Frostpunk 2

About

Frostpunk 2 is a single player survival city builder game. It was developed by 11 bit studios and was released on June 11, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Owners of this edition of Frostpunk 2 will receive 2 DLCs for the game directly after their releases. Fractured Utopias The first DLC for Frostpunk 2 embraces the core concept of Utopia Builder mode, giving it more structure, expanding its scope, and emphasizing the weight of the player's choices. New mechanics give each faction a bold ideological goal - and ways to pursue it. But a dream of a pe…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,039 reviews

gameplay303 positive mentions

optimization90 negative mentions

Frostpunk 2 expands on the original game's mechanics, introducing a more complex political system and larger scale city management.
The game features beautiful graphics and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
The addition of factions and the ability to manage multiple cities adds depth and replayability to the gameplay.

The game lacks the personal connection to individual citizens that made the first game so compelling, reducing them to mere numbers.
The user interface is often confusing and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate and manage resources effectively.
The campaign is relatively short and can feel repetitive, with limited scenarios and outcomes compared to the first game.

gameplay
1,419 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
5%
The gameplay of *Frostpunk 2* has sparked mixed reactions among players, primarily due to its significant departure from the mechanics of the original game. While some appreciate the expanded political systems and the introduction of district-based city building, many feel that the gameplay has become overly simplified and lacks the depth and emotional engagement of its predecessor. The new mechanics, such as frostbreaking and faction management, have been described as tedious or confusing, leading to a sense of detachment from the game's narrative and characters. Overall, while *Frostpunk 2* offers a fresh take on the series, it may not satisfy fans of the original's more intimate and complex gameplay.
- “The gameplay introduces new layers of complexity, allowing players to explore more intricate social dynamics and resource management challenges.”
- “Frostpunk 2 is a great game set in the frostpunk universe, and while it is a literal narrative sequel to the original frostpunk, it is not a sequel in the gameplay sense.”
- “The gameplay feels fresh, everything feels fresh.”
- “They removed interesting and well-working gameplay elements and added rather boring or annoying mechanics that do not really enrich the gameplay experience.”
- “The gameplay just does not flow the way I expected it to.”
- “Frostpunk 2 ultimately dumbs down the core gameplay while pretending it's deep - especially around the council mechanic.”
story
1,182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The story in Frostpunk 2 continues the narrative from the first game, expanding on its themes of survival and societal management while introducing new political dynamics and factions. However, many players feel the story is shorter and less impactful than its predecessor, with pacing issues and a lack of emotional depth, leading to a more scripted and less immersive experience. Despite these criticisms, the game offers replayability through branching paths and different faction interactions, and the overall presentation and mechanics have received praise for their improvement.
- “The story continues on from the previous game and is a believable future where 'New London' continued to grow and prosper; you no longer manage your generator but more your population.”
- “The story is a classic 'bigger-and-better' continuation of the first, and largely lives up to that goal.”
- “The story builds off the events of the first game and its DLCs, providing an interesting and connected in-universe lore.”
- “The story feels very scripted, and even the 'major' decisions don't seem to have that much effect on the game.”
- “The story is short and feels like something hastily pieced together.”
- “The story has major pacing issues, going from a slow start getting the city back up-and-running to a rushed conclusion that feels unsatisfying.”
graphics
462 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The graphics in Frostpunk 2 have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals and atmospheric design, effectively capturing the bleak beauty of the game's icy world. However, many players have reported significant optimization issues, leading to performance drops and lag, particularly in late-game scenarios. While the art style remains faithful to the original, some fans feel that the lack of detail in city interactions and the inability to zoom in on individual citizens detracts from the immersive experience that characterized the first game.
- “The graphics have been enhanced, offering breathtaking views of a frozen world that’s both harsh and hauntingly beautiful.”
- “The graphics are stunning, with every detail meticulously crafted to immerse you in its chilling world.”
- “The visuals and atmosphere are ridiculously good, and the expansion in what you can build, see, do, is like Frostpunk 1 on steroids.”
- “The only minus for me is terrible optimization - not even stable 40 fps (even have drops to 6-10 fps...) on recommended graphics with optimized settings for balance.”
- “Game crashes too much; don't know why these games are not optimal when they come out. I'm tired of messing with the settings to try to make the game work, only for a time. I have a 4070 graphics card, and it seems like it's not enough to run these games anymore.”
