Frostrain

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 966 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • replayability
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Roam the frozen world Climate change has turned the world white and frozen, and the only thing moving on the planet is you, your passengers, and your train. It's a dead world, but ironically, it's all the more fascinating for it. A vivid landscape awaits you to explore.Keep your passengers happy The passengers on your train will work diligently at your command, but be careful: if you don't manage …

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 966 reviews
gameplay43 positive mentions
  • Unique premise combining elements of roguelike and deck-building mechanics, reminiscent of Snowpiercer.
  • Engaging gameplay with a variety of strategies and synergies to explore, making each run feel fresh.
  • Completely free to play, offering a solid experience without any microtransactions.
  • Steep difficulty curve, especially in the later stages, leading to frustration for some players.
  • Limited replayability due to a static map and lack of diverse events or scenarios.
  • Tutorial lacks depth, leaving players confused about certain mechanics and synergies.
  • gameplay151 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as fun and engaging, featuring a mix of auto-chess mechanics and card drafting that encourages strategic thinking and experimentation. While many players appreciate the straightforward and intuitive gameplay loop, some express frustration over the lack of clarity in mechanics and tutorials, leading to a steep learning curve. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation with potential for depth, though it may feel repetitive and simplistic after extended play.

    • “A very fun gameplay loop that keeps you engaged, accompanied with a nice soundtrack that you don't mind repeating.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is fun and feels new and fresh compared to many Slay the Spire-esque games we have now.”
    • “Gameplay is smooth and easy to pick up while also still having enough complexity to be interesting.”
    • “When I first started, I really didn't quite get the gameplay - didn't feel like there was much to it.”
    • “Interesting premise and environments, but the gameplay is very flawed.”
    • “The mechanics are barely explained, there's a lot of randomness and a lot of waiting, at least during the short time I played it.”
  • graphics49 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming art style and aesthetic appeal, with many users noting the visuals as a highlight of the experience. However, there are criticisms regarding the inconsistency in art style, the use of AI-generated visuals, and optimization issues that affect performance on lower-end hardware. Overall, while the graphics are considered stylish and enjoyable, there are calls for better optimization and more diverse visual elements.

    • “Stunning graphics for such a simplistic game, also surprisingly challenging.”
    • “Very polished graphics, different environmental effects, card mechanics and good sound design.”
    • “The art style is charming, the UI is fantastic and user-friendly, and the sounds fit really well.”
    • “The graphics appear to be a direct copy of Tiny Rails, a mobile game available on the Play Store, but with a better color palette and map.”
    • “It's a thing a lot of modern indie games fall into, actually, and it's not really the fault of AI, but the game's art style is inconsistent from the face in the corner, through the train to the background, and the AI-generated landscape. Every piece of this game appears like it was made by a person with a different vision for the style of the look.”
    • “Decent game but it needs optimization, or at least some graphics settings. How is this thing maxing out a GPU that runs Cyberpunk on medium 60 fps?”
  • replayability35 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the fun mechanics and the ability to experiment with different conductors and strategies, many note that the lack of randomized maps and limited content restricts long-term replay value. Although it offers enjoyable short sessions and potential for expansion, the current scope feels shallow, leading to a consensus that additional content or features would significantly enhance replayability. Overall, it is seen as a decent free game with some replay value, but it could benefit from more variety and depth.

    • “Gameplay is a 9/10, slow starting (almost too slow) but snowballs into an intense game with high replayability... and free?”
    • “Lots of replayability for such a simple game and surely so much scope to expand this or create DLCs (more conductors/new maps/new card sets?).”
    • “An addicting, frost apocalypse themed deck builder roguelite that doesn't take much time per run and has solid replayability value.”
    • “The map is the same every time, so the only real replay value comes from the three different conductors (who each have slightly different abilities) and the achievements, but it's a free game, so even if you only play it for five hours, you really can't complain about the price.”
    • “Wish it had more replay value after finishing all achievements.”
    • “Seems to have a single meta build to win, not much variety of strategies that are effective...99 different strategies will all fail while one always works, not leaving much replay value.”
  • music25 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric and chill qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. While some find the soundtrack repetitive, others enjoy its relaxing nature and believe it complements the game's visuals and mechanics well. Overall, the music is generally described as pleasant and fitting, though there are suggestions for more dynamic or varied compositions in the future.

    • “A very fun gameplay loop that keeps you engaged, accompanied with a nice soundtrack that you don't mind repeating.”
    • “Love the atmospheric music and sounds, and the chance aspect of trying to build successful card combos as you try to build happiness before you get too far to fix it.”
    • “Lovely design and chill ambient music helps your brain focus and fully enjoy.”
    • “The soundtrack is annoying and repetitive.”
    • “I have to play with my own music.”
    • “Although some better music could have been included in the game, there is basically nothing wrong with it.”
  • story23 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its apocalyptic setting and potential for deeper storytelling, reminiscent of "Snowpiercer." However, many criticize the narrative for being underdeveloped, relying on familiar tropes, and lacking coherence, particularly regarding the mechanics and lore. Overall, while the concept is compelling, players feel it needs more depth and clarity to fully engage with the story.

