Video Game Review: Frostpunk: Console Edition

Developer: 11 Bit Studios

Publisher: 11 Bit Studios

Genre: City Management, Strategy

PlayStation 4

I used to be a big fan of city builders but I haven’t gotten the opportunity to enjoy too many of them lately. I play the occasional game of Tropico every now and again but that’s it. Frostpunk is city-builder that has piqued my interest due to the exciting premise. Despite this, I never got around to playing the PC release. Fortunately, Frostpunk: Complete Collection is here and the package includes three expansions, making this one of the best opportunities to experience the riveting survival game. It’s still a good time to jump in even without the Complete Collection though, since there is a season pass available if players want to jump in later.

For those who aren’t familiar, Frostpunk is a survival game in which players control a small civilization trying to survive in the brutal, frozen world. It’s an incredibly grim experience, forcing players to not only build strategically, but also make hard moral decisions. Is child labor necessary to keep everything in motion? Players will make a lot of decisions that just don’t feel good, but will be vital for survival.

The game is divided into four campaign scenarios, and each are pretty lengthy at a few hours apiece. Outside of the campaign mode, there is also an endless mode for players who want a more roguelike approach. Frostpunk is absolutely a game of trial and error, and players are expected to fail often. The game doesn’t really utilize helpful tutorials, so players will have to figure everything out on their own. This can be frustrating since tons of chunks of progress can be lost. Depending on the player, this can make or break the experience.

Those who are familiar with city builders will at least feel somewhat comfortable while playing. The building mechanics are a lot like similar games, and don’t always come with a moral decision. Trying to balance the society’s needs like food, water, and power can almost always be done through thoughtful play. A heavy amount of planning is needed as well since the weather is always in play, especially the cold. Balancing the building and moral is a difficult but satisfying experience.

It can’t be stressed enough how difficult Frostpunk is. It’s easily one of the hardest games that I have played in the genre. The high emotional stakes for the characters also make this more difficult to play, especially if players get emotionally invested. While it is difficult and harsh, Frostpunk  never feels unfair. The game has a fair set of rules, and when players learn them they will understand that its rarely bad luck that beats them.

Surprisingly, Frostpunk has some fantastic visuals. Most games in the genre don’t look as great as one might expect, but that certainly isn’t the case here. Fantastic designs and clear graphics makes Frostpunk look good. It also has a great, tense soundtrack to ramp up the stakes.

It’s not for everyone, but Frostpunk: Console Edition is a riveting survival experience that makes the most of its console controls. Fans of the genre or games like This War of Mine will want to check this one out.