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Frostrain

91%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, stability
91% User Score Based on 1,932 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
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About

"Frostrain" is a single-player strategy game set in a visually stunning, frozen post-climate change world. As the conductor of a train filled with passengers, you must keep them happy, build your train with card decks, and navigate through toxic environments in search of the Promised Land. With phenomenal game mechanics, a good soundtrack, and spectacular replayability, Frostrain offers a great atmosphere and an engaging, unique experience.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Frostrain screenshot
Frostrain screenshot
Frostrain screenshot
Frostrain screenshot
Frostrain screenshot
Frostrain screenshot
Frostrain screenshot
Frostrain screenshot

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,932 reviews
gameplay86 positive mentions
story6 negative mentions
  • Unique premise combining elements of roguelike and deck-building genres, reminiscent of Snowpiercer.
  • Engaging gameplay loop that encourages experimentation with different train car combinations and strategies.
  • Completely free to play, providing a fun experience without any microtransactions.
  • Lacks depth and replayability due to a static map and limited content, making it feel repetitive after a few runs.
  • Tutorial is insufficient, leaving players confused about mechanics like Zeal and Training.
  • Difficulty spikes towards the end can feel unfair, with happiness penalties increasing rapidly and leading to frustrating losses.
  • gameplay
    302 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by a blend of auto-chess mechanics and deck-building elements, offering a fun yet challenging experience that keeps players engaged. While the core loop is enjoyable and intuitive once understood, many players find the lack of clear explanations for various mechanics and the reliance on RNG frustrating. Overall, the game presents a solid foundation with potential for depth, but it currently suffers from repetitiveness and insufficient tutorial guidance.

    • “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 from the 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.”
    • “Some of the art is good but the vast majority reeks of undercooked AI garbage, the gameplay loop is mind-numbing, and the premise is Snowpiercer + Frostpunk but was apparently made by people who understood neither.”
    • “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 a horrible optimization (avg 20fps on a PC with specs similar to the ones they presented as 'minimum').”
    • “The tutorial was too short and not informative about these details which made it a frustrating first few tries to understand the mechanics.”
  • graphics
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their stunning visuals and charming art style, despite some inconsistencies and the use of AI-generated elements. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and atmosphere, there are concerns about optimization issues and a lack of graphic settings, which can hinder performance on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the gaming experience, though some players wish for more variety and clarity in design.

    • “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, though 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.”
    • “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 a 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).”
  • replayability
    70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it offers some fun and engaging mechanics, it is limited by a lack of randomized maps and a single meta strategy. Some users appreciate the different conductors and achievements as sources of variety, but many express a desire for more content and features, such as procedurally generated maps, to enhance replay value. Overall, it is seen as a decent experience for a free game, but with potential for greater longevity if expanded upon.

    • “Gameplay is a 9/10, slow starting (almost too slow) but snowballs into an intense game with high replayability... and free?”
    • “An addicting, frost apocalypse themed deck builder roguelite that doesn't take much time per run and has solid replayability value.”
    • “Very well-made small game, highly replayable.”
    • “The map is the same every time, so the only real replay value comes from the 3 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 5 hours you really can't complain about the price.”
    • “Seems to have a single meta build to win, not much variety of strategies that are effective...99 different strategies will all fail while 1 always works, not leaving much replay value.”
    • “Too shallow, not much content, not much replayability, and almost no tooltips or meaningful explanation of the systems.”
  • music
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and chill, enhancing the gameplay experience without being overly repetitive or annoying. While some players find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting, others suggest it could benefit from more variety or emotional depth. Overall, the music is considered a positive aspect, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere.

    • “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.”
    • “Although some better music could have been included in the game, there is basically nothing wrong with it.”
    • “However, 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.”
  • story
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its apocalyptic setting and potential for deeper storytelling, while others criticize it for lacking coherence and originality, drawing heavy comparisons to "Snowpiercer." Many feel that the narrative is underdeveloped and could benefit from more dynamic elements and clearer lore, though the gameplay itself remains engaging. Overall, while the story offers intriguing concepts, it is seen as needing significant improvement to fully realize its potential.

    • “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.”
    • “It's like you're making your very own Snowpiercer story.”
    • “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.”
    • “Surprising it's a free game, yes it lacks a little content (story-wise) and it could do with more balancing between the factions.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its atmospheric music, chill soundtrack, and engaging visuals that evoke the feeling of riding a train through snowy landscapes. Players appreciate the combination of strategic card gameplay with a rich lore and various environmental backgrounds, creating a pleasing and immersive experience, although some feel it lacks deeper immersion. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the enjoyment of its mechanics and themes.

    • “Great game, interesting mechanics and the atmosphere is impeccable!”
    • “There is a certain atmosphere here of riding a train across endless snowy landscapes.”
    • “A spiffy atmospheric free game that's fun about collecting rail cars in the form of cards, each with different abilities as well as type & factions combos/synergies that can be created while racing to stay ahead of an oncoming cold storm.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, averaging around 20fps even on systems that meet or exceed the minimum requirements. While the developers are actively working on optimization issues, the game's graphics and mechanics do not seem to justify the performance demands, leading to frustration among users. Overall, while there are some elements of map optimization, the game's performance issues overshadow its potential.

    • “It's a great game; there have been some issues on any 2GHz graphics cards (basically any low-end 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 a horrible optimization (average 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?”
    • “However, you will also not get far in it as the incoming time-based happiness penalties will eventually outweigh your attempts at optimization.”
  • stability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most users reporting it as "pretty bug free" and enjoyable to play. Minor bugs exist, such as graphical inconsistencies and interface issues, but they do not significantly detract from the experience, indicating that the game is stable and playable despite its rushed development.

    • “It's pretty bug free.”
    • “Overall, it's pretty fun, runs great, and has a nice art style.”
    • “It's pretty bug free.”
    • “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.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the humor in the game to be quite enjoyable, particularly noting the amusing strategies related to resource management and upgrades. The challenges of reaching higher levels of supply and the comedic elements of late-game mechanics contribute to a lighthearted experience. Overall, the humor adds a fun layer to the gameplay.

    • “Academy is pretty funny.”
    • “There is a funny strat.”
    • “Supply - 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 as it's hard to get a 2nd supply of happiness. Get 3 early game if you can.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its monetization model, being completely free of charge and devoid of ads or microtransactions, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the absence of pay-to-win elements, allowing for a more enjoyable and fair gameplay environment.

    • “Numerous different combinations you can run with the card deck, no ads, no microtransactions, simple but nice atmosphere, chill soundtrack and ambience, different backgrounds, has some lore, and requires some thinking.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often feeling like past decisions can lead to unwinnable situations. 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.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers note that while frostrain aims for an atmospheric experience, it could enhance its emotional impact by incorporating more dynamic and emotionally resonant music that aligns with the game's environments and train setups.

    • “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.”

Buy Frostrain

6h Median play time
7h Average play time
5-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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