Ice Haven is a free-to-play strategy game that places you in charge of a small settlement during a global deep freeze. You are tasked with managing a drifting ice platform while navigating a world where the cold is just as dangerous as the zombies roaming it. 

As you expand your reach, Ice Haven introduces a blend of base building and tactical defense. You spend much of your time balancing the needs of your people against the constant threat of the undead. Ice Haven features a similar survival loop amid a freezing wasteland as Frostpunk: Beyond the Ice.

Keeping the warmth in and the zombies out

Ice Haven starts by handing you the reins of a floating ice fortress drifting through a wasteland. Keeping the platform functional while rescuing people from the bitter cold is your primary focus. This requires you to build essential facilities to maintain warmth. Managing the daily needs of a growing population takes tedious work, but it is necessary to keep this small community alive in such a harsh climate.

Success depends on outlasting two distinct threats: the unforgiving frost and the relentless hordes of undead. By finding stranded survivors, you can recruit specialized heroes, such as engineers and scouts, to lead your survival efforts. Most of your time goes into building your base and upgrading your defenses to stop incoming zombie sieges. Every upgrade is a necessary step to ensure your people withstand these dual dangers.

In addition, the game includes a hero equipment system and global alliances that allow you to engage with other players. While these features make the struggle for survival feel less daunting, they do not offer many original ideas. The gameplay follows a familiar formula in survival games rather than presenting a new way to play. It functions well but stays within the limits of existing genre standards.

Polished gameplay with familiar tactics

Overall, Ice Haven offers a steady take on the post-apocalyptic genre. The game is well-made and has a strong atmosphere, but it follows a standard pattern. It uses familiar mechanics instead of bringing something new to the table. It feels more like a common strategy game that has been given a different visual theme. Nevertheless, navigating the sub-zero temperatures and zombie raids provides a satisfying experience.