Frostpunk 2 review: An ambitious and excellent survival city-builder

As a seasoned survival strategist with countless hours spent huddled around the cold hearth of digital cities, I must say that Frostpunk 2 has left me breathless and exhilarated. With its striking visuals and gripping soundtrack, this game has managed to transport me back to the frozen wastelands I once called home – albeit with a slightly upgraded graphics card and storage solution.

The coal mines have run out of resources. The last shipment from the outpost arrived a week ago, and it’s already been depleted. The new residential areas are overflowing. Hundreds are perishing, pleading for the Leader to intervene. If we can merely endure until the oil extraction facilities are completed, we’ll be alright, but the Stalwarts are demanding vengeance.

In Frostpunk 2, you’ll find yourself immersed in an exhilarating and heartrending journey, a challenging sequel that escalates the idea of enduring a new ice age. This game truly tests leadership skills and stretches the boundaries of city-building games far beyond what was presented in the original Frostpunk, which captivated me when it debuted in 2019.

11-bit Studios’ newest game finds passionate groups vying for power amid ongoing scarcity of resources and persistent cold. Despite a couple of balancing problems and a regrettable absence of accessibility features, diving into this icy world is definitely recommended.

What is Frostpunk 2?

Frostpunk 2 review: An ambitious and excellent survival city-builder

As a researcher delving into the realm of video games, I find myself immersed in the development and publication of Frostpunk 2, a city-building survival game crafted by the skilled hands of 11 bit studios – the same team that has previously brought us engrossing titles like This War of Mine and the original Frostpunk.

Similar to its predecessor, Frostpunk 2 places players in charge of administering a city during another ice age, where the focus lies on resource management, exploration, construction, and law-making to sustain life in a frozen post-apocalyptic environment. The lack of food leads to hunger, while insufficient fuel results in coldness. Prolonged scarcity can lead to fatalities, and if conditions deteriorate too much, the people might revolt against your leadership.

In contrast to the original Frostpunk, Frostpunk 2 expands its scope significantly. Instead of assisting a small group of people (ranging from dozens to hundreds) in enduring the cold for days or weeks as in the first game, Frostpunk 2 immerses you in managing several thousand survivors over the course of months and years.

As the scale expands significantly, an array of fresh possibilities arises, primarily geared towards diplomatic endeavors. The players will find themselves delicately navigating through various factions within the city, each with unique aspirations regarding survival amidst the advancing ice.

Frostpunk 2 review: Story and characters

In Frostpunk 2, you find yourself stepping into the shoes of a Steward, as New London’s founder has passed away and it falls upon you to lead this thriving metropolis into the future. However, leading such a vast and growing population won’t be an easy task, with thousands now residing in New London, many of whom were born after the collapse of the modern world.

In this game, the characters establish novel settlements, divisions, and customs as they evolve. Some adhere to traditions rooted in Order or Faith, which significantly influenced New London during crises, while others, like the Pilgrims, strive for fresh approaches to life. Your decisions throughout the game’s chapters have a profound impact on either bonding with or distancing these groups. I frequently noticed that actions taken an hour or so ago could greatly influence the difficulty of a specific path.

At first, I was concerned that expanding the game might distance me from the groups I oversee. However, as expected, 11 bit studios’ writing never fails to touch a nerve, offering glimpses into the lives of the citizens occasionally. It’s one thing to learn that hundreds perished due to my error, but it’s an entirely different experience to witness the aftermath and how such events have affected those who relied on me.

In Frostpunk 2, there aren’t specific instructions on actions or ethical choices; instead, it encourages players to be aware of the price tag associated with their objectives.

Frostpunk 2 review: Gameplay and features

In Frostpunk 2, experienced players will recognize several gameplay mechanics similar to the original, including accumulating different resources to ensure the community’s survival and satisfaction. However, there are novel aspects like Frostbreaking for expanding exploration and constructing entire districts simultaneously, which should be straightforward to grasp.

In Frostpunk 2, instead of being a solitary leader as in Frostpunk, you step into the role of a mediator. While you might desire to establish laws that prioritize children’s education over workplace training, your ability to do so depends on whether or not you have the necessary support from your community. If you lack the required votes, your wish cannot come to fruition.

The primary method of getting votes for deals will be through bargaining. Maybe the Stalwarts aren’t a fan of your plan for a Biowaste Hothouse, but you promise that you’ll research a piece of technology that’s of interest, so they go along with it in the moment. Carefully fulfilling these deals across the different factions builds up your Trust. Fail to fulfill your end of the bargain, and they’ll push you out.

