Frostpunk 2 Review - An Icy Return to Oblivion

mmorpg.com:

Frostpunk made a name for itself in 2018 when the designers took a simple icey base builder and gave it higher stakes, aesthetics and intent than other games. It was a short game but brought an immense amount of depth. Frostpunk 2 aims to expand and get players back to that concept through a system that presents players with more significant stakes and risks than ever before.

But is it as noteworthy as the first game?

For those who didn’t play the original game, Frostpunk centers on the concept that the world has ended in an icey doomed blizzard in the early 20th century, forcing people to abandon their ways and seek safety. You, New London's leader, must help its residents survive a lack of food, heat and hope. The first game placed you as “Captain”, the leader who was forced to make hard decisions to keep this community alive in the first few months and years of the icey oblivion consuming the Earth. The second game is in the wake of the Captain’s reign, where you (the “Steward”) now oversee New London and must guide it toward finding a future where it can withstand the dangerous weather that has consumed the entirety of the world.

The game relies on mechanics similar to those of the original game. The steward must manage food, fuel, housing, and building components to match the community's needs. These are managed by “districts,” and each district performs a different purpose. For example, the food district produces food. There are also the new factors of “Crime” and “refuse,” aka trash. 

However, you won’t have complete freedom to do what you want. You must manage the people and their views of you and your community, or you risk being voted out. 

Higher Stakes, More To Consider

One of the most notable changes is the addition of the “Council” and the various factions representing varying views of the city. When you return to New London, you’ll find that the city is divided into several new factions. The New Londoners, the Frostlanders, the “Evolvers,” and a