In the frozen, unforgiving landscapes of Frostpunk, humanity teeters on the edge of survival. It’s a world where the harshest of winters has ravaged the earth, and the last remnants of civilization cling to life by the thinnest of threads. The original Frostpunk masterfully wove a tale of survival, sacrifice, and the moral gray areas that arise when the very existence of humanity hangs in the balance. Now, the sequel, Frostpunk 2, arrives with a bold promise: to expand upon the world, intensify the struggle, and plunge players even deeper into the icy grip of desperation. But does this ambitious follow-up succeed in building upon the foundations laid by its predecessor, or does it succumb to the biting winds of its own ambition? In our review, we’ll delve into the frost-shrouded world of Frostpunk 2 and explore whether this sequel is a beacon of hope, or a lost soul lost in the frozen wilderness.
A Bigger World Awaits in Frostpunk 2
Stepping out of New London and into the world beyond, the possibilities for expansion are endless. The introduction of scouts allows for the discovery of new locations and areas to conquer and govern. However, this can lead to micro-management and juggling multiple locations at once.
The major overhauls are here, as well. Gone are the days of static bases. With the latest improvements in Frostpunk 2, base-building has become way more advanced and expanded, where you have to establish new cities and connect the discovered areas. For better, or worse, the newly added Engineers Guild enables a greater sense of engineering and innovation, too.
Some of the expanded features include:
- New discoveries offer great opportunities, like better quality resources, unexplored wonders, workshops or libraries;
- City planning changed for the better, as the engineers provide new and better tools for building and expanding your settlement;
- Engineers Guild – is a community of engineers who build better workshops and invent new and innovative technologies;
- New buildings and facilities that expand the already complex world in Frostpunk 2;
| Building Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Engineers Guild | A hub that allows engineers to build better workshops and invent new technologies; |
| City Watch | A law enforcement building, helping the city watch with new methods; |
| Training Grounds | An area focused on soldier training, both existing and new soldiers; |
Improved Graphics Bring the Frozen World to Life
Frostpunk’s visual identity has always been one of its strongest aspects, but the sequel takes this to new heights. The frost-covered cityscapes are breathtaking, with snow-covered buildings towering over the desolate landscape. Improved lighting effects and detailed textures bring an eerie sense of realism to the environment, making it feel like you’re actually navigating a city trapped in a perpetual state of winter.
At its best, Frostpunk 2’s graphics create a sense of immersion, drawing you into the world’s harsh, snow-covered environment. Some of the game’s standout visual moments include:
- Watching the aurora borealis dance across the sky
- Seeing the desperate faces of your citizens, huddled together for warmth
- Exploring the frozen wasteland, with icicles hanging like translucent swords
These visuals are complemented by a wide range of weather effects and time-of-day variations, which help to further enhance the sense of immersion. For example, the difference between a stormy night and a clear, moonlit evening is stark, with each scenario requiring different strategies and considerations from the player.
The Story of New London is Darker Than Ever
New London, the last bastion of humanity, has never been a beacon of hope in the Frostpunk series. However, in Frostpunk 2, the city’s narrative takes a more somber turn. The leaders of New London now face daunting challenges as the coal reserves deplete, famine and discontent spread, and internal power struggles threaten the fragile stability.
- Environmental disasters become more frequent, requiring swift decisions that often involve sacrificing one value for another.
- Tensions rise within the city’s ruling council, sparking heated debates about New London’s future and the morality of its leaders.
- Protests and dissatisfaction simmer among the population, challenging the established order and the status quo.
| Resource Shortage | Morale Issues | Decisions & Consequences |
|
Coal reserves depleting
|
Citizens’ discontent rises
|
Sacrificing one value for another
|
|
Increased pressure on resources
|
Growing sense of desperation
|
Internal power struggles escalate
|
Managing Resources is More Challenging Than Before
As the harsh environment of Frostpunk’s world continues to test the citizens’ resolve, managing resources becomes a constant challenge that pushes players to think strategically. The foundation of this dilemma lies in the competing needs for food, fuel, and medical supplies. With more people coming into the fold, basic necessities are harder to provide, making survival an uphill battle.
In this balance of limitations, expect to encounter dilemmas including resource shortage, environmental degradation, and shifting alliances:
- Limited fuel affects generators and heating supplies, affecting the basic quality of life for citizens.
