Getting Started
Getting Started: Frostpunk - A Beginner's Guide
This guide is tailored for absolute newcomers to Frostpunk. You'll learn how to survive your first day, avoid critical mistakes, and set a foundation for a prosperous city. Frostpunk is a brutal city-building survival game where you manage a group of survivors in a frozen world. There is no character creation – you play as the unnamed Captain, and your only customization is the name of your city. Focus on strategy, not looks.
Controls (All Platforms)
PC (Keyboard & Mouse)
- Camera: WASD or Arrow keys to pan; Mouse wheel to zoom in/out; Middle mouse button for free rotation.
- Selecting: Left-click on buildings/units; Right-click to issue movement orders for scouts.
- Building Menu: Press B to open build menu; use number keys (1-7) and mouse to place structures.
- Pause/Play: Spacebar to pause; 1/2/3 for speed (pause, normal, fast).
- Hotkeys: 'H' for heatmap, 'L' for laws, 'R' for research, 'F' for frostlands (scout view), 'T' for temperature overview.
- Quick Actions: Click generator icon at top center to toggle generator; click temperature gauge to toggle heat zones.
- Left Stick: Move camera.
- Right Stick: Rotate camera (click to reset).
- D-Pad: Navigate menus and quick-select (Up for heatmap, Down for laws, Left for research, Right for frostlands).
- A/B (Xbox) or X/O (PlayStation): Confirm/Cancel.
- LT/RT (L2/R2): Zoom in/out.
- Menu/Start: Pause game; View/Select: Open book of laws.
- Top Bar: Left side shows resources (Wood, Coal, Steel, Food Rations, People). Center displays Generator Status (on/off, temperature level) and a thermometer showing current temperature. Right side shows Hope and Discontent meters.
- Bottom Left: Building menu (hammer icon) and quick access to Book of Laws (scroll), Research (flask), Frostlands (compass), and Temperature Overview (thermometer).
- Bottom Center: Selected unit/building info panel.
- Bottom Right: Speed controls (pause, normal, fast).
- Heatmap Toggle (H on PC): Overlays blue/cyan zones indicating generator heat range. Buildings inside this zone stay warm; outside they freeze and cause sickness.
- Tooltips: Hover over any icon for details. Always read them – crucial for understanding mechanics.
- Day 1: Pause, build 2 Gathering Posts + 10-15 tents + 1 Workshop. Sign Soup. Start Beacon research.
- Day 2: Assign workers. Build Coal Thump + second Gathering Post. Start research on Faster Gathering (if not yet). Build Medical Post.
- Day 3: Send scouts. Build a second Coal Thump if needed. Expand housing to house all survivors. Ensure all buildings are in heat zone.
- Day 4-5: Research Heaters (for workplaces), Bunkhouses (better tents), or Wall Drill (wood from frozen trees). Start producing steel for advanced buildings.
Xbox/PlayStation Controllers
Pro Tip: On all platforms, pause frequently (Spacebar or Start). The game does not auto-pause, and every second counts.
UI Overview (First 10 Minutes)
Your screen is divided into several key areas:
The First Hour Walkthrough (Scenario: A New Home)
You start with a generator, a stockpile of resources, 80 survivors, and a cookhouse. The tutorial gently guides you, but here's the optimal opening sequence:
Minute 0-5: Pause and Plan
1. Pause immediately (Spacebar).
2. Build two Gathering Posts (Build menu > Resources tab). Place them near the resource piles (coal, wood, steel). These posts collect resources more efficiently and protect workers from cold.
3. Build tents (Build menu > Shelter). Place 3-4 tents near the generator (within the heat zone). Each tent houses 5 people. Aim for 12-15 tents total in the first day. Don't overcrowd; you need workers.
4. Sign your first law: Open Book of Laws (L). Choose Soup (not Extended Shift). Soup stretches food rations, reducing starvation risk. Extended Shift boosts productivity but lowers Hope and causes accidents.
5. Start research: Build a Workshop (Research tab). Immediately research Beacon (allows scouting). Then research Faster Gathering.
Minute 5-30: Build the Basics
1. Assign workers: By default, people gather at raw piles. After building Gathering Posts, click each post, click the empty worker slot, and assign 10 workers from the available pool. This frees others for other jobs.
2. Construct more tents: Build 10-15 tents total (you'll have ~80 people; 15 tents holds 75). Keep them in the inner heat ring (blue circle around generator). Leave some open space for future buildings.
3. Build a Coal Thump (Resources tab) – coal is vital. Place it near the generator (within heat zone). Then build a Gathering Post next to the coal piles it produces. This provides a steady coal supply.
4. Build a Medical Post (Health tab) – you'll need it soon. Place it in a warm area (heat ring) to avoid sick treatment penalties.
