Frostpunk 2’s Lily May Is a Powerful Reminder That Choices Matter

Frostpunk 2's Lily May Is a Powerful Reminder That Choices Matter

As a hardcore survival game enthusiast who’s braved the wastelands of numerous post-apocalyptic worlds, I must say that Frostpunk 2 has truly outdone itself when it comes to immersing players in the harsh realities of humanity’s struggle for survival. The game is a rollercoaster ride of tough decisions and the loss of innocence, much like my own life after playing The Last of Us.


This article contains HEAVY SPOILERS for Frostpunk 2’s ending and the choices made along the way.

As a dedicated gamer, I find myself drawn to the hauntingly powerful narratives of post-apocalyptic worlds. Shows and games such as The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, and Metro 2033 immerse me in a struggle for survival where characters are pushed to their absolute limits, forced to make difficult choices that often come at the cost of their humanity. Frostpunk 2 takes this dark journey even deeper.

In Frostpunk 2, players guide a presumed final band of human survivors as they navigate a devastating new ice age. As their leader, you are constantly battling to ensure your colony has essentials like warmth, sustenance, and amusement. Throughout the game’s campaign, there are significant decisions to be made, and a transient character named Lily May symbolizes the consequences of these choices on this reformed society.

Frostpunk 2’s Lily May Shows How Much Influence The Player Really Has

Frostpunk 2 Is a Game All About Making Tough Choices

Lovers of the initial “Frostpunk” game are well aware that its decisions can be quite challenging. To elaborate, among the tough calls presented at the outset of the original “Frostpunk” is a choice to either amputate a man’s leg, making him disabled, or let him perish, and a decision to compel children to work in the mines. These are some weighty decisions right from the start, and they become even more difficult as the game progresses.

In Frostpunk, every decision revolves around addressing the immediate requirements of your settlement and anticipating future demands from its inhabitants. For example, choosing to save a man results in longer lifespans for amputees, but they become non-productive and still need feeding. This game consistently challenges players to find a balance between upholding humanity and pursuing what seems like the greater good.

In the next installment of Frostpunk, players will delve even further into tough choices. As the prologue unfolds, survivors must amass sufficient food supplies before an impending whiteout. To meet this challenge within the given timeframe, players might find themselves forced to make harsh decisions, such as permitting the elderly to leave for the Frostlands so the younger generations can eat, or exploiting a nearby seal colony.

Similar to the original game, Frostpunk 2 presents increasingly challenging decisions. Once you assume command of New London, you’ll find yourself aligning with certain factions, some of which advocate for a more aggressive stance from you. This can easily escalate into chaos and devastation, even for the most cautious players. Often, the pressure of time constraints during these tasks prevents players from fully grasping the moral ramifications of their choices. It is under such tense circumstances that Lily May becomes essential.

Frostpunk 2’s Lily May Shows The Consequences of The Player’s Choices

At the outset of the Frostpunk 2 campaign, the player is initially assigned the task of activating New London’s power generator. Upon completion, they are presented with a message stating that a newborn baby, named Lily May, has just been delivered at the very instant the generator was turned on.

In the final moments of Frostpunk 2, as the credits are about to start, the player encounters Lily May once more. The way Lily May appears, her job, appearance, and backstory in this meeting are all influenced by the decisions the player made throughout the game. These portrayals can vary widely, from optimistic (Lily May has lost her mother but maintains aspirations) to grim (Lily May harbors a desire to punish the Steward for their actions), and they might leave the player feeling emotionally drained one last time.

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2024-09-28 15:33