The Last Alchemist is a simulation game from Vile Monarch and Marvelous Europe where you craft alchemical concoctions in a rundown workshop. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
The Last Alchemist Review Overview
What is The Last Alchemist?
The Last Alchemist is a cozy and charming simulation game where you play as an alchemist trying to create a cure for a life-threatening illness. Having given up the craft for years after it failed to cure you the first time, you must now refurbish your master’s rundown alchemy workshop and cooperate with his myconid Agari friends to guarantee the continuation of your life and his legacy.
The Last Alchemist features:
⚫︎ Vibrant fantasy aesthetics
⚫︎ Authentic and detailed alchemical formula creation
⚫︎ Expansive exploration and resource-gathering mechanics
⚫︎ Comprehensive alchemist’s journal for recipe tagging and note keeping
⚫︎ Expandable workshop with base-building mechanics
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about The Last Alchemist 's gameplay and story.
 Steam |
$19.99 |
The Last Alchemist Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 True Alchemy Made Fun Laid-back and Charming Fun Incredibly Stylized |
As Tedious as Actual Alchemy Pacing is a Bit Slow |
The Last Alchemist Overall Score - 82/100
The Last Alchemist is a heartwarming blend of emotional story beats, charming dialogue, beautiful Arcanepunk aesthetics, and satisfying alchemy mechanics. Never have I seen such a concentrated understanding of alchemical practices that capture both the joy and frustration of experimentation so authentically. This is definitely a game you’ll want more than just a sip of—take the whole bottle!
The Last Alchemist Story - 8/10
The Last Alchemist’s tale, though straightforward, breathes new life into a familiar narrative. There’s no bustling shop to rescue or village to save by amassing wealth, nor is there a contrived motivation to pursue one's aspirations. Instead, it weaves the poignant story of a broken man on a quest for redemption, seeking one final chance to save his own life and honor his master's legacy. Mix in a touch of cottage-core charm, and you have a simulation game that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you deeply fulfilled.
The Last Alchemist Gameplay - 9/10
Alchemy in games is often diluted for ease of play or exaggerated for visual effect. The Last Alchemist, however, remains true to the essence of alchemy, promoting genuine experimentation and lateral thinking while offering players the immense satisfaction of crafting their own recipes. Though the detailed process may deter some, it embodies the authentic experience of a true alchemist.
The Last Alchemist Visuals - 8/10
The Last Alchemist’s visuals seamlessly blend cottage-core and Arcanepunk aesthetics, creating a whimsical, brass-adorned spectacle of cartoonish experimentation. While not entirely novel, the undeniable charm of the Alchemist, his workshop, and his adorable Agari companions beautifully captures the magic of alchemy as an art form.
The Last Alchemist Audio - 7/10
While voice acting isn’t always essential, The Last Alchemist is a game that could have greatly benefited from it. The character designs and dialogue are charming in their own right, but it feels like a significant missed opportunity. That said, the game’s soundtrack is appropriately fantastical, and the sound effects of the workshop’s machinery set the scene remarkably well, so there’s no major hit against the game’s overall audio quality.
The Last Alchemist Value for Money - 9/10
Although it takes a bit of time to get the cauldron boiling, The Last Alchemist is an incredible steal at just $20. You'll spend hours experimenting with various reagents and concoctions, ensuring you get your money’s worth from playtime alone. This doesn’t even account for the rich story, captivating aesthetics, and the joy of exploration the game offers.
The Last Alchemist Review: Distilled Alchemical Perfection
I want to preface this review with some context. I love automation games. I've logged over a thousand hours in genre-defining titles like Factorio, Satisfactory, and Dyson Sphere Program. I know all the tricks for achieving maximum efficiency and the best layouts for any type of factory. Despite my expertise, I've never been drawn to automation games outside the sci-fi realm. Recent titles like Southfield and The Magical Mixture Mill only reinforced my expectations for this game, which had major automation game energy from the outset.
So, imagine my surprise, my utter shock when, five minutes into The Last Alchemist, I realized it wasn’t an automation game at all. Instead, it’s a heartfelt narrative of an alchemist’s final days as he desperately seeks a cure for his life-threatening ailment.