- “Somehow graphics feel worse than in the first game.”
optimization
396 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
65%
23%
The optimization of Frostpunk 2 has received significant criticism, particularly regarding performance issues that worsen in the late game, leading to stuttering, lag, and long save times even on high-end hardware. Many players report that the game struggles to maintain stable frame rates, especially as cities grow larger, and while some patches have been released to address these concerns, a consensus remains that further optimization is necessary for a smoother experience. Overall, the game's performance is seen as a major drawback, detracting from its otherwise engaging gameplay and narrative.
- “The core gameplay of engine/economy optimization and resource management are still there.”
- “Also, very appreciative of the fact that the team has been improving performance rapidly and fixing issues constantly, making an already good game even better.”
- “With a few more content updates, optimization pass through, and bug-fixes I expect Frostpunk 2 to land as a very successful sequel to a beloved first entry from a small indie studio.”
- “The performance issues and bugs (some are game breaking) really take the enjoyment out of the game.”
- “The game unfortunately seems poorly optimized, especially in later stages of the game where you have a big area to command.”
- “The only negative thing I can say about the game really, is how poor the performance is when the city grows quite large, there are moments where the game just completely freezes, pun intended and a lot of stuttering occurs.”
music
356 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The music in Frostpunk 2 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and atmospheric qualities, often highlighting its ability to enhance the game's emotional depth and tension. While some fans feel it captures the essence of the original game's soundtrack, others believe it lacks the same impact and memorability, describing it as less urgent and more generic. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a strong component of the game, though it may not fully match the iconic status of its predecessor.
- “The music is beautiful and the visuals, especially people and how it's stylized in pop ups, are gorgeous.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful and powerful.”
- “The music, like the first game, was great.”
- “It saddens me that a game that I even bought the vinyl for the soundtrack fell this hard for me and I did not feel like the DLCs I purchased that will be coming are something that I'm waiting for.”
- “Compare to the first production, you can't see the people walking to work dreading the next day anymore and the music lacks urgency. In the first game, you felt like a leader leading your people to survive, but in the second season it doesn't make me feel anything.”
- “The music has moved much further into the background than in the first part and therefore loses a lot of its effect.”
atmosphere
189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The atmosphere in Frostpunk 2 is a point of contention among players, with many noting that while it retains some elements of the original's bleak and immersive environment, it lacks the same intensity and personal connection to the characters. The game features stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack that effectively convey the cold, desolate world, but some players feel that the larger scale and changes in gameplay dilute the emotional weight and moral dilemmas that defined the first game. Overall, while Frostpunk 2 offers a captivating atmosphere, it is perceived as less impactful and intimate compared to its predecessor.
- “With its bone-chilling atmosphere, dramatic music, and intricate city-building puzzles, Frostpunk 2 keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The atmosphere remains gripping, with an expanded narrative scope that pulls you into the desperate struggle of humanity in a frozen wasteland.”
- “Combined with an excellent soundtrack and well-chosen audio effects, it creates a chilling yet captivating atmosphere that makes the harsh, frozen world both fascinating and terrifying.”
- “Thus much of the atmosphere and motivation that got me playing for hours and hours in the first part is gone.”
- “The atmosphere which made Frostpunk so special is gone.”
- “This is not Frostpunk 1, the atmosphere and the care I have for the citizens just isn't there anymore.”
replayability
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
Overall, the replayability of the game is a mixed bag among reviewers. While many appreciate the new mechanics, different factions, and the Utopia Builder mode that enhance replay value, others feel that the game can become repetitive after the initial playthrough, with limited engaging content in the campaign. The potential for future DLC and modding is seen as a way to increase replayability, but some players express disappointment compared to the original game.
- “There is a lot of replayability value here compared to the first game, especially with different kinds of difficulties and maps with many other factions I still haven't gotten to play with.”
- “The combination of laws, technologies, and the delegate voting system allows for a more dynamic and replayable experience.”
- “Frostpunk 2 largely maintains the same heart and tone of the first game while adding on top a layer of nuanced decision making and complexity that sets up tons of replayability (of the story mode and endless mode).”
