If the biggest releases often grab the spotlight, it’s downloadable content that increasingly determines how long a great game stays relevant. This latest roundup looks at three very different approaches to post-launch support, from a story-driven expansion that reshapes the survival challenges of Frostpunk 2 to a substantial new chapter for The Alters, and the first fighter in FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves’ latest season pass.
Frostpunk 2 – Breach of Trust review (PS5)
Frostpunk 2: Breach of Trust shifts the series away from its familiar frozen cities to New Edinburgh, where geothermal energy has become both a blessing and an existential threat. Instead of simply battling the cold, we’re forced to manage a city perched on an increasingly unstable volcano while trying to repair – or exploit – a fractured relationship with the independent colony of Aurora. The result is another morally grey survival story that fits comfortably within Frostpunk’s bleak universe, presenting difficult political and humanitarian choices without offering easy answers.
The expansion’s biggest strength is how it layers new dilemmas onto Frostpunk 2’s existing city-building formula. Deciding whether to negotiate, extort or wage war against Aurora creates meaningful tension, while periodic Votes of Trust ensure that every major decision has political consequences back home. New hazards like tremors and volcanic events keep the pressure high, and the additional buildings and laws provide welcome variety. That said, several of these new systems feel more tailored to this specific campaign than to the broader game, and mechanics like warfare never become as deep or dynamic as their premise initially suggests.
On PS5, the controller adaptation continues to do a solid job translating what is fundamentally a complex strategy game, even if navigating the many menus and city management screens still requires patience. Visually, the expansion maintains the impressive presentation of the base game, with ash-filled skies, crumbling districts and volcanic eruptions giving New Edinburgh its own distinct identity while preserving Frostpunk’s oppressive atmosphere. Combined with another excellent soundtrack and strong environmental audio, the audiovisual package remains one of the genre’s highlights. Minor interface quirks do occasionally interrupt the flow, but they never overshadow the overall experience.
The biggest disappointment is simply that Breach of Trust ends before many of its ideas have the chance to fully develop. The campaign offers compelling scenarios and memorable decisions, yet its relatively short length and limited replay value leave the impression that some mechanics deserved further expansion. Even so, if you’ve enjoyed Frostpunk 2 and want another tense survival story packed with political dilemmas and difficult compromises, this is a worthwhile addition that successfully delivers more of what makes the series so compelling, even if it doesn’t push the overall experience forward as much as it could have.
The Alters: Last Variable review (PS5)
The Alters was already one of the most original survival management games in recent years, and Last Variable feels less like a traditional expansion and more like a genuine continuation of that experience. Rather than revisiting the escape from the hostile planet, it follows Scientist Jan after he chooses to remain behind and investigate the mysterious Oasis. That shift in focus gives the DLC its own identity, replacing the urgency of fleeing with a slower, more methodical journey centred on discovery, scientific obsession and the consequences of dedicating an entire lifetime to a single unanswered question.
The biggest gameplay change comes from replacing the mobile base with a permanent underground bunker, fundamentally changing how we approach survival and long-term planning. Cryosleep, terraforming and expanded production chains add meaningful new layers to resource management, while the changing planetary cycles ensure there’s always another challenge waiting. It’s a rewarding system that builds naturally on the mechanics from the base game, although it also assumes you’re already familiar with them. Relative newcomers are likely to feel overwhelmed, while returning players may still need some time to reacquaint themselves with the increasingly complex logistics and research systems.
The human drama remains one of the expansion’s greatest strengths, even if the cast is more specialised this time around. Managing a team made up entirely of scientific Alters creates fascinating personality clashes and ethical dilemmas, with each version of Jan bringing a different outlook despite sharing the same core identity. The writing continues to make conversations and morale management feel meaningful, although the more focused cast doesn’t quite deliver the same emotional variety as the original game. Some objectives can also become a little vague, and the final stretch occasionally slips into repetition while a few performance hiccups and minor bugs interrupt an otherwise polished experience.
On PS5, Last Variable maintains the atmospheric presentation that made the original so memorable. The evolving environments, particularly the transformation of the Oasis and surrounding regions, provide striking visual rewards for your efforts, while the soundtrack and voice acting once again reinforce the game’s reflective, melancholic tone. It may not reinvent every aspect of The Alters, but it successfully expands both its narrative and management systems with enough confidence to justify the return. For fans of the original, this is exactly the kind of substantial DLC we’d hope to see – one that feels like an essential new chapter rather than a simple epilogue.
FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves – Season Pass 3 review (PS5)
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves has already built a strong foundation with its mix of classic SNK fighting game DNA and modern mechanics, and Season Pass 3 continues that expansion with the return of Rick Strowd as its first new fighter. While the full season will eventually introduce characters such as Duck King, Kim Kaphwan and Laocorn alongside additional stages, it is Rick who currently carries the weight of this DLC offering. His comeback after a long absence makes him a welcome addition for longtime fans, while his aggressive boxing style gives the roster another character built around relentless close-range pressure rather than keeping opponents at a distance.
Rick fits neatly into the fast-paced combat system of City of the Wolves thanks to a toolkit focused on forcing mistakes and maintaining momentum. His Aggressor Style stance opens up a variety of mix-up options, allowing players to switch between overheads, lows and counters to keep opponents guessing. Combined with strong frame advantages, efficient combos and powerful pressure tools, he feels dangerous in the hands of players who enjoy taking control of a match. The downside is that Rick’s straightforward offensive focus comes at the cost of defensive flexibility, as his anti-air options require precise timing and his lack of a traditional reversal means escaping pressure can be more difficult.
From a gameplay perspective, Rick is an accessible fighter with enough depth to reward experimentation. New players can quickly understand his rushdown approach, but mastering stance transitions, meter management and the timing of his counters provides plenty of room for improvement. His moveset also gives him a distinct identity within the roster, avoiding the feeling of simply being another traditional boxer archetype. Visually, his animations sell the impact of his hard-hitting style, while his flashy super moves fit comfortably alongside the energetic presentation that defines City of the Wolves.
With only the first character available, it is too early to judge the complete value of Season Pass 3, but Rick Strowd provides a promising start. The planned lineup suggests SNK is continuing to invest in expanding the game’s roster, and the additional stages should further strengthen the package when they arrive. For players who already enjoy City of the Wolves, Rick’s unique pressure-based style makes him an appealing addition, although those hoping for a wider variety of content right away may want to wait until the full season has been released before deciding on the complete pass.