- A dwindling stock of medical supplies might cause widespread health problems if you do not prioritize their production.
- Unraveling relationships between group types increases tension and might turn people against each other.
| Management Type | Consequences of Failure |
|---|---|
| Resource and time management of engineers | Structures may decay and food production decreased |
| Managing relationships and policy-making | Sector influence shifts and internal group dissatisfaction rise |
| Scientific Research and development | Access to advanced technology compromised |
Innovative Technologies Balance Progress and Morality
Every technological advancement in the world of Frostpunk comes with its own set of moral dilemmas. Players are constantly forced to weigh the benefits of progress against the moral implications of their choices. As the leader of a city, you must make difficult decisions that impact the lives of your citizens, from the creation of automated workers that could replace human jobs to the development of medical treatments that could have unintended consequences.
This theme is reflected in the game’s innovative technologies, which are often double-edged swords. For example, the use of child labor can be avoided with the implementation of automated mechanisms, but these mechanisms are fueled by coal, which produces air pollution and affects the citizens’ health and morale.
| Technology | Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Workers | Increase production, efficiency, and reduce labor costs | Job loss, potential for machine uprising |
This constant struggle to balance progress and morality adds a layer of depth to the game, making it a thought-provoking experience that challenges players to think critically about the implications of their actions.
Expanded Exploration and Scouting Mechanics
Where Frostpunk 2 truly shines is in its overhauled exploration and scouting mechanics. Players can now send scouting parties to explore the surrounding areas, revealing new locations, resources, and points of interest. This feature adds a new layer of strategy to the game, as resources must be allocated wisely to support both the growth of your city and the expenses of scouting missions.
The scouting parties can encounter various outcomes, including:
- Discovering new resources, such as coal, oil, or materials to build new structures.
- Locating survivors, giving players the opportunity to recruit new citizens.
- Encountering other factions, some of whom can offer trade agreements or pose a threat to your city.
- Environmental hazards, such as harsh weather conditions, crevices, or old ruins.
| Scouting Party Status | Effect on the Mission |
|---|---|
| Resupply Needed | Interrupts scouting mission until resupplied, and potential resource losses. |
| Party Ambushed | Loss of party member, interruption of scouting mission, potential loss of resources or discovered assets. |
This expanded exploration system rewards players for taking calculated risks and allows them to uncover the world’s secrets, adding depth to the gameplay experience.
Combat Has Been Overhauled But Still Lacks Depth
Frostpunk’s combat has undergone significant changes in the sequel, shifting from a clunky, awkward system to a more streamlined experience. However, the updates don’t necessarily result in a more engaging experience. The new system relies heavily on positioning and timing, allowing for more strategic decision-making. This is evident in the addition of new unit types, such as the grenadier, which excels at clearing enemy defenses, and the sharpshooter, ideal for picking off high-priority targets.
Despite these improvements, combat still feels shallow, lacking the depth and complexity we’ve come to expect from modern strategy games. Key issues remain, including the inability to queue commands, awkward unit pathfinding, and a simplistic damage model that sees units either healthy or dead, with little room for nuance. This presents itself in a number of frustrating ways, such as units becoming trapped in corners or becoming stuck on environment obstacles. The lack of depth is further exacerbated by limited options for tactical complexity and variety. In practice, this results in repeated shallow battles that rarely challenge or engage the player on a deeper level.
| Combat Changes | Positives and Negatives |
| > Streamlined combat system | > Lacking depth and complexity |
| > Improved unit types | > No command queue option |
| > Tactical positioning and timing | > Weak unit pathfinding |
| > More realistic damage model | > Overemphasis on offense |
- Key aspects still missing: tactical positioning, additional unit types, complex decision-making.
- Need for a greater variety of encounters and battle types.
The Games Themes are Thought Provoking but Heavy Handed
The game’s themes of climate change, colonialism, and the consequences of technological advancements are undeniably thought-provoking. They add a rich layer of depth to the narrative, making the world feel more immersive and the player’s decisions more impactful. However, the execution often feels heavy-handed, with the game’s message being hammered home through obvious and sometimes cringeworthy dialogue and forced encounters that disrupt the otherwise engaging gameplay.
