RoadCraft PS5 Review: Saber Interactive’s Best Vehicle Sim Yet

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It’s been quite some time since we initially tried out Pavel Zagrebelnyy’s innovative off-road game, Spintires, back in 2014. Even at that early stage, this complex and incredibly challenging driving experience stood out as having a unique blend of tough mud terrains and stringent resource management, reminiscent of a puzzle. There was an undeniably addictive quality to the game that elevated it above its rough spots and glitches. And there were quite a few of those!

In a new and engaging take, Saber Interactive, now joined by Zagrebelnyy, unfolded Mudrunner’s sequel, followed by the impressive SnowRunner. They expanded upon the concept of navigating through mud-filled terrains in dilapidated vehicles, adding to the experience elements that might make you feel like you’re pulling your own hair and cursing at imaginary children.

Indeed, we subsequently experienced “Expeditions: A MudRunner Game” set in 2024, which, after playing the engaging “RoadCraft”, appears to be the initial step towards a more immersive experience from the developers. Expeditions presented us with a larger and more captivating world that was not just challenging terrain but a place you’d want to delve into and discover, rather than merely viewing as obstacles. It also introduced scouting, camping, and managing tools and technology to navigate a broader range of issues. The puzzle/driving series evolved to encompass elements beyond just the car’s predicament in some muddy landscapes.

Indeed, it’s quite ingenious how RoadCraft intertwines the concepts of utilizing tools, resource management, survival skills – which are essentially the roots of all fear – with an engaging scenario: that of navigating, cleaning up, and rebuilding places affected by terrifying natural disasters.

This setup is tailor-made for you, offering endless opportunities to maneuver your robust, customizable trucks on various adventures until they encounter trouble again. Moreover, it provides you with plenty of chances to utilize a wide array of tools, gadgets, and vintage service vehicles to pave roads, restore power and gas, construct bridges, clear obstacles, and more. Essentially, whatever task you can think of, sunshine, our company at Hideous Corp (you get to name your own disaster response team) will ensure it reaches its destination. Just remember, once we’ve righted this bulldozer, you’re all set!

As a passionate player, I find myself immersed in the captivating world of RoadCraft. This game offers eight initial maps (with additional ones on the horizon through DLC), each one requiring me to repair and reconnect damaged areas. What sets this adventure apart is that it’s not a direct sequel, but rather an innovative experience that allows me to interact with and manipulate my surroundings like never before. This incredible interaction is made possible by Saber Interactive’s advanced new version of their in-house ‘Swarm’ engine.

In simpler terms, RoadCraft offers an exciting playground where your old toy vehicles come alive. You’re given control over dozens of realistic vehicles, each carefully designed for both practicality and aesthetics – don’t forget the detailed cockpits! The game allows you to operate heavy machinery like diggers and dozers to clear roads blocked by wrecked cars and fallen trees, manipulate massive cranes to handle diverse items such as pipes and concrete, and transport goods across landscapes that have been ravaged by rockslides, hurricanes, floods, and various natural disasters. Some might find it hard to believe, but this level of destruction isn’t common in the UK; perhaps they could consider it a new DLC for an easier mode.

The intricate charm that games like SnowRunner possess, which has made these simulation titles so captivating and popular over time, remains unchanged. At first glance, these games may appear slow and challenging, but once you’re immersed, it’s hard to quit. A unique blend of frustration and excitement has been masterfully achieved – the thrill of successfully completing a demanding task makes you feel like a clever problem solver, even if you’re just using a digger to move a portable toilet off the road into a ditch! It’s fascinating how humans can find joy in such activities.

The subtle intricacies of this game are what truly make it shine, as it delicately manages to execute various tasks without causing any mishaps. Just like a crane handling its load with gentle feather taps, the game offers a realistic sense of control and resistance, whether you’re struggling to pull yourself out of deep mud or grappling with the hefty steering of a steamroller on sandy terrain after taking a wrong turn. These are the engaging aspects that make this game stand out. And now, we’ve enhanced those experiences by incorporating tactile layers such as building bridges that snap magnetically into place and automatically construct appealingly when you arrive with the necessary materials. This update has made the older games seem slightly less enticing in comparison.

