Frostpunk 2 Asks Old Dogs to Learn New Tricks

Frostpunk 2 Asks Old Dogs to Learn New Tricks

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that 11 Bit Studios has truly outdone themselves with Frostpunk 2. Having cut my teeth on the original back in 2018, I thought I had a solid grasp on what to expect. Boy, was I wrong! This game is like a long-lost friend who’s grown up, got a makeover, and moved away without telling you.


In the year 2018, independent developer 11 Bit Studios unveiled “Frostpunk”, a unique PC city-building game with a somber twist. Unlike other city-builders where players can build their ideal town at a relaxed pace, “Frostpunk” demands swift moral choices that often determine the difference between life and death. This grim and desolate style made “Frostpunk” stand out among its competitors in 2018, and now, the sequel titled “Frostpunk 2” continues with this same style.

30 years later, the world in Frostpunk 2 remains a frozen wasteland, a bitter survival ground for the remnants of humanity. As before, it’s your task to guide these survivors through an unending winter. However, veterans of the original Frostpunk may believe they have mastered all the necessary strategies and tactics for survival. Yet, Frostpunk 2 swiftly demonstrates that even the most seasoned players can be proved wrong.

Frostpunk 2 Wants Fans to Forget Everything They Think They Know

Frostpunk 2 Carries Forward Many of The First Game’s Mechanics

In the follow-up game Frostpunk 2, the core gameplay structure of the original remains unchanged. As soon as players embark on the campaign or Utopia Builder mode, they are plunged into a perpetual crisis. Similar to the first game, the gameplay loop in Frostpunk 2 requires players to power their city’s heat generator with scarce resources, prevent food shortages, and continually research technology to optimize these processes while navigating the ever-evolving Frostlands environment.

In the sequel to Frostpunk, the weighty moral choices system remains central. Players will find themselves regularly confronted by a figure from their turbulent society, prompting them to tackle tough dilemmas. These choices can significantly impact which faction the player aligns with, ultimately shaping the kind of society they build. Navigating the delicate trust between factions and the broader community’s needs requires careful consideration, as these choices are far from trivial.

Every Old Mechanic Has a New Twist in Frostpunk 2

While experienced Frostpunk gamers will find the gameplay loop familiar, Frostpunk 2 cleverly changes each mechanic subtly but significantly. For example, in the original Frostpunk, players could simply place buildings around their central generator if there was enough room. In contrast, Frostpunk 2 requires players to first establish a District, expand it to make room for a building, and then construct their desired structure.

A significant illustration of alterations can be seen in the resources of the game Frostpunk 2. In contrast to the 2018 version, players gathered coal, wood, and steel for power generation and construction. However, in Frostpunk 2, these have been replaced with oil, materials, prefabricated structures, and goods, with the latter being a novel resource that ensures the colony’s survivors can meet their essential needs.

These adjustments aren’t extremely significant, but they necessitate experienced Frostpunk veterans to unlearn what they thought was familiar about the game entirely. While some enthusiasts will appreciate this fresh challenge, others might find these changes a bit overpowering, and perhaps even unnecessary considering how intricate the original game’s mechanisms already were.

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2024-09-28 17:05