The original Frostpunk was an innovative game that combined survival with city-building mechanics and became one of the most appreciated strategy games. It’s hard to imagine a better structure, yet Frostpunk 2 builds on the foundation of its predecessor and enhances it with new mechanics and a larger scope. Typically, strategy games don’t offer much in terms of story content, but Frostpunk 2 enriches the city-builder formula with a fascinating narrative that can attract even those who are not familiar with this genre.

Welcome to New London

Set 30 years after the first game, Frostpunk 2 takes place in New London, after the former leader saved it from the brink of extinction. Society has gone through difficult challenges but has ultimately found a way to survive in this apocalyptic environment. Now, the city is ready for expansion and the player becomes its new leader, known as The Steward.

Unlike the first game, which was entirely focused on a small settlement, Frostpunk 2 allows players to build and manage entire cities made up of districts. The game offers two modes: campaign and sandbox (called Utopia Builder). The campaign is divided into multiple chapters and serves as a gradual tutorial that introduces players to the captivating narrative. Replayability is very high thanks to the sandbox mode, which also offers many options for customization. This mode is definitely meant to be played after beating the main campaign and becoming more familiar with the game mechanics.

The Council Hall of Frostpunk 2

As the number of citizens has increased, they have now formed different factions, each with their own ideals and interests. The game introduces a deep political system, and each time players want to pass a new law, they must seek the approval of these factions. If a law is not approved, players must be persuasive and negotiate with the opposing factions, offering promises that can change their vote.

However, if these promises are not kept, the relationship with these factions will gradually deteriorate and they may eventually revolt. I tried to befriend every faction and maintain a healthy balance, but despite my efforts, there was always some angry faction ready to revolt.

The relationship with each faction is complex and keeps players on edge, forcing them to make difficult choices. The game constantly introduces new events and moral dilemmas for the Steward, with the population reacting to the each choice. For example, accepting outsiders into the city may boost the workforce but it can also lower the general sense of security and increase the number of mouths to feed.

Frospunk 2 is Perfect for Twitch

Frostpunk 2 is one of the best strategy games for streamers. It features Twitch integration, allowing streamers and viewers to experience the game together in a more interactive way. Viewers can help streamers make tough decisions through a poll system. Streamers can select volunteers to join the Viewer Council, who can then vote on which new laws should be passed. This integration significantly boosts viewer interactivity and makes the stream much more engaging.

Chaotic and Beautiful

Although cold and desolate, the original Frostpunk was visually stunning and immersive. Frostpunk 2 is equally, if not more, beautiful, thanks to the latest Unreal Engine 5 and its impressive weather effects. The view in Frostpunk 2 is more zoomed-out, sacrificing some of the intimacy of the first game where you could watch the activities of every single citizen. Despite this, the overall atmosphere remains immersive and captivating, although it can sometimes be confusing to navigate.

The orchestral music is similar to the previous game, often very dramatic. The sound design is excellent; when you zoom in, you can hear the noise of the bustling streets, which changes depending on the district, and the speakers announcing every time a new law is passed. The PC version I tested runs decently enough, but there are frequent frame drops, likely due to the larger scale of the map and imperfect optimization

Frostpunk 2 is an ambitious survival city-builder and a worthy sequel. The game retains all the core mechanics that made the original great, but improves upon them in many ways. While it still has some technical issues and a steep learning curve, it offers a deeply engaging experience for both fans of the series and newcomers.