Permafrost is a story-driven survival sandbox set on a near-future Earth plunged into endless winter after catastrophes shattered the moon. You play as a Rook, an engineer with the skills to rebuild but little experience in the wilderness, drawn into the frozen world by a radio signal from a long-lost friend. The setting pairs ruined cities with stretches of wilderness, where isolation and scarcity give exploration a grounded, unforgiving tone.
Staying alive means contending with more than supplies: frostbite, storms, and the creeping cold make preparation, shelter, and timing central concerns. Players explore, hunt, scavenge, craft, and restore abandoned shelters, while repairing broken machines and reclaiming technology opens routes farther into the world. A rescued dog adds practical support, scouting ahead, warning of danger, and carrying supplies. The cold is designed as a constant pressure on each journey, rather than a backdrop to combat.
Permafrost can be played solo or cooperatively with up to three friends. Its survival design emphasizes adaptation and building a network of shelters, with cooperation allowing players to divide responsibilities without making the harsh world less demanding. Faction-controlled territories add another concern to exploration, while the game’s subdued approach avoids constant gunfire and fantasy tropes. Together, these elements frame survival as a gradual effort to read the environment, make use of scarce resources, and push deeper into a frozen landscape.
