Permafrost: a very cold approach to survival

The survival genre has given us tropical islands, zombie-infested cities, alien planets and enough wooden crafting tables to furnish a small continent. Permafrost takes a different route: it freezes the world solid and makes the environment itself the central threat.

Permafrost has entered Early Access on PC as a story-driven survival sandbox game set in a post-apocalyptic Earth that has been  transformed by an event known as the Shattering. The Moon has been destroyed, temperatures have plummeted and humanity is struggling to survive among frozen cities, abandoned technology and hostile wilderness.

But Permafrost doesn't rely on its snowy setting alone to deliver an engaging and intense experience. The game uses its narrative to guide you through an experience where you try to survive under extreme conditions in a mysterious post-apocalyptic world. This gives the game a distinct identity, at least on paper.

The apocalypse has a story to tell

In Permafrost, players take control of Rook, an engineer who receives a mysterious radio transmission from a long-lost friend. That message compels him to travel into the frozen wasteland in search of answers. a recent story trailer emphasizes the mystery surrounding the frozen apocalypse and Rook's search for his friend, Icarus. There are clearly still secrets buried beneath the ice, and that narrative thread could become one of the game's biggest strengths as development continues.

Your adventure in Permafrost revolves arounf the extreme climate. Temperatures, storms and exposure play a central role in exploration,and they force players to prepare before venturing away from shelter. Equipment, supplies and safe locations become increasingly important when a sudden change in weather can turn an ordinary expedition into a race for survival. That mechanic creates an experience where the frozen wilderness is the source of valuable discoveries, but every trip away from safety carries a cost.

Permafrost also ties progression closely to exploration. Players can discover abandoned locations, recover technology, restore shelters and gradually expand their ability to operate in the frozen world. This gives the map a more active role in progression. Finding an abandoned structure isn't simply about grabbing whatever resources happen to be inside; locations can contribute to the wider process of rebuilding and opening access to new areas. That approach fits particularly well with the game's post-apocalyptic premise. 

Permafrost lets you have a canine companion. Rook's dog can scout ahead, warn him about nearby dangers and even carry supplies. This makes it useful part of his survival toolkit rather than a decorative sidekick. The dog also adds some much-needed warmth to an otherwise bleak setting. With frozen cities and vast stretches of wilderness separating scattered survivors, having a loyal companion alongside Rook helps reinforce the game's themes of isolation and resilience.

Shelter construction is another important part of Permafrost. Players can establish and restore safe locations throughout the world to create a network of places from which to launch longer expeditions. This connects the game's major systems neatly. Exploration provides discoveries and technology; those discoveries improve the player's ability to survive; and improved survival capabilities allow Rook to venture deeper into the frozen wilderness.

Permafrost supports cooperative survival

Permafrost supports solo play as well as cooperative multiplayer for up to four players. Working together allows players to divide responsibilities and establish shelters while exploring the world. The setting should also give cooperative expeditions plenty of potential for memorable moments, particularly when a group has to decide whether to push further into dangerous territory or retreat before the weather turns against them. Whether multiplayer becomes one of the game's major strengths or not will depend on how the systems develop during Early Access, but the foundation is there.

The game is expected to remain in Early Access for at least a year, giving SpaceRocket Games time to expand the world, introduce additional biomes and quests, refine its mechanics and respond to player feedback.

A frozen world with its own identity

Permafrost is still a work in progress, but a story-driven journey through a world permanently locked in winter is a compelling premise, especially when the most dangerous thing waiting around the next corner might simply be the weather. Facing extreme weather has its own charm. Titles like Frostpunk and Frostpunk 2 already proved it. However, when you have to do it by yourself it's a completely different type of experience. If the game looks appealing to you, feel free to use our comparator to find the best deals for Permafrost and join the game in Early Access.