system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Frostpunk] Why don't they just build things underground?
gpt
That would almost certainly be the long term plan if the frost doesnt lift.  Once the mines have been dug out enough, there will be plenty of empty space available for people to curl up into.  But, during the time of the game everyone is still assuming this will be a temporary winter, so they may as well make their settlement on the surface.  In most of the scenarios the cold does indeed start to let up after a few months.

In the short term though, mineshafts generally arent suitable for human habitation.  They still need to be heated (if you get deep enough this isnt true, but the ones in game need to be heated), and you still need people topside to collect wood, food, explore the wastes looking for survivors, etc.  You also need to make sure the air intake and venting is clear otherwise everyone would just suffocate.