The Last Gas Station

Game Title: The Last Gas Station
Released: April 28, 2026
Game Length: 12 Hours
Grade: A- 

Gameplay

Early Game: The core experience of the game ironically revolves around doing work. Don't worry too much since they are very easy and there are safeguards in place to help you. Your first two primary activities are serving gasoline at the pump and working the register. You click on the pump as cars pull in and wait until the meter reaches the highlighted section. They pay right there and then. Customers who pull their car to the parking lot to the right of the store will go inside, pick out some items, and then bring them to the register. You then give them a set amount of change. The game notifies you when there are customers waiting for a service, if you go over the set amount of currency, and a chance to undo your last action. Unlike American currency, you can give $50, $10, $5, $1, $0.50, $0.20, $0.05, and $0.01. Customers will occasionally drop trash on the ground that you need to clean up. After you perform this action a handful of times, you will automatically be given a trash bag that needs to be dropped into the small dumpster outside. If you are in a rush, you could put the bag down right where you stand and finish the job later. 

Mini-games: Objectives can be completed from your notebook to increase the level of your store. This includes a number of upgrades and then a number of tasks. Not all available upgrades need to be completed. There are four store levels that all increase the amount of items you can keep in storage. With each upgrade, you can buy more shelves that unlocks the option to buy more types of goods. There is an option to build a repair station that let's you pump air into tires, fill the car's oil, charge their battery, and buff out scratches. Each one of these is a single upgrade and dependent on the customer's wishes. There is a car wash that let's you clean dirty cars with a hose. 

Store Management: There is a computer to compile work orders and a storage room to keep all your store goods. You do not have to worry about making a schedule. If you suddenly run out of gasoline, you can make an order and a truck will come almost instantaneously. Ordering store goods can be done in the same fashion. This can be done multiple times a day, at any time of day, and they will not leave until you give them your signature. The game won't let you end the day until you do. You cannot order beyond your limit. The total number of items you have available, their profit margin, and how many you get in a single order is all listed on the page. As an example, ordering one shipment of gum actually gives you 12 packs of gum. You can have more than one type of shelf, and there is nothing stating you need to have one of every type available (in case you feel bad selling cigarettes or something).  

Automation: The higher you go up the upgrade path, the less you have to do. The cash register can be upgraded with a credit card reader so you don't have to give change everytime and a conveyor belt that let's you hold down the button. The gas pumps can be upgraded so you just have to punch in a couple buttons. You can hire help to manage the register, stock shelves, and collect from delivery trucks. Get a roomba that cleans up trash while you are at it. There will be an option that let's you close down any section of your gas station. Get to the point of unlocking everything and the only thing you would need to do is run the register when a special character enters your store. Robots will make orders for you when stock gets low and repair cars. The car wash will become automated too.  

Activities: Since it has been a few months since the game released, a few more additions have been made to the game. This includes the ability to fish and take pictures of cars. I noticed that a lot of the features added recently could use a little more polish around their presentation regarding things like language and controller support. Fishing itself is rather easy since you perform the activity at the highlighted locations in your notebook during the day or night. The rarity depends on your legend rating and what you catch automatically sells for profit. You do need to claim your rewards as your only means to add aquarium decorations to your store. 

Story

Events: There are many different things that can happen throughout the day. You can be visited by special characters that converse with you on different topics. Things can happen in the background like blinking lights or moving objects. There are also the occasional special locations that permit you to visit with the locals. Things can happen during the night or invade your dreams in a sort of Stranger Things universe. You can read more about these things as you increase your legend rating on your computer until you reach level 40 in a certain category. 

Mystery: Whether or not you believe in the local superstitions doesn't really matter. Like the Gravity Falls cartoon, your main goal is to make a profit out of it. You can raise the rating of six legends by displaying a number of decorations. These can be placed on the wall in your store or outside. Each "spot" allows you to change a specific decoration. If you buy a new "Shop" sign, then you can only change it there in front of your store. The more of a specific legend you display, the higher your rating in that category will increase, and the more profits you receive selling that type of item in the store. You can always side-step this process by increasing your Civilization rating instead.

Ending: There are a number of voice recordings that tell the story of the previous gas station manager. Eventually, you will be able to come across a room in the bunker under your store. Once you reach a certain level, the device with a bunch of codes will be made available. Learning the sequence is as easy as upgrading all the light posts across the horizon. The yellow runes that appear will be your secret code. Solving this specifically does not end the game, but the game will inform you of the point of no return when trying to open the next door. There are four endings depending on the level of Civilization and Mystery (as well as the difference between the two). Then enjoy the final sequence and song as the credits roll.

Summary

Review: For a game you can get for under $10, there is much more here than meets the eye. The game is more naturally cozy and has less actually scary material. Most of the hard math of trying to figure out things like when to order gasoline is removed. There is a lot of nice details and visuals with the number of products you can sell. The game offers you the chance to organize and see where each item is located on the shelves. There are notifications when something needs your attention and very little penalty in taking your time. You can technically end the game sooner, but there is nothing stopping you from customizing the layout of your gas station for a few months of in-game time. You can see improvements in the decorations as you increase the store level. I definitely recommend this game.