11-Bit Studios is a studio known for its bleak depictions of humanity’s unending struggle for survival. This War of Mine and Frostpunk are thematically aligned in this regard, forcing the player into making unenviable decisions for survival’s sake.
Frostpunk 2, set for release in July, is doubling down on the presentation of its desolate world. DualShockers had the opportunity tosit down with co-game director Łukasz Juszczykto speak about how 11-Bit has iterated on the original and what players can expect from the upcoming city-builder.
“We are pulling strings that will be closer to home,” Juszczyk says. “Hopefully an issue that is closer to home will hit you. That’s our creative ambition. From that perspective, it’s darker.”
Darkness Gives Meaning
In Frostpunk, you may send kids to work in the mines, but it’s often “out of sight, out of mind.” It won’t be as easy for the player to cast these choices aside in Frostpunk 2.
Speaking on the legacy of 11-Bit Studios, Juszczyk elaborates on the team’s creative vision. “Our most significant games are dark,” he explains. “It’s not about us wanting to make depressing games for the sake of making depressing games. We want to make you think about something and to do that, you have to pick a dark thing.”
Interview: Frostpunk 2 Is Darker, Deeper And Will Hit Closer To Home
We spoke to game director Łukasz Juszczyk who was keen to share just how bleak Frostpunk 2’s world is.
Juszczyk joked that one day the team would like to make a meaningful game about “cheerfulness, rainbows and dolphins,” but acknowledges that if they want to make meaningful games, then a darker tone is often the best path.
In histwo-hour hands-onwith Frostpunk 2, our own Sam Woods confirmed the even darker tone of the upcoming game.
“The elders of the group realised the situation we were in, noted they were a strain on resources, and offered to take a terminal walk into the Frostlands,” Sam recalls, explaining one of the harrowing decisions he had to make in the game’s opening chapter.
Frostpunk 2 releases July 26, 2025.
Frostpunk 2 Preview: Sacrificing Dozens Of Elders Was As Easy As Things Got
We flew to Poland to check out Frostpunk 2 and oh boy, are we excited for July.
