Frostpunk 2 co-director Jakub Stokalski emphasized that 11 Bit Studios, known for its harsh survival city-builders Frostpunk 1 and 2, isn’t aiming to create “depression simulators.” In an interview with PC Gamer, Stokalski explained that while the games depict challenging and often bleak scenarios like child labor and organ harvesting in a world frozen in perma-frost, the goal is not to make players feel miserable.
Stokalski highlighted that the games aim to show that there is always a way to find satisfaction and avoid tragedy, even through adversity. He stated, “We make a point of never making a game… in a way that there is no good way out.” The balance between tragedy and hope is crucial, as players need to feel the consequences of failure but also see a path to success.
Stokalski acknowledged the difficulty of the games but reiterated that the intent is to provide a genuine challenge, not to cheat players into a hopeless situation. The developers aim to ensure that, despite the harsh environment and tough decisions, there is always a possibility for a positive outcome, emphasizing player agency and the importance of strategic decisions.