It’s charming, colorful, and, most of all, one of the most authentic alchemical experiences I’ve ever encountered—or about as authentic as one can get for a pseudoscientific practice. And so, with that preamble out of the way, let’s get mixing!
In keeping with the spirit of alchemy, we'll begin with the game's basic components before adding more complex elements as the cauldron heats up. Let's start by delving into the game's surprisingly heartfelt story. The Last Alchemist unfolds as a poignant farewell over several weeks. A man, known only as The Alchemist,
returns to his late master's decrepit workshop, seeking to synthesize a cure for his ailment—an endeavor he once thought abandoned. Amidst the crumbling ruins of a dilapidated castle, he must grapple with the limitations of his equipment and frail body, striving for another chance at life.
This narrative stands out among simulation games, especially those casting players as fantasy shopkeepers. Unlike the adventurous, bargain-driven experiences of games like Potionomics and Moonlighter, The Last Alchemist focuses on the protagonist's passion for his craft and his desire to survive. Despite the grim outset, the game doesn't lack charm, offering plenty of engaging characters and delightful dialogue. The Alchemist also plays his role well as a terminally ill, but hopeful man willing to give it his all while he still can. All of this is brought to life by the game's adorable cast of, the Agari—walking, talking mushroom people.
Now, this warming story unfolds through the game's detailed and incredibly authentic alchemy gameplay. Players gather, process, mix, and apply various alchemical concoctions while exploring the surrounding area. Although the map isn't particularly large, it's filled with obstacles that demand a creative mind and a steady hand to overcome. As new ingredients are discovered in new areas and are subsequently studied, the concoctions become increasingly wild and complex, ultimately leading to the synthesis of The Alchemist's cure.
That's the gameplay in a nutshell. Now, let's dive into its most intricate and enjoyable aspect: alchemical formulas. This game doesn't dilute its alchemy by reducing it to mere symbols and words. Instead, alchemical formulas must be meticulously followed, taking into account the precise quantities of various essences within a mixture and the alchemical structure of its bonds, which are represented by Tetromino-like blocks—or sometimes both.
Players are encouraged to discover these combinations independently and synthesize different alchemical bonds to achieve various effects. Some concoctions enable the player to harvest new ingredients for further experimentation, while others unlock parts of the workshop and surrounding areas. There's even a detailed journal for reference during experiments—a comprehensive book of mixtures that would make even Severus Snape envious.
Some creations are just a few steps away from completion, while others demand several in-game days of discovery and experimentation. The alchemical equipment you work with is not overly complex or varied, consisting mainly of grinders for processing raw materials and mixers for concoctions. You also have a microscope for discovering new formulas and a workshop for processing building materials, along with a few storage options.
Thus, we arrive at the true charm of The Last Alchemist's gameplay, which lies in its approach to variety—presented as an option, not a necessity. Sure, you can experiment freely, discovering every possible combination of ingredients. You can leave your workshop in disarray and explore as you please. You can fill your catalog with the extensive findings of a master alchemist or simply focus on what needs to be done. Dive into your experiments, aiming to find the cure within a fortnight if you wish. Either way, you'll experience the joy of discovery with every leaf powdered and every stone crushed.
This creates a smooth, almost river-like gameplay loop where you explore, harvest, process, experiment, and apply, steadily moving closer to your ultimate goal, whatever it may be. It's deeply satisfying for those who love uncovering new things or for completionists who enjoy achieving 100% in games. For all its shortcomings, The Last Alchemist sought to make this aspect of its being the most well-developed, and I, for one, appreciate it all the more for it.
Speaking of its shortcomings, let’s talk about those next. The game’s audio isn’t bad by any means, but I think it’s rather bland, maybe even a bit too quiet at times. It doesn’t have any voice acting, which I think is a missed opportunity for some more charm, not that it’s strictly necessary. The music and sound effects are well enough made, at least, as they go hand-in-hand with the game’s aesthetics when it comes to evoking that cottage-core feel.
The game’s visuals look better in 2D than in 3D because the 3D palette is a tad too saturated for my liking. It is otherwise extremely well done though, with many design inspirations taken from other Arcanepunk IPs like Magic the Gathering.
