The Frostpunk series, developed by 11 Bit Studios, has gained a reputation for its bleak, snowbound settings and the harrowing decisions players must make to survive. In these city-building games, players confront a world frozen over, grappling with harsh realities like child labor, organ harvesting, and the ever-present threat of hypothermia. The atmosphere is undeniably somber, leading some to label the games as "depression simulators." However, the developers insist that this label misses the point.
Jakub Stokalski, co-director of Frostpunk 2 and senior lead designer of the first game, recently spoke with PCGamer to clarify the studio's intentions. "There's a joke running around that we're really doing 'depression simulators' at 11 Bit Studios," Stokalski admits. "And on the one hand, that's a pretty distinct way of defining a game studio, but at the same time I would hope that our game was not really about making people feel miserable."
The key, according to Stokalski, is balance. "We can make it as difficult and shitty for you as possible. But that's not the point of the game." Instead, Frostpunk aims to show players that even in the face of extreme adversity, there are ways to find satisfaction and avoid total tragedy. The challenge and hardship are integral to the experience, but they aren't the end goal.
Stokalski's remarks suggest that the frequent failures and bleak outcomes in the games might reflect more on the player's choices than on an inherently pessimistic game design. "We make a point of never making a game, or a choice, or a consequence, or a law, or a balance in a way that there is no good way out, right? There always has to be a good way out," he explains. "Because otherwise it's cheating, it's not being genuine to the player."
This philosophy means that while players are not expected to have a joyous experience at every turn, there is always a path to success, however narrow. "There has to be tragedy, because if you fail, you need to feel that bad things happen if you fail," Stokalski acknowledges. "But we are the designers, we control pretty much everything in this world, we can make it as difficult and shitty for you as possible. But that's not the point of the game."
Ultimately, the developers at 11 Bit Studios aim to create a balanced experience that challenges players without resorting to hopelessness. The harsh conditions and tough decisions are designed to evoke a sense of accomplishment when players manage to find a way through. So, if your cities in Frostpunk are constantly succumbing to the cold and despair, it might be time to reassess your strategy. There is always a way out – you just have to find it.
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