The Last Shot is a visually stunning diesel-punk puzzle-platformer that combines hand-drawn artistry with clever mechanics. As you guide your quirky engineer protagonist through towering war machines and rusted-out facilities, you’ll rely on tool-swapping, platforming, and a good bit of brainpower. Whether you are new to the game or looking to refine your approach, here’s a collection of the best tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your journey.
Mastering the Tools of the Trade
Your character’s progress through the world depends heavily on three specialized tools: the hand, the hammer, and the wrench. Each serves a unique function and understanding when to use them is crucial. The hand allows you to interact with objects, pull levers, and move crates. The hammer is for breaking through obstacles and destructible barriers. The wrench is used to fix broken machinery, reactivate dormant devices, and maintain aging tech scattered throughout the levels. Swapping between these tools becomes second nature over time, and doing so quickly with the B button will be essential for maintaining momentum in more intricate puzzle chains.
Trust Your Instincts Before Using Hints
The game offers a helpful hint system that activates after you’ve spent some time in a new puzzle area. However, the puzzles in The Last Shot are designed with intuitive logic that encourages experimentation. It’s highly rewarding to solve challenges without relying on the hint system immediately. Give yourself a chance to analyze the environment, try out different approaches, and observe how the game responds. Solving puzzles on your own makes the entire experience more meaningful and satisfying.
Observation is Key – Use Zoom Frequently
Because the game world is entirely hand-drawn, it’s incredibly immersive—but this also means that vital interactive elements can sometimes blend into the background. This is where the zoom feature becomes more than just a visual treat. Zooming in helps you catch subtle environmental cues such as faded outlines, color shifts, or machinery that looks slightly different from the rest of the setting. These visual signals often point to interactive components that are easy to miss when playing from a standard view.
Movement and Momentum Matter
While platforming isn’t the game’s main challenge, movement still plays a critical role. Sprinting—activated by tapping the X button—adds momentum and is often needed to clear wider gaps or handle time-sensitive sequences. Some puzzles even demand that you combine sprinting, tool usage, and precise timing to proceed. Smooth transitions between movement and interaction keep the gameplay fluid and prevent frustration during more complex levels.
Adjusting the Sound for Better Focus
The soundtrack in The Last Shot is atmospheric and helps establish the game’s unique tone. However, during long play sessions or difficult puzzles, the music can sometimes become distracting or repetitive. If you find yourself losing focus or growing impatient, try lowering the audio volume or turning off the music entirely. A quieter environment can help you concentrate and notice smaller details in the environment that may be key to solving a puzzle.
Dealing with Achievement Glitches
Some players have encountered glitches related to achievements such as “Rocketeer” or “Dr. Mazay.” While most of these issues were addressed in patches released around mid-2025, occasional bugs may still occur. If an achievement doesn’t trigger when expected, try replaying the affected section from a previous checkpoint. Fully restarting the game has also worked for many players. Rarely, a complete reinstall may be required, though this is generally a last resort.
Appreciate the Artistry
Beyond its gameplay mechanics, The Last Shot is a game worth savoring visually. The diesel-punk aesthetic tells its own story—one of collapse, history, and forgotten machinery. Take time to stop and look around. Pipes, lighting, rusted panels, and broken signs all contribute to the sense of a world once full of life and now haunted by decay. The game’s environment is not just a backdrop—it’s part of the narrative, and paying attention to it deepens the emotional weight of your journey.
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