The Last Express

The Last Express is an unusually ambitious adventure set aboard the Orient Express in 1914, just before Europe tumbles into the First World War. You play an American passenger caught up in murder, espionage, romance, political intrigue, and the general inconvenience of being on a train where almost everyone appears to be hiding something. The game's real-time structure is its most distinctive feature: characters continue moving and interacting even when you are not watching them, so events can unfold differently depending on your actions. Miss something important and the train does not politely wait for you to catch up. The hand-drawn visual style gives the game a unique illustrated quality, while the claustrophobic setting creates constant tension. It is a slower, more thoughtful adventure than many of its contemporaries, and its atmosphere remains remarkably effective. Think of it as a detective novel where the railway timetable is part of the puzzle.