This Open-World Game Is Set in 1990s Finland — and It’s Wild

Forget generic open-world formulas built around guns and grinding. Last Drop, the upcoming indie title from Finnish studio Lohkare Games Oy, trades firearms for bare-knuckle brawls, unlocks new combat moves through over-the-top VHS action movies, and sets the whole thing against a hauntingly authentic recreation of 1990s Finland. The game launches into Early Access on Steam on August 18, 2026, and its blend of raw storytelling and skill-based combat is already turning heads ahead of release.

Players step into the shoes of Seppo “Zeze” Sahtivaara, a broke, fist-fighting aspiring writer just trying to survive in a world where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way. It’s a premise that sounds almost too strange to be real, and according to the developers, that’s exactly the point.

A Setting Rooted in Real Finnish Life and History

Last Drop takes place in a faithfully recreated Finnish city and surrounding small towns, all built to mirror actual locations across the country. Shops open and close on their own schedules, weather shifts naturally throughout the day, and every forest, street, and lakeside spot draws directly from real places in Finland. That attention to detail gives the world a lived-in feel that’s rare in open-world games built from scratch.

What sets the game apart even further is how much of its content is pulled from true events. Many of the strangest characters, wildest encounters, and most memorable moments players will run into throughout the game are rooted in real stories from Finland in the 1990s. It’s an approach that gives Last Drop a distinct personality that’s hard to find in more conventional open-world adventures.

“We didn’t want to create another generic open-world game,” said Henri Koskinen, Founder and CEO of Lohkare Games Oy. “We wanted to capture a time and place where we grew up. Some players will laugh because it’s ridiculous. Others will laugh because they may feel like they know someone like these characters.”

Last Drop swaps guns for bare-knuckle combat and generic open-world formulas for a haunting recreation of 1990s Finland. #LastDrop #IndieGames

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— Our Daily News Online (@odnewsonline) August 14, 2026

Bare-Knuckle Combat and a Full Life Outside the Fights

Unlike most open-world action games, Last Drop skips firearms entirely in favor of a deep, skill-based 1v1 combat system inspired by classic fighting games. Instead of leveling up through experience points, players unlock new fighting techniques by watching exaggerated VHS action movies scattered throughout the game world — a progression system that ties directly into the game’s retro, cinematic tone.

Combat isn’t the whole story, though. Outside of fights, players can drive beaten-up ’90s cars through forests and country roads, ride bicycles, take on odd jobs, spend evenings at the local pub, and heat up the lakeside sauna, all while managing Zeze’s finances and keeping his drunkenness in check. It’s a full simulation of everyday life layered on top of a cinematic, Tarantino-style narrative filled with unforgettable characters.

Last Drop launches into Early Access on Steam on August 18, 2026, with the first part of its story, and more content is planned for future updates. Players interested in one of the more distinctive indie worlds to hit Steam in recent years can wishlist the game now ahead of its release.