The creators of The Long Dark, Hinterlands, have announced The Long Dark 2, another wilderness survival aid. Appropriately titled Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2 – a parody of a naming convention that’s certainly more harrowing than any post-apocalyptic winter – will release in Early Access in 2026 and introduces urban environments complete with a “Will to Live” common sense system and co-op multiplayer. Here’s the trailer.
Here’s a bit of history, mind you Steam website just launched.
Experience the Silent Apocalypse as survivors in the northern industrial city of Harmont and its immense surroundings. A year has passed since Aurora first appeared in the sky, causing all technology to idle, and survivors have only just begun to emerge to face the novel reality. Surrounded by majestic, rugged wilderness, encounter the remnants of an isolated society still trying to come to terms with how the world has just changed forever. How will you choose to survive?
If the mention of co-op makes you scream, put on your wolf skin and run away into hillside caves, it looks like single-player is still at the heart of the game. But you’ll potentially have a lot more company, as players must decide whether to join the community of surviving NPCs. Meanwhile, co-op players will “rely on each other and combine their skills and efforts to survive another day of existence in a hostile environment.” I’m not sure this means there are unique mechanisms for collaboration. If my co-op partner dies, can I eat him and tie his insides in a scarf?
And then there are novel urban areas. “Cities and towns offer new opportunities and new threats to survival, putting a fresh spin on the established survival formula,” explains the Steam page. “The wilderness is dangerous, but sometimes the real danger lies in the city.” I assume they’re not talking about boys racing at traffic lights.
The novel Will to Live system complicates the already enormous challenge of keeping people fed, watered and avoiding injury. According to the Steam page, it “adds elements of psychological survival to the mix by introducing Resilience and its sub-stats to a well-established mechanic.” “Manage your doubts and fears and find comfort in the little things if you want to survive.”
You may be wondering what this “black frost” is. This is one of the novel threats, a radioactive substance emitted by a remote reactor intricate. It’s unclear exactly how this affects you, but you’ll want to avoid it. Like “auroral storms” and “extreme weather events.”
There’s also a novel Permalife system, which sounds like a narrative respawn feature in that it “turns every death into a new adventure.” The Steam page puts it this way: “Accumulate novel risks and fears for your survivor as you move through the world and face various dangers. Face your fears, overcome their flaws, and strengthen your Survivor’s story in the world. Make your mark.” If you don’t like the sound, the senior Permadeath mode is still an option.
I’ve never played much of The Long Dark. It was a Brief Darkness for me as I barely made it past the first hut. Perhaps I’ll do better in the sequel with the lend a hand of a genial player? Or maybe I’ll just pad their belly?
Geoffening has begun! For the latest Game Awards announcements, visit our Game Awards 2024 hub page. You’ll also find the latest news on our live blog.
