Ethan Crossfield 
Players looking for a co-op alternative to Metro Exodus should keep Frostrail on their Steam watchlist. The upcoming survival FPS combines a bleak, monster-filled wasteland with a fully upgradeable steam train, letting solo players or groups of up to four explore, scavenge, craft, and fight their way through a frozen world. Frostrail is planned for Steam Early Access in Q4 2026, with its core systems available at launch and more content expected afterward.
What Metro fans will recognize in Frostrail
Frostrail is not a Metro game, but its setting and survival structure draw clear comparisons to the series. Players will leave a moving train to investigate abandoned bunkers, strongholds, and other dangerous locations while facing creatures created by a supernatural pact between the land’s emperor and the void. The game’s Penitent Gardeners occupy a similar narrative role to Metro’s Rangers: they are fighters trying to clear the way for humanity’s return.
The atmosphere also leans heavily into tension and scarcity. Flashlights and firearms are essential inside dark areas, while ammunition, weapon components, and other supplies must be searched out across the open world. Instead of maintaining gas-mask filters, players must manage body temperature. Blizzards can impair movement and visibility, frostbite remains a persistent threat, and limited heat sources make every expedition a risk.
How the train changes co-op progression
The train is more than a transport option in Frostrail. It acts as the group’s central base and develops alongside the players. Fuel will be a critical resource, creating a choice between improving personal equipment and investing in the locomotive.
Players can reinforce the train’s walls, install weapon stations, improve its engine, and attach additional carriages. Those additions can increase storage, support crafting, or make the vehicle more resistant to attacks. This gives each co-op session a second progression track: survivors become better equipped, while their mobile home gradually turns into a stronger and more useful refuge.
What to expect from Early Access
FakeFish plans to launch Frostrail in Early Access with its main gameplay systems in place, then expand the game with additional loot, dungeons, biomes, items, weapons, and spawn locations. Bug fixes, balancing, and general polish are also expected during development.
The game’s planned release window is Q4 2026. The source material indicates that the full 1.0 version is expected later and will cost more than the Early Access release, although no specific prices are confirmed. Players who want to follow development should therefore treat the initial launch as an evolving version rather than a finished campaign.
What players should know
- Frostrail is a survival FPS for solo play or co-op with up to four players.
- The game is planned for Steam Early Access in Q4 2026.
- Its open world includes frozen hazards, hostile creatures, abandoned bunkers, and strongholds.
- Players must manage body temperature, supplies, ammunition, crafting materials, and fuel.
- The train can gain stronger defenses, crafting stations, engine improvements, storage, and extra carriages.
- FakeFish plans to add more content after the Early Access launch.
Expert View
Frostrail’s strongest idea is the relationship between exploration and train management. The locomotive provides a clear reason to gather resources and gives co-op teams a shared objective beyond simply surviving each encounter. Its Metro-like atmosphere may attract fans of bleak post-apocalyptic shooters, but the supernatural setting and Early Access model mean players should follow development before committing. For groups that enjoy crafting, resource decisions, and gradual base building, it is a promising game to watch rather than a guaranteed replacement for Metro.
