Timed extraction salvage versus persistent frozen-world survival.
The salvage-run shape: go out under-prepared, come back over-encumbered, and pray the weather does not turn.
Icarus puts a hard timer on every run. Permafrost appears to be a persistent world where the timer is your exposure budget, not a countdown.
Side by side
| Dimension | Permafrost | Icarus |
|---|---|---|
| Session shape | Persistent world, no timed extraction | Timed drops with an extraction deadline |
| Co-op size | Up to 4 players | Up to 8 players |
| Setting | Frozen Earth | Alien terraformed planet |
| Cold mechanic | Central | Present in arctic biomes, not central |
| Base persistence | Not disclosed | Optional persistent outposts vs timed prospect |
| Failure cost | Not disclosed | Missing extraction costs the run |
| Status | Early Access from 9 Oct 2026 | Full release |
Icarus — RocketWerkz, 2021. Permafrost — SpaceRocket Games / Toplitz Productions, Early Access 9 October 2026. Anything not yet disclosed for Permafrost is marked as such rather than guessed.
Play Icarus if…
You want co-op runs with genuine stakes and a clean extraction loop.
Icarus on Steam ↗Play Permafrost if…
You would rather the threat be environmental and continuous than a mission timer.
Release date & wishlist →Verdict. Both understand that scavenging is only tense when leaving is a decision. Icarus makes it a deadline; Permafrost makes it a temperature.
FAQ
Is Permafrost like Icarus? +
The salvage-run shape: go out under-prepared, come back over-encumbered, and pray the weather does not turn.
What is the biggest difference between Permafrost and Icarus? +
Icarus puts a hard timer on every run. Permafrost appears to be a persistent world where the timer is your exposure budget, not a countdown.
Which should I play — Permafrost or Icarus? +
You want co-op runs with genuine stakes and a clean extraction loop. You would rather the threat be environmental and continuous than a mission timer.
When does Permafrost come out? +
Permafrost enters Early Access on 9 October 2026 on Steam, GOG.com and the Epic Games Store.
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Data version 2026.09.24 · reviewed 24 September 2026.