With passing time, these factions tend to grow increasingly extreme. A faction that holds positive sentiment towards you one year might organize rallies in your support later on. On the contrary, a faction that you repeatedly antagonize may escalate their actions, organizing protests, shutting down districts and causing damage during riots until you engage in negotiations with them.

In this game, there are some intriguing interactions among elements, yet it occasionally seems slightly unbalanced in certain aspects. Currently, a select few technologies and paths stand out as significantly more beneficial than their alternatives. Consequently, you might find yourself at a noticeable disadvantage due to lack of knowledge about these superior options. This contrasts with the game’s overall themes, which is why I hope 11 bit studios addresses the most obvious imbalances soon by making adjustments.

Frostpunk 2 review: Visuals and audio

11-bit Studios have crafted an impressive visual spectacle for Frostpunk 2, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 to create stunning ice and snow landscapes. The city-building aspect is a key feature, and it’s captivating to observe as districts develop, with structures being chiseled into the snow and buildings erected step by step. Time may pass quickly in the game, but you can pause at any moment to examine a specific district in detail, witnessing the bustling crowd of people, sometimes working, other times celebrating or protesting.

On my RTX 3070 graphics card and an NVME SSD, I encountered no performance issues while playing Frostpunk 2. The game consistently ran at a smooth 60 frames per second from the opening scene to the end credits. Upon startup, there is a brief moment for shader compilation, but this process never took long. Although it takes a few extra seconds to launch the game, it’s a worthwhile trade-off compared to the frustrating stuttering issues that plague many other games.

As a tech enthusiast myself, I’m thrilled to share that Piotr Musiał, who previously collaborated with 11 bit studios on This War of Mine and Frostpunk, is back to create the score for Frostpunk 2. Unlike his previous work, which was more melancholic, these new compositions resonate with a sense of simmering anger, echoing a populace no longer solely focused on survival but venting their frustrations at perceived injustices. In the heat of chaos when all my strategies seem to crumble, these tracks amplify the sense of urgency and panic, making the experience even more immersive.

As I delved deeper into the captivating narrative, I couldn’t help but notice that the game load times started to extend. At first, it was just a fleeting moment, no more than a couple of seconds before I could dive back into my adventure. However, as the story reached its climax, those brief moments grew into around thirty seconds. Granted, this isn’t an unbearable wait, but it’s something worth mentioning, particularly when considering the seemingly infinite Utopia Builder mode that could potentially outlast the 8 hours I spent in story mode.

Frostpunk 2 review: Accessibility and approachability

In Frostpunk 2, players have the flexibility to select their own level of challenge at the beginning of the game. If you enjoy facing tough choices like scavenging for food and fuel, but prefer a smoother experience when it comes to traversing the wasteland and establishing colonies, that’s absolutely possible. Conversely, if you’d rather have an easier time sourcing resources but prefer a more challenging colony setup process, Frostpunk 2 accommodates that as well. However, keep in mind that once you begin playing, the difficulty level cannot be adjusted.

In Frostpunk 2, there are not many accessibility features evident at the moment, and I sincerely look forward to more being added in future updates. The game offers a dark UI mode which is easier on the eyes when playing in a dimly lit environment, given how vivid the majority of the game can be. However, it’s essential to note that this mode is not yet fully completed at launch, so using it might result in visual bugs or glitches.

Should you play Frostpunk 2?

As a researcher exploring the world of video games, I find myself captivated by Frostpunk 2, a sequel that significantly expands upon its predecessor in both ambition and scope. Unlike previous iterations where survival was the primary goal, Frostpunk 2 challenges players to not only endure but to prosper. It’s no longer about making it through one more night; instead, you’re constructing a future for your community – whether that future is forged in alliance or opposition with those you are sworn to protect. This ambitious leap into the unknown is handled admirably by 11 bit studios, showcasing their continued mastery of immersive, thought-provoking gameplay experiences.

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In summary, Frostpunk 2 offers a hauntingly beautiful gaming experience that I can hardly wait to explore further as new scenarios are introduced through upcoming DLC expansions.

On September 20, 2024, Frostpunk 2 will be released for Windows PC. The game is also expected to release on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 at a later time. Additionally, it’s included in the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. If you own the Deluxe Edition, you can start playing early from September 17.

2024-09-17 20:09