    • “Not only allowing you to immerse yourself into the story of the train, the conductor, and the passengers themselves, but the story of the setting as a whole, revealing the mystery of what the world used to be like before it froze over.”
    • “Which I really love as a story and apocalyptic scenario concept that presents many opportunities in terms of storytelling.”
    • “I know I have written a bunch here, but I really love this game for how it is related to 'Snowpiercer' and its story concept, and I am glad a game like this is becoming a reality.”
    • “The lore doesn't make any sense whatsoever (why would drones deliver train cars when you visit a settlement? why would there be a maintained train track after an apocalypse?), and the story is just a basic 'desperate people migrating to the promised land' trope.”
    • “People are right to compare this to Snowpiercer; either the devs just coincidentally copied 90% of the base plot by accident, or they have seen Snowpiercer.”
    • “There's no simulation in this game, many lacks, and it's a waste of the story that makes me confused about how people praised this game.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its atmospheric music, chill soundtrack, and engaging visuals that evoke a sense of riding a train through snowy landscapes. Players appreciate the combination of strategic card gameplay with a well-crafted ambiance, though some feel it lacks immersive depth. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the experience of building and strategizing within the game world.

    • “Love the atmospheric music and sounds, and the chance aspect of trying to build successful card combos as you try to build happiness before you get too far to fix it.”
    • “Great game, interesting mechanics, and the atmosphere is impeccable!”
    • “There is a certain atmosphere here of riding a train across endless snowy landscapes.”
    • “As an avid fan of Frostpunk-inspired games, I've noticed that many titles in this genre tend to emulate only the mood and atmosphere.”
    • “Nevertheless, the atmosphere is neat and at least half the faction effects seem potentially okay.”
    • “Which is worth it alone for the atmosphere and the very well-made event graphics.”
  • optimization9 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware, resulting in low frame rates despite the game's relatively simple graphics. While there are elements of map optimization and ongoing developer efforts to address these issues, many users feel that the game requires further optimization and adjustable graphics settings to improve performance. Overall, the optimization aspect is seen as a major area needing improvement to enhance the gaming experience.

    • “It's a great game; there have been some issues on any 2GHz graphics cards (basically any crappy laptop), but the game itself is solid and the devs are working on the optimization issues.”
    • “Decent game, but it needs optimization, or at least some graphics settings. How is this thing maxing out a GPU that runs Cyberpunk on medium 60 FPS?”
    • “My PC is pretty good in terms of performance, and if it can stutter, then I can say the game might need some more optimization for the graphics.”
    • “Unfortunately, this is just a shallow autobattler that doesn't explain any of its game mechanics to you, is RNG-heavy, has AI-generated visuals, and has horrible optimization (avg 20fps on a PC with specs similar to the ones they presented as 'minimum', which is still unacceptable because games with this kind of graphics should be able to work on Intel HD 3000).”
    • “Decent game but it needs optimization, or at least some graphics settings. How is this thing maxing out a GPU that runs Cyberpunk on medium 60 fps?”
    • “It's a great game, but there have been some issues on any 2GHz graphics cards (basically any crappy laptop). The game itself is solid, and the devs are working on the optimization issues.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most users reporting it as "pretty bug free" and enjoyable despite some minor issues, such as graphical glitches and minor functionality problems. While there are some bugs present, they do not significantly detract from the gameplay experience, indicating that the game is stable and playable.

    • “It's pretty bug-free.”
    • “Overall, it's pretty fun, runs great, and has a nice art style.”
    • “The game is pretty buggy; the bugs are minor, such as snow in a snowless tunnel and the inability to click task icons.”
    • “You can enjoy the game for what it is; it's lacking because it was made in a short period of time, but it's not like it's buggy or unplayable.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for its clever and amusing strategies, particularly in the late game where players find the challenges of upgrading supplies and managing happiness to be both difficult and entertaining. Overall, the comedic elements contribute to a lighthearted experience amidst the strategic gameplay.

    • “Academy is pretty funny.”
    • “There is a funny strategy.”
    • “I find it impossible to reach 6; it's very late game with the executive branch, but upgrading the other 5 is kind of hilarious since it's hard to get a 2nd supply of happiness. Get 3 early game if you can.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its monetization model, being completely free of charge with no ads or microtransactions, and avoiding pay-to-win mechanics. Players appreciate the focus on gameplay and atmosphere without the distraction of monetization tactics.

    • “There are numerous different combinations you can run with the card deck, and I appreciate that there are no ads or microtransactions.”
    • “The game offers a simple but nice atmosphere with a chill soundtrack and ambience, making it enjoyable without the pressure of monetization.”
    • “I love that the game has different backgrounds, some lore, and requires some thinking, all while maintaining a fair monetization model.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling trapped by earlier decisions that hinder progress. However, the inclusion of a fast forward feature for subsequent runs is appreciated, as it alleviates some of the time-consuming nature of repeated attempts on a static map.

    • “It also gives you fast forward speed when you finish a successful run, so subsequent runs aren't tediously time-consuming, which I appreciated, as the map is set and doesn't change between runs.”
    • “Kinda tedious and often feels like watching a sinking boat, like a decision you made 5 towns ago has made it impossible to win through seemingly no fault of your own.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users suggest that while frostrain aims for an atmospheric experience, enhancing the emotional impact through dynamic music that responds to train setups and environments could significantly improve its emotional depth.

    • “Frostrain feels like it is trying to be very atmospheric, and maybe mixing in music that is more emotional or changes more dynamically with things like train setups or the environment could be a good long-term goal.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

6hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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