And that’s this recipe done for The Last Alchemist. It is a charming game with a story that breaks the mold and a gameplay flow that represents alchemy well. It is incredibly detailed in almost all of its aspects and is as fun as it is poignant. It’s missing a few key ingredients, particularly with its audio and some of its visuals, but neither of those is enough for me to consider this game to be anything but alchemical gold!
Pros of The Last Alchemist
| Things The Last Alchemist Got Right |
|---|
|
True Alchemy Made Fun Laid-back and Charming Fun Incredibly Stylized |
True Alchemy Made Fun
The best part of The Last Alchemist's gameplay loop is the trial and error of experimentation. During this indefinite period, you can grind and combine ingredients freely to achieve the desired results. Although alchemy isn't a real process in our world, this game captures what I imagine it to be—a series of experiments testing the concentrations and structures of mystical essences.
This open-ended approach is made more enjoyable by not imposing strict time limits or completely restricting resources. You're free to explore and experiment at your own pace, as long as you eventually find the right formula. It's a pseudo-sandbox environment that fits the game perfectly and aligns with modern audiences' general understanding of alchemy.
Laid-back and Charming Fun
Despite the grim tidings of the game’s inciting action, you can pretty much play at your own pace with this game. There’s no pressure of losing the workshop if a deadline isn’t met, nor is there a reason for you to stress about anything as a player. You can just take it easy, breathe in the fresh countryside air, and even have a conversation with your Agari neighbors. This is a casual game through and through, priding itself on the complexity of its gameplay, though it doesn't always place this complexity front and center like other games of its kind.
Incredibly Stylized
A huge part of this game’s charm comes from its visual style, which combines cottage-core tropes with Arcanepunk designs in an endearing way. The prolific use of wood, gears, and brass for your equipment and furniture evokes a rustic yet elegant feel, perfectly suiting the fantastically unpredictable craft of an alchemist. This stands in harmony with the vibrant, curved fields around you, adding a touch of natural beauty to the artisanal workshop. Together, these elements create a stylized fantasy that, while not entirely unique, is incredibly pleasing to the eye.
Cons of The Last Alchemist
| Things That The Last Alchemist Can Improve |
|---|
|
As Tedious as Actual Alchemy Pacing is a Bit Slow |
As Tedious as Actual Alchemy
The game's dedication to representing an authentic alchemical experience has its drawbacks, with the chief among them being the frustration of trial and error. The process of discovery in this game is truly open-ended, which means that some players will inevitably hit walls in their experiments. This can lead to frustration and feelings of hopelessness if solutions aren't found quickly. While this isn't ideal for a game, it's an integral part of the experience, inseparable from the satisfaction of eventual success.
Pacing is a Bit Slow
One downside to this game’s relaxed and open-ended narrative is its slow pacing. You'll likely spend several in-game days stuck in the same repetitive routine before making any real progress. While this is part of the experience, it might not be the best fit for a video game format.
Is The Last Alchemist Worth It?
Worth The Philosopher’s Stone
Although it does take some time to get the cauldron boiling, The Last Alchemist offers a transmuter’s wealth of content for a mere $20. It’s most definitely a steal, one worth its weight in gold, and that’s not even considering how much value it offers by way of story, aesthetics, and satisfaction. You won't need the Philosopher’s Stone to afford this game, and you certainly won’t regret buying it.
| Digital Storefront | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
|||||
| Price | $19.99 | ||||
The Last Alchemist FAQ
How Do You Make the Alkaline Property in The Last Alchemist?
In order to craft the Alkaline Property, you need to put a Wood Shroom Stem and a piece of Granite in the grinder to create Red Helprine and Smaragdine, respectively. You can then combine them using the Fusion Machine to create the Alkaline Property.
How Do You Craft Tools in The Last Alchemist?
New tools can only be crafted once you finish rebuilding Hapalo’s Forge during the game’s tutorial mission. After rebuilding the forge, you can craft tools by placing a formula from your journal onto Hapalo’s worktable and providing the necessary materials.
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The Last Alchemist Product Information
 | |
| Title | THE LAST ALCHEMIST |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 11, 2024 |
| Developer | Vile Monarch |
| Publisher | Marvelous Europe |
| Supported Platforms | PC(Steam) |
| Genre | Simulation |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| Rating | N/A |
| Official Website | The Last Alchemist Official Website |
