A steampunk-themed game on a frozen world, Frostpunk asks what choices you would be willing to make and how far could you bend morality to stay alive.
Frostpunk combines the best elements of survival, city-building, and 4X games into one of the more captivating strategy games I’ve played in a while. Thanks to stellar presentation and storytelling, it seamlessly combines these different components into one interesting experience that never feels like a burden to play, even when the difficulty of maintaining a colony during an oppressive ice age ratchets up.
Frostpunk sets the stage with a compelling and timely backstory in which climate change devastates humanity in the late 1800s. Those left alive must seek out the few remaining resources as they attempt to carve out the last city on Earth. It’s not a hopeful tale, but one that effectively communicates the challenges that lie ahead and sets the stage for some difficult and desperate decisions.
This story is told through outstanding animations that help set a stark tone. Throughout, Frostpunk’s art style is effectively minimalistic and washed out, making each bit of color seem like a touch of warmth in the snow. The overall aesthetic reminded me of a Victorian Game of Thrones, complete with lots of gears and swirling snow. Likewise, the sound design and voice acting pushes the harshness of the landscape. In fact, the sound of a cold wind is the first thing that greets you when launching a new game.