Off-road trucking simulator
SnowRunner is a sandbox-style trucking simulator from Saber Interactive. The second title of the series after MudRunner, this simulation game will have you travel across a brand-new Alaskan environment aboard your cargo truck. In this game, your job is to pick up contracts, deliver your cargo, and tow other vehicles to reach your goal of building your empire.
The meat of the game, however, is the moment-to-moment challenge of juggling different environments and avoiding being stuck in mud and ice as you inch your way up an ostensibly gentle hill.
Slow-paced but fun
What players need to know about SnowRunner is that it is not a game for the impatient. It is uniquely slow-paced that even when you are making progress, you will be traveling so slow that a continental drift can overtake you. Unlike other driving simulators, time isn’t the enemy here but the hostile and harsh terrain. The game map is unafraid to make you gain every inch of progression. Throughout your drive, you will pass through waterlogged swamps, snow-covered trails, and muddy bogs.
The game sets you and your truck in an array of distinct environments—from snap-frozen Alaska to muddy Michigan and even Taymyr in Russia. The game has a larger map than MudRunner, so you will have more grounds to cover. Moreover, there will be a vast selection of new cargo types weaved into more varied missions. Outside of your delivery work, you can pick up stranded trailers and rescue broken trucks. Unsurprisingly, every mission rewards you with cash, which you can use to buy brand-new and better trucks.
It offers hours of fun trucking time, considering how hard it is to negotiate a single slippery hill. The biggest drawback in the game, however, is the fact that the handling of smaller and lighter scout vehicles is not that great. They feel disconnected from the ground most of the time. Moreover, the game is slightly let down by the occasionally aggravating chase camera, some unnecessary menu shuffling, and illogical upgrade hurdles. However, it's still a fun game that you can play from start to finish in solo or four-player co-op.
Scandinavian expedition
The harsh and cold Scandinavian Mountains are all for you to conquer in the 11th season of SnowRunner. With its snowy peaks and jagged terrains, the mountain range extending across the Nordic countries is the ultimate destination for off-road truckers seeking adventure like the mighty Vikings. The game offers two maps, each covering four square kilometers of land area, where you can bask in the majestic glory of The North.
Against the backdrop of aurora borealis at night and along natural trails and byways, a range of off-road activities await you. From delivering construction materials to removing roadblocks, you have a vital role to play as a truck driver in the reconstruction of a small Nordic town. These activities, however, are just for starters. In Season 11: Lights & Cameras, driving for film productions is the main event.
Teeming with scenic views and breathtaking landscapes, the town attracts filmmakers where they can shoot unforgettable scenes. With your driving skills, you have to prove that you are worthy to be part of the logistics team. Here, you must deliver materials and equipment for buildings, facades, and giant green screens without delay. Equipped for scouting, NEO Falcon 2000 and Burlak 6x6 are two new vehicles ready to serve you.
Traversing Kazakhstan’s treacherous terrain
SnowRunner’s new Dig & Drill Expansion pack promises to transport players to the rugged terrains of Almaty in Kazakhstan. This new map spans over two square kilometers and features daunting mountain ranges and dense forests, designed to challenge even the most seasoned drivers. The intricately detailed environment complements the core mechanics, ensuring an immersive experience and fresh landscapes for players to navigate and conquer.
Central to this expansion are giant mineral quarries, which require extensive truck operations for transporting cargo. To assist in these demanding tasks, two new vehicles are introduced: the PLAD 450, an 8x8 beast designed for heavy-duty jobs, and the AAC-58DW, a versatile scouting SUV known for its stability and ability to handle treacherous terrains. Both vehicles are tailored to meet the new challenges posed by the Almaty map.
In addition to the new map and vehicles, the latest content includes a variety of new missions. Players can engage in tasks ranging from rebuilding mining infrastructure to delivering essential equipment to restore a cargo airport. With the addition of several bug fixes and improvements, such as enhanced co-op functionality and better wheel compatibility, this update ensures a richer and smoother gaming experience for its dedicated community.
Addictive and time-consuming game
SnowRunner isn’t the most glamorous driving game you will play. However, it provides a unique and methodical pleasure in beating the elements aboard your battered truck of choice. It is unapologetically time-consuming and tricky yet oddly addictive and rewarding when played. It is not often you will see an authentic slow-paced delivery simulator that does not bore you to death.
