When Steam Next Fest kicks off on October 19, gamers will be able to play a public demo of Frostrail. That's the word according to FakeFish (who developed the game) and Shiro Unlimited (who is publishing it). If anyone would know, it's them.

Frostrail, for those who haven't heard, is a game about "pilgrim survivors" aboard a train headed somewhere cold. As they travel through a post-apocalyptic frozen wasteland (I'm thinking somewhere in eastern Europe), they must keep the engine running and monitor points of interest along the way. Ruined settlements, abandoned mines, and even crypts could have just the resources they need to fortify their vehicle and reach... safety?

Unfortunately for the pilgrims, John Wayne isn't waiting nearby to greet them. Instead, they can look forward to tangling with Lovecraftian creatures called Revenants. They have nothing but bad intentions for humanity's last survivors.

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"Frostrail is about surviving the worst conditions on board your steam-powered train," said Ez Jämsen, Lead Designer at FakeFish. "We want to give survivors a real sense of being a crew and incentive to work together. There’s nothing quite like making it back to the train with your team and wondering how you managed to pull it off, then setting off to do it again at the next stop."

Looking out the back of a ruined railcar, someone slides back the bolt on their rifle while facing a mysterious beast.Credit: FakeFish/Shiro Unlimited
Looking out the back of a ruined railcar, someone slides back the bolt on their rifle while facing a mysterious beast.The protagonist lifts a hammer while facing the pressure valve on the locomotive's engine.In an underground chamber, the character approaches a slinking shadow on the edge of the darkness.A status screen, showing warm, health, and stamina ratings, as well as character gear.Armed with a club with nails in it, the protagonist fends off an advance by monsters with vine-like hair.A distant view of a train arriving at twin blockades lain across the track in a snowy wasteland.

I would say it sounds like the game promises non-stop action, except we've established there will be numerous stops along the way. Dangerous ones.

If you'd like to learn more about Frostrail, check out FakeFish's official website. Then watch for the game to arrive on Steam Early Access for Windows PC and Xbox on PC.