How long can you survive on the Last Horizon?

Last Horizon ($2.99) by Pixeljam is a space survival game that’s all about exploration and surviving with limited resources. If you liked the concept of Wonky Ship but wish there was more substance to the game, then Last Horizon would be a good fit.

These days, with a crazy personal life and hectic schedule, I’m all about the quick games that I can just sit down with and enjoy in short sessions throughout the day. Whether it’s a puzzle, arcade or reflex game, or just a thing about surviving as long as I can, I’m all over it. So when I heard that Pixeljam, makers of some other fun games like Potatoman Seeks The Troof and Gorkian Warrior: Trials Of Glork, was coming out with a new game, I was all over that like white on rice. Needless to say, I’m not disappointed.

Last Horizon sports a simple and clean look and feel to it that will definitely appeal to the minimalists out there. As a game that is set in deep space, the background is set to a nice mix of darker color gradients that range from pitch black to blues and purples or even reds when near a powerful heat source. Planets in the game are round, colored circles with their own unique colors and glowing auras that contrast nicely with the backdrops. The game also has smooth and fluid animations as you rotate your ship and activate the thrusters to propel yourself around in zero gravity, so I experienced no lag on my iPhone 6s Plus. The ambient soundtrack of the game adds an entirely new layer of depth to things, and I recommend using a good pair of headphones for it. Like any good soundtrack, this is one that pulls you in and fully immerses you in the game. My only complaint with Last Horizon is the fact that the text that pops up can be rather small and difficult to read, even on my giant iPhone screen.

In Last Horizon, players will embark on an infinite journey across space, trying to survive with just a few resources, like fuel and oxygen. There are no levels in the game — you just navigate your ship around and explore nearby planets that your compass points out to you. However, there are four different flights (A, B, C, and X) that you can embark on, which equate to difficulty levels that you have to unlock after a certain point. As you find planets and land on them to gather resources to survive, you will earn points. Due to the differences of each planet (some are harder to land on than others, or will have surrounding obstacles like moons), they are all worth a various amount of points. The run ends when your ship takes too much damage or you run out of oxygen, of course.

The controls in the game are simple and easy enough to learn, but will take some time and practice to master. Touching the bottom left corner will rotate your ship clockwise or counterclockwise. The bottom right corner will activate your thrusters, though this will use up fuel, so make sure to keep an eye on the fuel levels in the upper left. The oxygen level can be found in the upper right as well. Landing on planets takes a bit of skill and practice, since you can’t just crash into a planet. Gently ease your way onto the surface, and once you land, your ship will repair itself and refill the fuel and oxygen levels as you are gathering resources. But be warned — taking too much from a planet might anger some alien life forms, and that’s something you don’t want to experience.

Due to the endless nature and randomization of the game, Last Horizon has a fair bit of replay value as you continue to chase after a high score. But to make it last even longer, there is full Game Center support for leaderboards on all flights and a handful of achievements to obtain.

So far I’m loving Last Horizon. The game’s minimal aesthetic is lovely, the atmospheric soundtrack is a delight to the ears, the controls are simple and intuitive (though practice is needed), and the gameplay itself is unique and challenging. I hope to see more flights added in the future, as it would keep interest piqued.

If you are up for a space survival game that requires patience, skill, and precision, then make sure to check this game out. Last Horizon is available on the App Store as a universal download for just $2.99 with no in-app purchases.