Frostpunk 2 review: Strategy sequel is bigger, bolder, and colder

Frostpunk 2 MSRP $45.00 Score Details Pros

An expanded sequel
More approachable
Highly dynamic campaign
Lots of democracy options

Cons

Undercuts its hard choices
UI needs a few tweaks

Conflict. It’s central toFrostpunk 2, the sequel to 11 Bit Studios’ hit city-builder survival game. From disparate factions vying for control to internal turmoil when making crucial decisions, there were moments that kept me enthralled as I attempted to prevent my city from falling into ruin.

Frostpunk 2’s campaign is set 30 years after the events of its predecessor. The Captain, the player’s character from the original title, lies dead. Now, you step into the shoes of the Steward, taking on the unenviable role of guiding a bustling settlement and its people. It’s a tall order, made even more challenging thanks to interconnected mechanics and features. While I love seeing many of these gameplay changes, UI issues and thematic shifts can get in the way of an otherwise strong strategy sequel.

From micro to macro

The first conflict I encountered when playing Frostpunk 2 was internal: that of reconciling the differences between the original game and the sequel. Previously, I had to manage the City, one of humanity’s last bastions in Britain after the apocalyptic event known as the Great Frost blanketed the world in cold and unforgiving ice. Back then, I had to concern myself with constructing individual buildings, as well as reassigning citizens and specialists to various tasks.

I could even draw comparisons to 4X strategy titles like Civilization 6 …

In Frostpunk 2, I have to send Frostbreaker teams to break the ice, before I can construct entire districts that cover multiple hexagonal tiles. I now have to contend with a population numbering in the tens of thousands rather than one topping out in the hundreds previously. Frostpunk 2 is bigger, badder, and bolder than before, a significant change from micro to macro scale.

Districts have an upkeep cost in terms of required heat and