Frostwraith - A Frostpunk Fan made DLC

In this fan-made DLC expansion, a buried rail line is discovered beneath the snow, prompting a group of brave volunteers—cooks, hunters, scientists —to embark on a self-sustaining train journey into the unknown. Unsure how long they’ll be gone, they prepare for survival with resource stops, on-the-go repairs, and a deep hope that the tracks will lead to something worth the risk.

Developed by a dedicated team of 14 people over 12 weeks, this project focused on rich environmental storytelling and early gameplay elements like interactable objects, item inspection, and intractability for the map table. This module was an Open Brief, where Frostpunk was the main reference for all the design and style choices, striving to keep the original game in mind while simultaneously expanding to have a realistic, first-person spin.
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I was the Art Director for the project, responsible for maintaining visual cohesion across the work of 14 team members. I ensured consistency in assets and materials, setting clear guidelines so everything felt part of the same world. To support optimization for a playable experience, I established polycount limits based on asset size and importance. I double-checked texel density, collisions, and LODs throughout production.

I modelled the hero prop in the Permaculture carriage — the Record Player Boiler. This asset represents a machine designed to nurture plant life and ensure a healthy growing environment. I used Blender for hard-surface modelling and retopology, creating both high- and low-poly versions. I then baked and textured the asset in Substance Painter. A similar workflow was used for over 120 other assets I created to dress the train interior. These helped to tell the story and fill the space with believable, functional detail.

Finally, I was in charge of set dressing and lighting for each of the levels. We aimed for a different mood per carriage, capturing a well-lived-in train with a focus on survival. We made sure the original Frostpunk reference was still present in our final scenes. I primarily set dressed Carriage 3: Permaculture, for the majority of the first few weeks, in the last few weeks I took over set dressing Carriage 2: Expeditions, focusing on rich storytelling through every prop and space.

Lastly, I added sound design to all levels to elevate the atmosphere and enhance the overall impact of our gameplay trailer.

Hope you all enjoy the work of our team! Any comments and feedback is very welcome!
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The Crew:
Isobel Gale - Producer, Material Artist

Elizabeth Illingworth (me) - Art Director, UI Designer, Sound Designer, Environment Artist
Elaine Wah - Second Art Director, Lead Lighting Artist https://www.artstation.com/elainewah

Wai Chung Wong Vincent - Prop Artist, Animator, Environment Artist https://www.artstation.com/vincent_waichungwong
Hermine Pouzoulet - Foliage Artist, VFX Artist
David Mcelwee - Technical Artist, VFX Artist, Cinematography, Material Artist https://www.artstation.com/davidmcelwee
Kate Marmolejo Moreno - Prop Artist, Environment Artist https://www.artstation.com/kate_moreno
Sophie Le Blanc - Prop Artist https://www.artstation.com/cookiesophie
Lienuel Garces - Prop Artist, VFX Artist, Environment Artist https://www.artstation.com/lmg_persona
Valentina Ferrandes - Foliage Artist, VFX Artist https://www.artstation.com/valentinaferran
Cem Duzel - Prop Artist, Environment Artist https://www.artstation.com/cemduzel
Nathaniel Busschaert - Prop Artist, VFX Artist https://www.artstation.com/marsupli
Taylor Abbott - Prop Artist https://www.artstation.com/t-abbott
Daniel Griffiths - Prop Artist, Environment Artist, Cinematography https://www.artstation.com/griff762