RoadCraft, A Muddy Review!

Mud is the number one enemy in off-road driving, especially if you haul heavy cargo in a truck. Transporting such cargo through mud is one of the fundamental elements in RoadCraft, a title that combines challenging driving with infrastructure repair.

After natural disasters, our reconstruction-specialized company must tackle many challenges, including asphalting roads, starting factories, and sending convoys with materials. 

That is just one part of the entire experience, as we have a wide range of vehicles at our disposal to solve the various problems in front of us. Thus, terrain exploration and planning are the first steps toward completing tasks, as some present logistical challenges.

Are you in the mood for something in space? Check out our Revenge of the Savage Planet review!

RoadCraft, The Basics

Still, before reaching such tasks, one must become familiar with the basics of RoadCraft. The first two maps (out of eight) serve as an introduction to the infrastructure restoration job, using only a few vehicles. There, we will get to know the possibility of recycling materials to create resources and build bridges, and we will also operate cranes because something needs to be used to move the heavy cargo. As new maps are unlocked, access is granted to new vehicles, some of which we receive for free—albeit in a rusty version.

The other option is buying new vehicles with better characteristics, many of which are locked behind a required amount of cash and reputation points. You guessed it—those are earned by completing all challenges.

From the start, it quickly becomes apparent that there's no fuel system because we must monitor consumption while vehicles run. Also, there is no vehicle damage, so accidentally hitting a wall is not critical. It's a different story if the car flips over or the engine gets submerged, which usually means returning to base or trying to recover the vehicle with another one. 

While removing fuel as an active gameplay element might sound odd compared to previous titles, it makes sense here due to the different gameplay styles. Tasks often require combining multiple components, so adding fuel management would be an additional headache. Inaccessible terrain is already a challenge, which further increases the difficulty in a way that negatively affects the fun. Fuel still exists as a resource used for the mobile base.

The Gameplay Of RoadCraft

In RoadCraft, a vehicle can summon all other vehicles, regardless of where they are located on the map—provided we have fuel. This also means saving time if someone doesn't like driving machinery across challenging terrain. However, with teleporting vehicles, you must always be mindful of the exact location where the desired vehicle will appear. It wouldn't be fun if, for instance, a steamroller spawned in the middle of a mud pit. 

Despite that, this vehicle can sometimes be a real lifesaver. Thanks to its caterpillar tracks, it can much more easily traverse inaccessible terrain, so in the end, all heavy machinery can be transported from one end of the map to the other without issue.

Although the simulation element in RoadCraft has been simplified, the gameplay still involves activating all-wheel drive or shifting to a lower gear. Getting stuck in the mud is an entirely normal part of the job, but because of the focus on terrain deformation, one can now create an even bigger mess that later makes it even harder for vehicles to pass.

Asphalting the road on such sections is an important part of the game. There are missions with pre-defined routes for laying roads, and that part is automated once vehicles are in a specific location. This option is also available outside of specific missions, so we can place fresh asphalt anywhere to make vehicle passage easier—as long as we follow the exact procedure.

Sand, It's Coarse And Rough And Irritating

First, sand must be dumped, which is not always simple if the road is truly muddy and rugged. Then, the sand needs to be leveled, which requires a different vehicle. After that, jump into a third vehicle and pour asphalt, which, in the end, needs to be compacted using a steamroller—and just like that, four vehicles are needed for one thing. There is no need to mention that both the steamroller and the asphalt truck move at a snail's pace. 

Luckily, vehicles can be transported in other vehicles, shortening the required time, or we can use the previously mentioned mobile base. Either way, the task can be time-consuming—especially if you're going at it alone.

Coop Mode

In specific missions, it becomes clear how RoadCraft emphasizes cooperative gameplay, as the time needed to complete something is significantly reduced when playing with others compared to playing solo. For example, some tasks require two or three resources to be delivered to a specific location. That usually means gathering recyclable materials, transferring the resources—or, if the store is active, buying them and then transferring them again.

When such tasks are divided among several people, everything goes much faster than when one person drives trucks from one location to the second and then to the third. That's why it's always necessary to plan the most efficient process when playing solo; otherwise, a lot of time can be lost.

