This is a staggering achievement that strategy game fans shouldn't miss out on.Actually, I should have sensed that things would get inexorably worse since “Frostpunk” is the latest creation of 11 bit studios, the Warsaw-based video game development company responsible for “ This War of Mine,” a moving game about shepherding a tiny flock of civilians through the depravations of war. There are a ton of great strategy games on Xbox One these days, including Stellaris, afforementioned Surviving Mars, They are Billions, and Age of Wonders, but Frostpunk's dynamism, thoughtful console controls, setting, and narrative elements, for me, give it a special place above all of the others. 11bit Studios is among the best indie outfits out there when it comes to free post-launch content, and Frostpunk's current state is a direct result of those efforts. This also comes with most of the updates the game has seen on PC, including new scenarios, Endless mode with aesthetic building options, as well as deeper difficulty tailoring. It doesn't exactly revolutionize the genre, but the polish, dynamic narrative elements, and bitesize strategic gameplay makes it an addictive beast. If you're not a fan of strategy and simulation games, then you probably won't get anything out of Frostpunk. The music dynamically ramps up as the storms get more intense, creating a sense of urgency as your last food stores run dry.įrostpunk screenshot (Image credit: Windows Central) Soot satisfyingly spreads as you open up different UI elements, and the game's tessellation for its 3D snow effects gives physical weight to the threat faced by your NPCs, who will struggle against the wind as they move between their homes and their jobs. You can always slow down or outright pause the action too while you make logistical changes to your city.Ītmospherically, Frostpunk really nails its setting with immersive visuals, stellar music treatment, and some of the best UI work of the generation. However, the simulation remains just on the cusp of being "too" complex, balancing accessibility with depth in a masterful way. If all your doctors die, there'll be nobody to treat the sick, and then, there'll be nobody to work and tend to your resources. Poor city planning and population management can lead to cascadingly devastating effects on your colony. Oftentimes, you'll scrape through the storm by the skin of your teeth, with many deaths in the storm's wake. These blizzards come with increasingly intense music, and increasingly intense blasts of frigid cold, putting stress on your heating systems and coal supplies. The moment you think things are going well, a devastating blizzard might drop, wiping out your scout teams that are far flung from home. Conversely, you can attempt to inject some warmth and kindness into proceedings, but all those extra rations put a strain on your resources in other ways. This might sow discontent, and even lead to a revolution, putting stress on your resources to build guard posts and hire guards, and maybe even build prisons. You can play as a ruthless, survival-at-all-costs dictator, using your dead as compost, while arresting anyone who dare protest. The scenarios come with their own story beats which also come with various choices and decisions, which can affect the mood of your citizens. Frostpunk is divided between story scenarios and an endless mode, which allows you more freedom to build and explore the frostland wastes on the overworld map.
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