- “I want to love the game, but after 20 hours, I just don't see any replayability to pull me back in.”
- “The different factions offer an illusion of replayability, but the outcomes are always the same.”
- “The replayability is lacking, as there’s minimal engaging loop or progression after the initial playthrough.”
stability
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The stability of the game has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches, particularly as city sizes increase. While some players have noted improvements following patches, issues with the user interface and performance during autosaves remain prevalent. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" but enjoyable, with hopes for future optimizations to enhance stability.
- “However, there's new depth and challenge to this sequel, new ways to run the city, opportunities to create colonies (you can actually build on them like the main city), and an impressively smooth and bug-free experience in my playthrough so far.”
- “I give it high marks for creative design, medium marks for actual implementation, and high marks for a relatively bug-free launch.”
- “From my perspective, FP2 is well done, no glitches, no bugs, and I have enjoyed it thus far and looking forward to hundreds of hours figuring out all the gimmicks of this game.”
- “My only real complaint is that this game's UI is exceptionally buggy in its current state.”
- “Good game just like Frostpunk 1... except the constant crashes and freezes.”
- “Unfortunately, this game has been released with so many crashes, audio glitches, and freezes that the game is unplayable on Mac.”
emotional
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, reviews indicate that "Frostpunk 2" lacks the emotional depth and personal connection that defined its predecessor. While it offers challenging moral choices and an immersive atmosphere, many players feel detached from the individual stories of citizens, resulting in decisions that feel more mechanical than impactful. The game expands on gameplay mechanics but sacrifices the intimate emotional experiences that made the first game resonate deeply with players.
- “I felt the anxiety and the rage and the fear of what the population was going through; as always, 11 bit are able to create strong emotional backstories.”
- “Frostpunk 2 successfully expands on the dark, atmospheric survival strategy of the original, offering deeper city management mechanics, stunning visuals, and emotionally impactful moral choices.”
- “The emotional depth of this choice, followed by the harrowing option to harvest her organs after her passing, was both thought-provoking and haunting—a definite 10 out of 10 for storytelling.”
grinding
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
8%
90%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of Frostpunk 2 to be excessively tedious, with many mechanics feeling repetitive and cumbersome. The need for constant resource management, exploration, and navigating the laws system contributes to a sense of monotony, making the game less enjoyable during extended play sessions. While some appreciate the expanded scope and new mechanics, the general consensus is that the game often prioritizes busywork over engaging gameplay.
- “The council mechanic isn't as tedious as some describe, and giving out promises is a skill that you can hone to help elevate the city in the direction you want while placating the different factions.”
- “A frantic, unrelenting, tedious grind.”
- “The laws system, which was interesting in the first game, has become tedious and repetitive here.”
- “As time goes on, it feels like you have to slog through appeasing the warring factions in your city just to do anything, which becomes tedious and irritating.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Frostpunk 2 is often described as dark and situational, with players finding amusement in the game's grim themes, such as executing thousands without emotional attachment and the absurdity of political mechanics. While some players appreciate the small humorous elements and bugs, others note that the overall tone leans more towards bleakness than traditional comedy, creating a unique juxtaposition that elicits laughter in unexpected ways. Overall, the humor is subtle and intertwined with the game's serious narrative, leading to a mix of reactions among players.
- “I think I can sum up most of Frostpunk 2 by the fact that (according to the end statistics) I executed around 5,000 in public and never noticed... which is kind of funny, it has to be said.”
- “The fact that the reward for becoming captain is that you get to turn off the political system is kind of funny.”
- “I find it rather funny that a game about how communities can be divided by a splitting vision for the future and an increasing radicalization has caused a division in the community by a splitting vision for the future and an increasing radicalization.”
monetization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" that fails to capture the essence of its predecessor. Despite some claims of accurate advertising, the overall sentiment suggests that the game feels like a quick, profit-driven release rather than a genuine sequel, leading to disappointment among fans and calls for refunds. Players express that the game's pricing does not reflect its quality, with many feeling it should be significantly cheaper.
- “Any attempt to make a sequel similar to the gameplay of the first game would have likely fallen short, labeled a cheap cash grab and promptly abandoned.”
- “I personally loved Frostpunk 1 but think this one is a cash grab.”
- “This feels like a corporate cash grab.”