Hundreds of weary feet crunch under sheets of ice. A trail of billowing condensation rises through the arctic air, wafting above the line of chilled bodies trudging forward through the snow. Hunger and cold nips at heels of the Frostbreakers, slowing the pace; the warmth of the Furnace was long since gone. The sooner they breakthrough the ice, the sooner they can go home, back to the warmth and safety of that oil-fueled glow. It also meant the sooner they could have more food to fill gaunt stomachs- with the land clear, they could begin preparing the soil for crops. The thought alone was enough to hasten the pace of the brigade- but would it be enough?

The heart of your city: The Generator. It's what keeps your city ALIVE against the Endless Winter.

Frostpunk 2 is the sequel to 11 bit studios overwhelmingly popular Frostpunk- a first of it’s kind society survival game. Taking place 30 years after the initial game, in Frostpunk 2 not only do you have to survive the eternal winter, but worry about your society and factions within your city walls and the potential treachery within the City Council. Pushing the boundaries of what a survival/city- builder title should be, one would expect 11bit studios to pull out all the stop to bring an equally impressive title to the table. While the Council may be a little split in that regard, so let’s take a look for ourselves.
To note, as of the writing of this article, I have not played the original Frostpunk. That being said, within the community, it seems to be a fairly divisive topic of which game is better. So while I may make reference to what seems to be an overlying majority opinion, I can only comment from my own personal experience delving into the vast and icy world of Frostpunk 2. That being said, when it comes to initial immersion, I found that to a new player, you may find the tutorial VERY lacking. While veterans of city-builders and similar genres may hop in with ease, newcomers may find the amount of information both overwhelming and at the same time far too vague to be of any real use. After poking around, I did find that the developer did make a “Beginners Guide” by way of Youtube video, which I found mildly baffling. How this information could not be relayed within the opening chapter (which is VERY clearly a tutorial)was confusing. Players shouldn’t need to remove themselves from game play to fully grasp the mechanics of the game itself. However, after sitting through a 21 minute video, I was finally able to slip back into the game to see if this really gave me the wealth of information I really needed.

The visually beautiful hustle and bustle of New London. 

Realistically, the answer would be a resounding yes, which only further deepened my frustrations. While sitting and watching a video wasn't the most ideal of ways to learn some of the more core mechanics, I found it was actually very vital as I slipped into the prologue, finally able to wet my chops. Out the gate I found that the interface screens for Frostpunk 2 are pleasantly easy to understand- and for how much time you’ll be in them, it’s a good thing. From imposing overtime in certain districts, demanding of your citizens to ‘tighten their belts’ and ration food, or in an act of good faith give back to the people- you will frequently be clicking through menus. The building screen is also straightforward, giving you the options to Frostbreak frozen earth for building, build up districts, and build stores for supplies. Overall, it’s visually clean, which makes it fairly easy to digest the wealth of information you’ll be receiving.

The choices you make will impact what dictates the direction of your city. Choose wisely.

Not only will you need to process the information of your resources (as vital as they are), but just (if no more) importantly, you’ll need to keep tabs on the information when it comes to the wants needs and desires of your own people. What pleases one will ABSOLUTELY not please all factions that call your city home, and maintaining order and balance is paramount. Having a Research Institute allows access to the Idea Tree, where you can task a Faction to research ways to better the city. While at times, ideas may align, other times you may find yourself at odds. In conjunction with this, there is also the Counsel Hall. I did find it strange that in a pre-established city, I needed to build a counsel hall- but once complete, you are open to enact new laws. The initial vote will be if you, the Steward, are to remain in power. Beyond that, much like with idea research, you can please some but not all of your delegates. Though you are given the power of negotiation to sway the vote. Be mindful of the promises you make, however, to avoid unrest.

The power lies with the people. Sometimes, you may need to negotiate. 

While the scope and function of Frostpunk 2 will have fans of city-builders and Colony builders sated, there is a fair amount of other aspects in abundance that make it enjoyable. One of which is how visually compelling it can be, despite the stark white backdrop. Watching the city swirl with heat and bustling workers is a pleasure, and you’re even able to zoom in, allowing a closer look at your handiwork. Visuals aside, one of the most compelling aspects of Frostpunk 2 is by FAR the musical score. Piotr Musiał reprises his role from the original game to also compose for the sequel. Swirling with an amazing mixture of instruments, evoking feelings of despair and struggle with the faintest underlying glimmer of hope. I was IMMEDIATELY blown away by the depth of feeling and emotion the OST evokes, and it is by far one of my favorite points of the game.

You'll frequently hear from your people, and be made to act upon their desires. Some are willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

Overall, Frostpunk 2 can be a views as a bit of a mixed bag. Newcomers who have not played the initial instillation may have an easier time accepting the game for what it is (despite a lack of REAL in-depth tutorial), while veterans seem very torn. Generally speaking, many still view the original title as the far superior game. However, for what it is, Frostpunk 2 covers a very wide scope that will be sure to delight fans across multiple genres, and potentially introduce players to some new aspects as well. While not everyone's cup of tea, the frosty city of New London provides a gorgeous backdrop to this wildly beautiful and complex City-Builder meet Political Sim.

Frostpunk 2 is available on the Steam Marketplace for $44.99 USD