Written by Matt Escalante, Staff Writer and Copy Editor
A sheet of white stretches as far as the eye can see, as small grey figures march silently and the wind rips at your face. Your boots break through the top of the snow, before burying themselves with a distinct crunch.
Lanterns hang from the refugee’s backpack in front of you, swinging back and forth in a hypnotizing fashion. A child lays silent on a sled pulled by an exhausted parent. You wonder if the cold has gotten to them.
Another man beside you falls, nobody looks. They already know what has become of him, and the many before him. Just when you think all is lost, the person in front of you stops. You push past them to find your vision filled with a brilliant light, it is the most beautiful sight you have ever seen. Lights, smoke and steam fill the winter air. This is New London, The Last City on Earth.
“Frostpunk” is a colony builder survival game developed by 11bit studios. Released on April 24, 2018, Frostpunk has received its final update: “On The Edge” in the summer of 2020. Players are responsible for the management and well-being of the last city on Earth, while dropping global temperatures threaten your people and your right to rule.
So, what makes Frostpunk a good game?
11bit studios is a small, independent, game development company, stationed in Warsaw, Poland. The group has grown itself from a nearly invisible company to a game developer company that has created some of the best storytelling set into modern games. Their first “storytelling” game was “This War of Mine” which was a major success for the small company. Then came Frostpunk, another storytelling game that surpasses its predecessor.
Unlike other city builder games, you have a defined goal. The city must survive. And there are plenty of problems and complications to prevent the success of your city. Citizens can rise up and revolt, get sick and die, make personal requests, along with many more interactions. It gives the game a more personal feeling, like every single choice you make for your city could single handedly save it or destroy all of your hard work. Something as small as giving a sick person more food could change more than you think. Laws are signed for the survival of the city, may it be for the greater good or for the mere entertainment of your people.
The graphics and sound are quite good for such a small company. Small details, such as ice melting from your screen to watching your citizens march to their workplaces, help set the atmosphere. The buildings are all unique and charming, focusing on a steampunk-like theme. The soundtrack is both beautiful and scary, showing tension and relief into every event.
Though not everything about the game is perfect, you can see the following how you want to. First of all the game is on the expensive side at around $30 without tax, so I would highly recommend waiting for a sale. There is additional downloadable content for the game, though each one is its own independent purchase, adding to its already high price. The game is quite difficult, even on normal settings. That being said, it may discourage some people from getting far into the game. The game takes a lot of risks that make it very different from other titles, but many people, along with myself, have enjoyed the game with 90% of people satisfied with it.
Frostpunk is a game that I honestly enjoyed, but nearly nobody knows about it. So in honor of this game’s final update, I hope you check it out. Stay warm my friends.
Frostpunk’s Main Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLF6VFME2jc
Frostpunk’s final update trailer “On The Edge”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmUFbamiFx4
Frostpunk’s Official Website
https://www.frostpunkgame.com/