5. Build a Cookhouse if not already present. Then sign the Soup law. You'll need to constantly produce food – cookhouses convert raw food into meals.
Minute 30-60: Survive the First Night
1. Turn on the Generator (click the generator icon or press G on PC). Set it to a medium level (1-2 bars). Monitor coal consumption – you need at least 10-15 coal per hour per level. If you run out of coal, people freeze.
2. Scout: Once Beacon is built (research takes ~15 minutes), assign 5 people to the Beacon (click it, then the 'Scout' button). Send scouts to the nearest frostland location (e.g., Winterhome, Tesla City). Scouts bring back resources and survivors.
3. Adjust workplaces: When night falls (around day 2), temperatures drop. Ensure all workplaces are within heat zones or have heaters built (requires steel, later tech). Move workers to gathering posts instead of raw piles at night to keep them warmer.
4. Manage discontent: Keep Hope above 30% and Discontent below 70%. If discontent rises, enact laws like Fighting Arena or Funerals to improve mood. Hopelessness leads to exile.
5. Expand slowly: Don't build roads unless necessary. Roads cost wood and don't help much early. Only connect buildings that are far apart.
Essential Early Objectives
Early Resource Priorities (First Week)
| Resource | Priority | Why | How to Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Highest | Needed for all early buildings: tents, gathering posts, workshops, etc. | Gather from wood piles; later Wall Drill. |
| Coal | High | Generator fuel; without it, everyone dies. First hour need ~30/hr. | Coal Thump + Gathering Post; later Coal Mine. |
| Steel | Medium | Used for research, coal mines, and advanced buildings. | Gather from steel piles; later Steel Mill. |
| Food Rations | Medium | Prevents starvation; turn raw food into meals at Cookhouse. | Hunt (Hunting Hut) or gather from food piles. Soup law reduces consumption. |
| Raw Food | Low-Medium | Used to make meals. Initially you have some; don't waste. | Gather from raw food piles (limited). |
What to Do First (Priority List)
1. Pause the game – always.
2. Build 2 Gathering Posts near resource piles.
3. Build 12-15 Tents within the generator heat ring.
4. Build a Workshop – start researching Beacon.
5. Sign the Soup law – never Extended Shift first.
6. Build a Coal Thump with a nearby Gathering Post.
7. Build a Medical Post (2 if you have sick).
8. Assign workers to everything – about 10 per building.
9. Start scouting once Beacon is built.
What to Avoid (Common Beginner Mistakes)
- Don't build roads early – wood is precious; people walk fine without roads.
- Don't overbuild houses – build only as many as you have people. Empty houses cost wood and don't contribute.
- Don't ignore the heatmap – buildings outside the generator ring will cause sickness and death. Use Heatmap (H) to check.
- Don't forget to turn on the generator – especially at night. A cold generator is a death sentence.
- Don't rush extended shifts – they drastically increase discontent and cause accidents. Wait until you have a stable economy.
- Don't build multiple Hunters Huts immediately – raw food piles and cookhouses can sustain you for a few days. Hunting huts require tech and workers.
- Don't send scouts too early – wait until you have Beacon (tech) and a spare 5 workers. Sending a scout with no food or medicine is useless.
- Don't ignore Hope/Discontent – if both are low, people will leave. Use laws like Fighting Arena (unlocks later) or Funerals to improve Hope.
- [ ] Pause the game immediately (Spacebar).
- [ ] Build 2 Gathering Posts (near wood, coal, steel piles).
- [ ] Build 10-15 tents (within generator heat zone).
- [ ] Build 1 Workshop (anywhere, close to generator).
- [ ] Start research Beacon (highest priority).
- [ ] Sign Soup law (Book of Laws).
- [ ] Build 1 Coal Thump (near generator).
- [ ] Build 1 Medical Post (within heat ring).
- [ ] Assign workers to all buildings (click building, then the plus icon).
- [ ] Turn on Generator (click icon or press G) – set to level 1.
- [ ] Ensure no building is outside heat zone (use Heatmap H).
- [ ] Check resource numbers: have at least 200 wood, 80 coal, 50 steel, 50 raw food after building.
- [ ] Unpause (Spacebar) and let game run for a few minutes, then pause to check progress.
Day-One Checklist (First 24 Hours)
Pro Tip: Replay the first hour if you fail. Frostpunk is about learning from mistakes. Each restart teaches you better resource management and law choices.
Conclusion
Frostpunk is unforgiving, but with this guide, you'll avoid the most painful early-game deaths. Remember: pause often, prioritize coal and wood, use gathering posts, keep everyone warm, and never let discontent spiral out of control. Good luck, Captain – the city must survive.