Roadcraft, the latest from Saber Interactive, surprised me. I expected another Mudrunner clone—yet after 40 hours of hauling, building, slaloming through mud and cursing axle physics, I found a solid, sometimes flawed, off-road sim that’s welcoming yet demanding.
Why I Dug In
As a veteran of the original Mudrunner, I love unlocking impassable routes. Roadcraft’s blend of terrain planning and vehicle management hit that nostalgia nerve—especially when running it on a high-end PC with an Xbox controller from my couch.
Your First Steps in the Mud
- No deep narrative—just pick your company name and logo, then hit the ground running.
- Simple mission briefings by a monotone voice add to the “to-do list” feel, but I still found myself optimizing every route.
- Exploration feels like a basic RTS planning phase: scout bridges, assess muck, chart alternatives.
Driving & Physics: Mudlife
Roadcraft nails a “permissive simulation” vibe. The switch-on differential, the life-saving winch and healing mud quirks strike a balance between hardcore and approachable. However, I noticed less punishing bogs and no localized vehicle damage—great for newcomers, mildly disappointing for purists.
Building & Repetition: The Double-Edged Shovel
Construction and repair missions shine early on: bridging rivers, clearing logs and routing AI convoys. That Factorio-meets-mud micro-management is fun—until it loops. Around 20–25 hours, tasks feel too uniform, even across diverse maps from “Africa” to “Europe.”
Graphics & Performance
Visually, Roadcraft is Saber’s best yet: detailed vehicles, convincing weather effects and lovely lighting. Yet occasional collision bugs, wild physics moments and uneven optimization remind you it’s still a work in progress. Audio is forgettable—after an hour, I muted the stock soundtrack and queued my own playlists.
Who Should Play?
- Off-road newcomers: an ideal entry point into the genre.
- Simulation fans craving less brutal punishment than SnowRunner.
- Co-op crews—teamwork in the mud truly elevates the experience.
Avoid if you live for deep tuning options or cinematic storytelling.
Final Verdict
Roadcraft delivers a rewarding haul in small doses. It’s accessible, visually pleasing and built for endurance, but its repetitive missions and bare-bones customization cap its long-term appeal. I’ll dive back in with friends—solo, I’ll wait for a fresh challenge.
Score: 7.5/10
TL;DR
Roadcraft offers a user-friendly off-road sim with a hefty run time and solid coop, but lacks deep vehicle customization and can feel repetitive solo. Ideal for beginners.
Leave a Reply