If you’ve ever wanted to mix Frostpunk’s brutal survival with Snowpiercer’s moving apocalypse, Frostliner is gunning for your attention.
Announced by solo developer Nathan Gane, Frostliner is a survival city builder set entirely on a massive, player-constructed train. Following the moon’s destruction and a global deep freeze, humanity’s last hope rides the rails across a war-torn, ice-locked wasteland. The game is set to release in 2026 on Steam.
The core concept is simple: keep the engine running, or freeze to death. The train isn’t just transportation—it’s a mobile city. Players will construct carriages, place facilities, and take advantage of adjacency bonuses that reward efficient layouts. The longer the train, the stronger the synergy. But size isn’t just for show—it also attracts attention.
Each stop is a strategic risk. You’ll need to scavenge resources, clear debris, and recruit passengers, all while a ticking clock counts down your battery reserves. Fail to get moving again in time, and the cold catches up. Fuel is a constant pressure, and when resources run low, the game’s darker mechanics kick in—like the “corpse furnace,” which turns the dead into fuel.
Passengers aren’t just numbers. As you unlock higher tiers, their needs become more demanding, but they also bring stronger bonuses and facility upgrades. Balancing their survival with the train’s efficiency is a key challenge.
The world outside the Frostliner isn’t empty. Survivors, raiders, and worse will try to board or destroy your train. Those you don’t defeat will become long-term pursuers, forcing tough choices between speeding ahead or upgrading defences.
With its unique setting, grim tone, and train-centric twist on city building, Frostliner looks like it’s carving out a cold new niche in the survival genre.
Release Date: 2026
Platform: PC via Steam
Genre: Survival City (Train) Builder
Wishlist it now on Steam.
