Since the train acts as the player’s home base, how big of a role will we see it play in general gameplay?

The train is a pretty big part of the game, it’s where you spend your time when you’re not out in the world exploring and scavenging. Beyond that, it needs to be fueled and driven, maintained, and defended at times too – and if it gets destroyed, it’s game over for you.

How crazy will the train upgrades get? Can players end up with multi-storey trains?

Train construction doesn’t get too crazy, as you are fundamentally the underdog in this game, trying to make do and stay alive.You acquire additional carriages as the game progresses, and then craft walls of various types on those carriages. Everything snaps to a grid nice and neat, to keep things manageable even in singleplayer where the player will have more moving parts to stay on top of at all times.

"The train is a pretty big part of the game, it’s where you spend your time when you’re not out in the world exploring and scavenging."

Since survival games often tend to dabble in a bit of horror, how will Frostrail balance out its overall action gameplay with some of the creepier environments?

I wouldn’t say we’re exactly a horror game, but we have aesthetic elements that point to something a bit more creepy. It’s often a bit difficult to get horror right in a more action-based multiplayer game, so in our case, the horror elements are kept quite light, much as with Barotrauma. Of course, Frostrail will offer those moments where something leaps at you from a dark corner, or looms menacingly over the horizon. So let’s say, there is tension, rather than horror, and the focus of the game is definitely on the action.

What can we expect in terms of enemy variety in Frostrail?

We are planning two enemy “factions”: the revenants, which are a bit more zombified, typically melee based, and tend to occur in larger numbers, and these corrupted soldier enemies, who typically rely on ranged weapons, are a little smarter, and tend to occur in smaller numbers. Then within those two factions we have a number of different classes and varieties to mix things up a bit, so you can look forward to a fair bit of variety, both visually and in terms of gameplay, at latest as we wrap things up during Early Access.

Will there be an overarching narrative driving players forward or will players be propelled forward more for the sake of survival in gameplay terms?

There is a broader background narrative and a bunch of lore present, but I wouldn’t say story is the gameplay driver for us here, but rather it’s the more traditional survival mechanics that push (and pull) the players.

"It’s often a bit difficult to get horror right in a more action-based multiplayer game, so in our case, the horror elements are kept quite light, much as with Barotrauma."

What kind of weapon variety will we see in Frostrail?

A classic lineup of (WW1-esque!) firearm archetypes – pistols, shotguns, rifles, machineguns, etc. – as well as, initially, a handful of basic melee weapons. All the guns are also craftable, and the modular crafting system gives you ways to enhance your weapons.

While there will be plenty of guns, how viable is a melee-centric character?

We’ve wanted to emphasize “guns first” with Frostrail. There are some melee weapons you’ll have access to in the early game in particular, but the real meat of the combat is in ranged weaponry. Having said that, all ranged weapons have a secondary melee attack for those close-up, last resort moments.

How strong of a role will the survival elements (hunger, thirst, protection from the elements) play in Frostrail?

As the name of the game suggests, cold is a big deal, and it’s something players should keep in mind when out and about. The effects are mitigated by warmer clothing and certain foods, but in general, wandering too far from your train isn’t a good idea, nor is lingering for too long outdoors when the temperature is particularly low.

Food items, on the other hand, buff your stats – so eating isn’t a must-do activity in theory, but you’ll want to eat well whenever you can to improve your chances of survival.

"We’ve wanted to emphasize “guns first” with Frostrail."

Do you have any plans to launch the game on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2?

Frostrail will be released first in Early Access on PC-Steam. We will evaluate possible console ports for 1.0 and beyond.

Wartales: Pirates of Belerion also brings with it new options for base game content, including a new character class, weapon type, and new enemies, among other things.

The story in Pirates of Belerion revolves around the Sea Lords. Players will have to take to the seas in order to learn the sailing secrets of the Sea Lords, and will even get to take part in naval combat, as well as 1-on-1 duels with rival captains.

In keeping with the pirate theme, the DLC also brings with it new places to explore, a new culture, and a chance for players to earn more gold, infamy, and treasure. Along the way, players will get to interact with seafaring natives.

Wartales: Pirates of Belerion is available at $19.99. Wartales spent some time in Early Access on PC before eventually getting its 1.0 update back in April, and coming to Xbox Series X/S in November.

Wartales has been available on PC through Steam for quite a while as an Early Access title. The game left Early Access through a 1.0 release back in April. More recently, the game also made its way on to the Nintendo Switch.

The game proved to be quite successful for Shiro Games even back during its Early Access title. As of May, the game had sold over 600,000 copies. The number of copies sold has undoubtedly gone up since then.

Wartales is a tactical RPG where players are encouraged to find their own way through its diverse open world. The game revolves around players putting together their very own band of mercenaries as they take on quests and try to survive.

Decarnation is about Gloria, a dancer who takes on a new job from a strange patron. Things quickly take a turn as her career and life are turned upside-down. Gloria must confront the horrors bleeding into the world and her subconscious mind. As terrible things happen in her waking hours, new monsters are created in her sleep but confronting the latter will help in dealing with real life.

From boss battles to puzzles and mini-games, including rhythm games, there’s quite a lot of heavy subject matter to dig through, and more than a fair number of nightmarish creatures. Decarnation is slated to release in early 2023 for PC. Stay tuned for more gameplay and details in the coming months.