In addition to constructing bridges, your tasks will include restoring power supplies, clearing densely wooded areas using large, yellow machinery often referred to as “tree destroyers,” and navigating detailed blueprints for route planning and damage assessment. You’ll also have the thrill of repairing damaged gas pipelines by gathering color-coded debris and guiding it to recycling facilities to create new pipe connections. This work involves solving one puzzle after another, each with its unique objective such as locating your destination, choosing the appropriate vehicles, organizing repairs along the way, managing materials, and ensuring their delivery – tasks that become increasingly intricate as you progress. Fortunately, Saber has become quite adept at streamlining these complex processes for a smooth workflow.

Exploring these damaged terrains, you’ll discover bases that allow you to store, recall, and purchase new vehicles from the game shop. These bases serve as a quick access point for your entire fleet, reducing travel time, essentially functioning like a fast-travel system. There’s even a cool truck that lets you spawn vehicles remotely at a cost. You can quickly jump into any of your deployed vehicles using the map too, which is convenient. Materials are shared across stores, but remember to manage your stocking up! Despite its complexity, it all functions surprisingly well. However, there may be occasional hiccups.

As a gamer, I’ve encountered a few minor hiccups that I believe could use some attention. The most noticeable issue is with the external camera, which at times can make it challenging to get a clear view of large objects like a crane when I’m trying to fully grasp their motion and range. It’s not a game-breaker, but it would be great if we had an option to slightly zoom out for better visibility. Additionally, there were instances where materials, such as concrete slabs on ropes, seemed to have a small glitch at the end. I understand that with something this complex, these types of issues can occur, but they’re worth addressing just the same.

At certain moments, we must emphasize that this game ranks among the most visually appealing ones we’ve played on our consoles in quite some time. While it might not reach the highest level of graphical fidelity offered by AAA titles, witnessing a sunset at the right moment or driving through verdant forests during a downpour is truly difficult to not find captivating. In essence, we can confidently say that this game is almost consistently AAA-stunning.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, the game is packed with impressive visual effects that truly bring the destruction to life. The sandy mounds from the tipper seem incredibly real as they cascade, and the reflection and volumetric effects work tirelessly to create landscapes that appear genuinely devastated. Frankly, I can’t remember ever seeing so much debris in a game – it’s astonishing how detailed these environments are.

And it’s not just about the visuals. There’s a satisfying loop of scouting, fixing, and cleaning up that makes you feel like you’re making a real difference. Add to that an eerily evocative soundtrack, and you’ve got yourself one heck of an immersive experience. It can be intense, but if you let it, the game is a thrilling ride!

Occasionally, this experience might feel more akin to Death Stranding than the lively Digger Championship 2025 you might have anticipated. As you immerse yourself in a methodical and focused flow, hopping into your exploration jeep to explore a potentially dangerous part of the map cautiously, battling against the elements until you establish your first base, thus creating a foundation for further progression. Indeed, it shares some of those same peaceful, contemplative feelings as you strive solo to reconnect various points. However, you’re not truly alone in this endeavor.

With RoadCraft, you can automate tasks and delegate jobs to a team of bots, setting routes for delivering goods once clearance has been secured. This feature introduces an exciting element, as it provides other vehicles to interact with on the road, offering opportunities to set up traps or experience road rage-like situations, adding another layer of enjoyment.

As a gamer, I must admit there’s one minor issue I’ve encountered while using this auto-routing system: vehicles tend to get stuck quite frequently, even when I’ve been meticulous in setting routes on the map. This means I often find myself having to pause my game and adjust or clear routes, which can be a bit frustrating, especially during tense moments like when I’m trying to right an overturned crane truck amidst a rockslide. It would be great if this could be smoothed out a tad, as it can get a bit overwhelming when it happens at the wrong time. Such is gaming life!

As an avid fan, I must say this new off-road simulator project from the developers is undeniably their most ambitious undertaking yet. Not only does it feature a massive campaign teeming with side objectives, but it also offers multiplayer mode for up to three players, making it a truly communal experience. Compared to earlier installments, this one delivers on the promise of its predecessors in terms of diversity, excitement, and grandeur.

While some traditional fans might prefer sticking to the older games due to differences like the absence of fuel management, I believe this version excels in other aspects such as variety, fun, and spectacular gameplay.

If you haven’t dabbled in Saber Interactive’s “Runner” games yet, we think RoadCraft stands out as one of their best works, although it doesn’t fall under the official series. It captures the core elements that make MudRunner and SnowRunner so engaging, and skillfully expands upon them by introducing new aspects such as exploration, thrill, and the allure of massive storms. These elements serve as motivators to keep you driving through the mud and obstacles.

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2025-05-19 19:37