Indie game developer Nathan Gane appears to have a hit on his hands with Frostliner, a title just announced that’s getting a lot of attention. With over 150,000 views for the official trailer launched just seven days ago, and now added to over 10,000 wishlists since then, the train-based city builder has managed to tap into a multi-genre demograph that Hollywood and AAA game publishers ignored. Gane has acknowledged being a bit overwhelmed with the great amount of interest shown for the game and is now even considering getting help in developing the title, which is planned to release in 2026.
“I’m blown away by the attention and support Frostliner has received. I never imagined I’d reach 10,000 wishlists so quickly! Seeing how much people believe in the game has inspired me to start exploring bringing other developers on board. I want to make Frostliner the best it can possibly be.“
-Nathan Gane
“The moon shattered. The world froze. Take command of a nomadic train city hurtling through a war-ravaged frozen wasteland. In this survival city builder on rails, gather survivors, scavenge resources, and do whatever it takes to keep the engine running and stay ahead of the frost.”
-Nathan Gane
With obvious inspiration from a certain popular movie and streaming series, the upcoming game has players taking control of a train city that must continue to operate so that the remaining human race can survive in a frozen, post-apocalyptic world. Frostliner follows a linear narrative and is being developed for PC, Linux, and Steam Deck. Gane hails from Western Australia, has a degree in computer science with a focus on game technologies, and has been hard at work in developing Frostliner since the studio he worked for closed last year. The beauty of this project lies in the fact that it doesn’t require overtly grandiose graphics, and it appears as if he’s already put in a lot of the work needed for the basic concepts. Add in some well-established game mechanics, and Frostliner could deliver its goals in full, giving players a chance to live out their Snowpiercer dreams. A glance at the screenshots also shows that players may have to make some tough and gruesome decisions along the way if they cannot procure resources.
Key Features per Press Release:
- Roam the Frozen Earth – Explore a handcrafted world and uncover a gripping, linear narrative as you chase warmth, safety, and the faint promise of a future at the end of the line.
- Build a City on Rails – Construct new carriages and fill them with facilities to sustain life, produce resources, and research vital technologies. Maximize productivity with adjacency bonuses as your Frostliner grows.
- Risk Every Stop – Scavenge for fuel, supplies, and survivors at key locations, but beware: when the train stops, the heat dies. Limited batteries make every halt a race against the killing frost.
- Defend What’s Yours – The cold is not your only enemy. Arm your Frostliner with weaponry to repel raiders and other threats, or push the engine to outrun them before they close in.