Developer 11 bit studios has announced that it is bringing city-builder Frostpunk to the Nintendo Switch. The announcement was made in a 16-minute video discussing the future of the Frostpunk franchise. However, the studio hasn’t yet confirmed a release date for the Switch version.
In the video, which you can check out below, lead designer Jakub Stokalski spoke about the challenges presented to players by the game, since they have to make many difficult choices to ensure the survival of their cities. With the Switch release, the studio hopes to ensure that the high-stakes city-builder is able to successfully make the jump to a portable format.
“I love Frostpunk because you always carry with you all of the harsh decisions that you make and all of the guilt,” said Jakub Stokalski. “Soon, you’ll be able to do that quite literally because Frostpunk is coming to Nintendo Switch. That’s right, all of the exciting gameplay and moral tension that made it into a modern classic, ready to be enjoyed on the go. As lead designer of the original Frostpunk and co-director of the sequel, being able to bring this game to so many of you is a dream come true. It’s the perfect culmination of the journey.”
In the same video, 11 bit studios also revealed more details about the other things that it has been working on, like Frostpunk 1886 and a new expansion for Frostpunk 2, dubbed Breach of Trust.
Frostpunk was originally released on PC all the way back in 2018, before then coming to PS4 and Xbox One in 2019, and iOS and Android in 2024. The title offers a new take on the “survival” style of city-builders, where players have to deal with harsh conditions as they try to make their cities habitable for their potentially-happy citizens. Along with having to deal with incredibly low temperatures as they plan their cities’ layouts, players also often have to pass new laws or make harsh decisions to ensure that the city survives.
The title is slated to be revisited using modern technology with Frostpunk 1886. The studio has promised that it is going to be “so much more” than just a remaster, however, and there are plans to add plenty of new content to the game. Among other things, Frostpunk 1886 will be making use of motion capture to ensure that the animation of citizens is accurate and unique, adding more variety to the game’s world while also making the city feel more alive. The lighting system is also getting a major upgrade.
Frostpunk 1886 is slated for release in 2027, however. In the meantime, you can take a look at Frostpunk 2, which was originally released on PC in 2024, before coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2025. The title offers a major change in gameplay, giving players a more zoomed-out look at the world, and as a result, more zoomed-out gameplay. Rather than placing individual buildings, players instead put down districts, which then get populated with buildings. Check out our review for more details.
It’s exciting to see Frostpunk making its way to the Nintendo Switch! The game’s unique blend of strategy and survival will be a great fit for portable play. Looking forward to seeing how it performs on the new platform!
I completely agree! The strategic depth of Frostpunk will definitely be interesting on the Switch. It’ll be fascinating to see how the touch controls adapt to the game’s complex mechanics, allowing for a different gameplay experience on the go.
Absolutely! The portable nature of the Switch will really allow players to dive into the game’s complex decision-making anytime, anywhere. It’ll be intriguing to see how the touch controls enhance the building and management aspects as well!