Some of the game’s attempts at social commentary, such as its portrayal of systemic racism and oppression, feel particularly forced, with certain characters serving only to advance the plot and illustrate the game’s themes, rather than feeling like fully fleshed-out individuals.
| Heavy-Handed Themes | Examples |
|---|---|
| Climate Change | Extreme weather events, environmental disasters, and dire warnings from NPCs. |
| Colonialism | Exploitation of resources, mistreatment of indigenous people, and cultural appropriation. |
| Technological Advancements | Dystopian futures, AI uprisings, and the consequences of scientific progress without moral responsibility. |
This heavy-handedness can be off-putting, making the game feel more like a lecture than a nuanced exploration of complex issues. Despite this, the game’s themes and setting do demonstrate a clear vision and ambition, and fans of the series will likely appreciate the developer’s willingness to tackle tough subjects.
A Steep Learning Curve Awaits New Players
New players entering the world of Frostpunk 2 will be met with a multitude of complex systems and mechanics, all of which can be overwhelming at first. The game does offer a basic tutorial to acquaint you with the core concepts, but beyond that, you’re mostly left to figure things out on your own. Even experienced players of the first Frostpunk will need time to adjust to the new mechanics and UI changes.
Key areas that require a learning curve:
- Managing resources, including coal, steel, and workers
- Balancing the needs and happiness of your citizens
- Understanding the Law system, which affects how your citizens react to different events
- Mastering the new combat mechanics, including encounter types and unit synergies
| New Features Comparison | |
|---|---|
| Feature | Changes from Frostpunk 1 |
| Law system | More nuanced and branching, with greater impact on the narrative |
| Exploration | Larger areas to explore, with new scouting and mapping mechanics |
A Solid but Flawed Sequel to the Original
Frostpunk 2’s attempt to expand its world and mechanics is admirable, but the execution often falls short. The new Winterhome metropolis, for instance, is a labyrinthine city fraught with logistic and personnel management challenges. However, this deeper dive into city-building sometimes gives way to tedious number-crunching, which can take the shine off the gritty narrative that Frostpunk 2 is trying to spin.
While the addition of new factions and diplomacy options is welcome, they don’t always gel seamlessly with the existing framework. Conflicts can escalate too quickly, leading to costly compromises or devastating wars. The warfare mechanics have been revamped, and battles are more dynamic, but victory often relies on exploiting loopholes rather than genuine strategic prowess.
| Frostpunk 2’s Major Changes | Impact |
|---|---|
| Expanded City-Building | Hit-or-miss, sometimes tedious |
| New Factions & Diplomacy | Mixed results, sometimes forced |
| Warfare Mechanics Overhaul | More dynamic, but unbalanced |
- Frostpunk 2 is still an engaging experience, despite these missteps.
- The world-browsing feels more immersive, with unsettling events and challenging decisions at every turn.
- Narrative choices still carry significant weight, shaping the fate of your people and city.
Recommendations for Fans of Post Apocalyptic Games
If you’re looking for more post-apocalyptic worlds to explore, consider the following:
- HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST – A thrilling adventure that takes you on a journey through a ravaged world where humans and machines coexist.
- THE LAST OF US PART II – A gut-wrenching story about survival, love, and loss in a world devastated by a deadly virus.
- FALLOUT 4 – An open-world exploration of a post-apocalyptic Boston, filled with raids, ruins, and radioactive creatures.
For a different take on the post-apocalyptic genre, you might enjoy games that focus more on strategy and survival:
| Game | Genre | Key Features |
| They Are Billions | Real-time Strategy | Steampunk setting, base-building, unit management |
| This War of Mine | Survival Strategy | Civilian perspective, resource management, crafting |
| RimWorld | Colony-building Simulation | Randomized story generator, complex relationships, base-building |
Concluding Remarks
As the final wisps of frost dissipate from the post-apocalyptic world of Frostpunk 2, we’re left to ponder the true cost of progress in a harsh, unforgiving landscape. This sequel bravely forges its own path, embracing bold new mechanics and narratives that both thrill and stumble. While the game’s ambition often outpaces its execution, the unapologetic fervor with which it tackles the intricacies of power, morality, and survival leaves a lasting chill. Frostpunk 2 may not be the revolution its fans had hoped for, but it’s a testament to the series’ unyielding spirit – and a reminder that sometimes, the most striking futures are also the most uncertain.