Everything would be much easier if vehicles were at least partially automated, allowing routes to be assigned for them to drive independently. Even if they got stuck somewhere, it would still save time through reduced manual driving. Especially since there are missions where convoy routes are planned, those vehicles automatically follow the assigned path. 

How are the Single Missions in RoadCraft?

Granted, they aren't always the smartest and can get stuck in places where they shouldn't. A bigger problem can occur if the route includes objects that might glitch out and stop the convoy. It's not a frequent occurrence, but if it causes a halt, it's only a matter of time before it happens again—just as the vehicle is near the object.

Despite some tasks being time-consuming when RoadCraft is played solo, the feeling of completing them remains a strong motivator for continued restoration, especially if they're finished in a slightly non-standard way. 

For instance, you must plan a route for a comically long truck relative to the cargo's size. Of course, the terrain it needs to drive over is not suited for such a vehicle, and there's mud along the way. I decided first to try laying sand and leveling the problematic sections, only to discover that it wouldn't be enough.

The maps where missions occur aren't huge, but the rough terrain makes them feel far larger than they are, especially in the early game, when roads and bridges are yet to be built, forcing you to snake your way through roundabout paths. Unlockable base camps help somewhat, but they're never conveniently placed too close to the main objectives. 

And while this might frustrate some, it also makes sense—it reflects the challenge embedded in the game's DNA. If you could cruise around the entire map without a hitch, you'd lose a significant chunk of what makes it so fun. The eight available maps offer a rich serving of content that can swallow up hours upon hours—especially for those aiming for 100% completion.

The Look and Feel

On the technical side, RoadCraft isn't a game that will shatter records with its graphics, but it's far from ugly. There's absolute praise to be given for its environmental design, vehicle models, and the visual aftermath of natural disasters. It's a shame there's no nighttime element. Sunsets are a sight to behold, and the transition to morning feels magical—but imagine what a starless, silent night might have added to the atmosphere, even if only as a brief segment of the cycle. 

On the other hand, the audio department could've used a tune-up. The soundtrack lacks those memorable themes that hum along with you as you drive, despite us having our shiniest XP-Panther Headset by our side.

It is a missed opportunity that there's no night cycle—because watching the sun go down and immediately skipping to morning? That's a strange kind of magic, but it makes you crave the dark.

The third-person camera sometimes throws a wrench in the works. The cockpit view is impressive, sure—it immerses you deep into the cab's rumble—but it's not always ideal for squeezing through tight paths in bulkier vehicles.

 And the external camera? It can be tricky. Lining up the right angle to see what's directly in front of the truck is no small feat, which makes it easy to get caught in debris. This issue becomes even more apparent when operating cranes or heavy-duty machinery—cue the acrobatics needed to find a workable camera angle.

In Conclusion

But these flaws aren't fatal. They won't wreck the joyride because RoadCraft injects a refreshing twist into off-road games with its mission-driven restoration gameplay. Whether you're fixing pipelines, laying down power cables, rebuilding structures, or delivering aid—RoadCraft rarely feels repetitive, even though its objectives are often similar across maps.

Tree-cutting, stump removal, rock clearing, even indoor driving inside buildings still under construction—all of it stays fun, thanks to the constant rotation of vehicles required for each job. This continuous switching keeps things engaging, and the diversity in difficulty across challenges ensures your fingers won't get bored—whether on a controller or keyboard.

RoadCraft stands on the shoulders of giants—MudRunner and SnowRunner built a solid foundation, and this game not only expands on it but spices things up with terrain manipulation and an even greater range of vehicles. Whether you go solo or jump into a co-op, this game is packed with entertainment—but also one that can test your patience if things don't go as planned.

And yet, that's part of the thrill—navigating the unknown or overestimating your machine's limits to shave off a few minutes. Speed, it turns out, isn't always a virtue—and this game proves it most enjoyably.

Rating: 8.4/10

Reason: RoadCraft impresses with its rich mechanics, challenging logistics, and cooperative focus, but it loses points for the lack of vehicle automation and minor AI hiccups.

Recommended Age: 12+

Reason: The game involves complex planning, resource management, and multi-step problem solving. It is best suited for older children and teens who can handle patience-demanding simulations and cooperative strategies. RoadCraft has an official rating of E for Everyone on ESRB.