

About Acting and Presentation

The voice acting is slightly uneven; while some vocal moments manage to convey the emotion of the scenes, others seem monotonous or forced, reducing the impact of the storytelling. Also, occasional bugs or technical issues can interrupt the experience, although these are not catastrophic.

The visual presentation, however, is very successful. The game uses a dark colour palette, with accents of red and grey, to accentuate the sombre atmosphere. Textures and object details contribute to realism, and lighting plays a central role in creating tension.

How was it received?

On Steam, the game has “Very Positive” reviews, with approximately 88-90% positive feedback, indicating community appreciation. Players praised the story, atmosphere, and narrative experience.

On the other hand, professional critics were more reserved. On Metacritic, the average score is around 60/100, with criticisms related to technical issues, inconsistent voice acting, short duration, and some unfinished narrative elements. This discrepancy between players and critics suggests that the title is more appreciated by those seeking narrative and atmospheric experiences than by those looking for mechanical complexity or traditional gameplay.

Although not without its imperfections, the title manages to offer a memorable experience, with moments of tension and deep reflection. For those interested in Eastern European culture and history, as well as exploring character psychology in a dark context, the game is definitely worth your attention.

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Available on: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Played on: PC (Steam)
Release date: 22 June 2022
Developer: Darkania Works, GrimTalin
Publisher: GrimTalin
Approximate duration: 2–4 hours (depending on exploration and puzzles)