RoadCraft
RoadCraft Review
RoadCraft is a distinct departure from the Snowrunner series, focusing more on road construction, logistics, and terrain modification than hardcore off-roading or vehicle simulation. Players engage in multi-vehicle operations, building roads, bridges, and infrastructure to reopen regions affected by natural disasters. The game emphasizes strategy and planning over traditional vehicle management mechanics like fuel consumption and damage, which have been removed or simplified. While the graphics and sound design are praised for their quality and immersion, the game suffers from inconsistent AI behavior, buggy vehicle controls, and some frustrating gameplay elements. Many players appreciate the fresh approach and the game's unique focus on construction and logistics, but others feel it lacks depth, challenge, and polish compared to its predecessors. Despite performance issues on some systems and a few design choices that limit freedom, RoadCraft offers a compelling, if imperfect, experience that is both relaxing and strategically engaging, especially in multiplayer. The game has potential for improvement through patches and additional content.
Highlights
Players praise RoadCraft's graphics and detailed environmental effects, such as tire marks, mud, and realistic sand physics. The sound design, including vehicle and environmental sounds, enhances immersion. The gameplay loop is appreciated for its focus on logistics, road building, and multi-vehicle management, offering a fresh take distinct from Snowrunner. The varied tasks and construction mechanics provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment. Multiplayer is noted as smooth and enjoyable, adding to the game's appeal. The driving experience balances weighty vehicle feel with accessibility, and the game runs well on capable hardware. Many enjoy the strategic planning and creative problem-solving aspects, finding the game fun despite some rough edges.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include buggy AI pathfinding that results in vehicles getting stuck or driving erratically, requiring players to frequently repair routes. The crane and vehicle controls are often described as confusing or inconsistent, with some vehicles not performing their intended tasks well. Lack of vehicle customization, fuel management, and damage systems disappoints players seeking depth and realism. The progression system and linear mission design limit sandbox freedom, and some find the UI clunky or mobile-like. Performance issues, including FPS drops and stuttering on various hardware, are reported. Additionally, repetitive narration, lack of a day/night cycle, and the absence of gameplay modifiers reduce immersion and replayability. Several players also highlight the need for better optimization and bug fixes to improve the overall experience.
Pros
- • Detailed graphics with realistic environmental effects enhance immersion.
- • Sound design is well-executed, including vehicles and ambient sounds.
- • Unique focus on road building and logistics offers fresh gameplay.
- • Multi-vehicle operations add strategic depth and variety.
- • Smooth multiplayer experience with shared progress and teamwork.
- • Driving mechanics balance weighty feel and accessibility.
- • Realistic sand physics and terrain deformation impress players.
Cons
- • AI pathfinding is poor, causing vehicles to get stuck frequently.
- • Crane and vehicle controls are confusing and inconsistent.
- • No vehicle customization limits player engagement and variety.
- • Lack of fuel consumption and damage reduces realism and challenge.
- • Linear mission design restricts sandbox freedom and exploration.
- • Performance issues and optimization problems on some systems.
- • UI is clunky and resembles mobile game interfaces.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
REBUILD EDITION
*Content coming after the game's release. More information coming soon.
**Available on release.
Get the Rebuild Edition of RoadCraft and receive the following content:
The base game
The Rebuild Expansion, which includes 2 maps filled with new contracts, activities, and utility vehicles*
The Invictus Type A, a powerful and unique scout vehicle, available at launch**
About the Game
As the leader of a company specialized in restoring sites devastated by natural disasters, use your construction machinery to restart the local industry. Clear debris and faulty equipment, rebuild roads and bridges damaged by weather, and much more!
You run a disaster recovery company, specialized in restoring sites devastated by natural disasters. Numerous tasks await you and your heavy machinery as you work to restart the local industry: clearing debris, replacing faulty equipment, rebuilding roads and bridges damaged by bad weather, deploying resource convoys to produce new reconstruction materials, and much more!
Experience a new generation of simulation with the brand new engine developed by Saber Interactive, the creators of MudRunner and SnowRunner. Handle each object with realistic physics, accounting for their mass and size. Interact with elements like sand, wood, and asphalt. Reshape the terrain and ease the movement of your vehicles thanks to your newly-built roads.
Each machine has its own behavior. Use your bulldozer to clear obstructions, your heavy transporter to carry multiple vehicles, or your fixed or gantry cranes to lift containers and equipment. Reconnect a factory to the power grid with your cable layer, lay down hot asphalt with your paver, and flatten it with your roller to create your own roads. Unlock over 40 vehicles as you progress through the story-driven campaign. Visit your garage to customize your machines with your company’s logo and repaint them with your personalized colors.
Disasters have caused chaos, cutting off access to many affected areas. You are the last hope to brave these extreme conditions. Whether in the mountains, the heart of the desert, or by the sea, your expertise is needed around the globe! Explore 8 unique maps, each 4 km², with their own biomes and buildings. Choose your itinerary through abandoned factories, submerged dams, or out-of-service solar fields. Search every corner to achieve your goals, and secure new contracts to earn additional funds and XP.
Collect remnants of wood, steel, and cement and transform them into components in your recycling plants, every piece of debris can be used for reconstruction! Supply factories and sand quarries to produce resources in bulk. As the operations manager, guide your transport trucks by plotting their routes on the map and ensure no obstacles block their way!
The world of RoadCraft offers a multitude of activities. Why not complete them with your friends? Set up a co-op session for up to 4 players. Divide tasks or focus together on a single objective. Combine your strengths and ingenuity to find solutions, even the most unexpected ones.
Hardcore Gamer
“A physics puzzler wrapped in a lavish simulator outfit”
PC Gamer
“I'm eager to keep playing”
autoevolution
As the leader of a company specialized in restoring sites devastated by natural disasters, use your construction machinery to restart the local industry. Clear debris and faulty equipment, rebuild roads and bridges damaged by weather, and much more!