Last Train Home
as senior level designer
Last Train Home is a real-time strategy game which follows the story of Czechoslovakian Legion during the Russian Civil War in 1918-1919. I worked on the game since pre-production till the final release in November 2023.
My initial work focused on level concepting alongside creation of placeholder models, wishlists and historical research. I designed the railway network from Moscow to Vladivostok and created the concept of all local area maps using World Creator and GIS data. My primary job on this project was creation of levels for real-time strategic battles, which are the core of this game. Some of my maps were hand sculpted from a scratch, while others began its life in World Creator and later edited in Unreal Engine. Apart from a map design, our department also took care of level scripting via Unreal’s level blueprint and custom in-house functions. Later in the development, I decided to help our Art department and took under my responsibility one of the eight Train View maps in the game. The map spans from Novonikolaevsk to Nizhneudinsk and represents 800km large terrain.
Responsibilities
Terrain Heightmap
Real-life heightmaps converted and adjusted to our needs for local and train view modes.
Location design
From concept to final version, object placement, terrain sculpting and painting, iterating based on the feedback.
Level Script
Mission flow, AI commands, events, in game cutscenes.
Placeholders
Creation of placeholder models using Blender.
Research
Historical and factual research, creation of wishlists.
World Design
Railway network, placement of points of interest, vegetation variety for bioms, GIS data.
Local view
Providing layout, concept and necessary data to art department.
Locations
Penza
The player’s objective is to capture the train station and clear the surrounding urban area. This mission also includes a stealth tutorial and is based on historical maps and photographs.
Novonikolaevsk
The player is tasked with sneaking in and capturing a gold train. The mission is based on historical maps and photographs. Novonikolaevsk, depicted in the mission, is known today as Novosibirsk.
Yekaterinburg
This is the site where the Tsar’s family was executed by the Bolsheviks. The environment is recreated based on historical maps and photographs.
Canyon
This is a fictional map where the player must traverse a long valley and clear the path ahead of their train. The base heightmap was created in World Creator.
Irkutsk
Set shortly after the Bolshevik uprising, the player must locate surviving members of the White Army and find a way out. The mission is based on historical maps and photographs.
Harbin
This is one of the few missions set in China. The player must rescue a friendly civilian and sneak out safely. The mission is based on historical maps and photographs.
Bochkarevka
Similar to the mission set in Harbin, the player must rescue a friendly civilian and sneak out safely.
Chany
This is a fictional map set in the swamps. The player must capture a train station and hold off enemy counterattacks.
Tundra Ambush
The player defends against waves of enemies from fortified positions near the train tracks.
Train view 04
Train View from Novonikolaevsk to Nizhneudinsk.
Last Train Home is available on Steam and GOG. The game was released on November 28, 2023, and is developed by Ashborne Games, a THQ Nordic first-party studio. Last Train Home is powered by Unreal Engine 4.