MudRunner
- October 30, 2017
- Focus Entertainment
- 17h median play time
More simulation than speed, Mudrunner is a technical marvel on a console
"MudRunner" is a tough off-road trucking simulation that tests your driving skills across extreme landscapes. Drive 19 powerful vehicles, each with their own attributes, to complete challenging tasks and navigate treacherous terrain. Experience realistic mud physics, day/night cycles, and harsh weather conditions in this immersive and addictive game.
Reviews
- graphics648 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their impressive realism and detail, particularly in mud and water effects, which enhance the immersive experience. While many players appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly on lower-end hardware, some critiques highlight that the visuals can appear dated or lack vibrancy, with a somewhat washed-out color palette. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, especially given the game's modest storage requirements, but there is a desire for further enhancements in future updates.
“The graphics look incredible for a game that came out a number of years ago and only requires minimal storage (1GB).”
“The graphics still hold up and look good for its age.”
“The mud and dirt graphics are amazing, and I never get enough of sitting on top of a big hill just viewing the awesome scenery.”
“The graphics are subpar.”
“The graphics are very bleak, not a lot of color to anything, fog everywhere, constant fog, fog in the morning, fog in the afternoon, fog in the night, no option to turn the fog off, actually not really any graphics options at all.”
“The graphics look worse and the camera is still shitty as always.”
- gameplay448 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Mudrunner" is characterized by its realistic off-road mechanics and physics, offering a unique and immersive experience for players who enjoy slow-paced, methodical driving through challenging terrains. While many appreciate the depth and variety provided by the game's mechanics and modding community, some find the core gameplay loop—primarily focused on transporting logs—repetitive and tedious. Overall, the game appeals to simulation enthusiasts but may not satisfy those seeking fast-paced action or diverse objectives.
“Impossible to get bored; the workshop always brings new mechanics and levels to experiment with, there is simply always something new to try and have fun with.”
“The realistic physics, challenging terrains, and immersive gameplay make it a must-play for simulation and adventure enthusiasts.”
“The gameplay is simple yet efficient, really well thought out, and the attention to detail in the environments and vehicle mechanics is commendable, making every muddy trail and obstacle feel authentic.”
“I've spent a few hours trying to enjoy this game over a few sessions, but the terrible vehicle mechanics just take me out of it.”
“The gameplay is extremely tedious and monotonous.”
“The driving mechanics and physics are pretty bad, which is really highlighted when you drive on roads.”
- story235 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative or story mode, with most missions revolving around repetitive tasks such as delivering logs from point A to point B. Players often express a desire for more variety in mission objectives and a deeper storyline, as the current gameplay primarily consists of fetch quests without engaging plot elements. While the mechanics and physics are praised, the absence of a compelling story leaves many players feeling that the game could benefit from additional content and mission diversity.
“The game offers a variety of challenging missions and tasks to undertake, ranging from simple deliveries to intricate rescue operations.”
“Every mission presents its own set of challenges, forcing players to carefully plan their routes, utilize winches and differential locks, and make strategic decisions to overcome obstacles and reach their destination.”
“The variety of maps and missions, as well as the option to play cooperatively, provide endless hours of engaging gameplay.”
“There are no other missions available in the campaign, and besides unlocking garages, there is literally nothing else to do.”
“The missions seem repetitive and boring overall; the goals make you go back and forth... honestly not very fun and kind of puts me to sleep.”
“I honestly regret buying this but in my search for something new in a supposedly new game, I've exceeded the 2-hour return policy in one mission.”
- grinding76 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely described as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant patience and persistence to progress. While some players find it rewarding and enjoyable, especially for fans of simulation games, many express frustration with the slow pace and repetitive tasks, likening it to a chore rather than a fun challenge. Overall, the experience can vary greatly depending on individual preferences for grinding in gameplay.
“Good when it's not very grindy.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's extremely grindy and for no reason that I can determine.”
“Gameplay is extremely tedious and monotonous.”
“Spending hours just grinding through yet another mud pit at 0.5 km/h just doesn't give me a sense of accomplishment.”
- music71 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players suggesting that it is best enjoyed alongside their own playlists or podcasts, as the in-game music is often described as repetitive and out of place. While some players appreciate the occasional achievement music and find the sound of the environment calming, others criticize the lack of a cohesive soundtrack and the abruptness of certain music cues. Overall, the consensus leans towards the idea that the game is more enjoyable when players supplement it with their own music rather than relying on the game's audio.
“My suggestion if you want to play this game is to put on some good music and just have fun.”
“Perfect to play and listen to a podcast or music and relax.”
“It's one of a kind experience, so relaxing with good music in the background!”
“No music and no radio.”
“There are no sounds or music during the gameplay.”
“Background music has like ~10 tracks and since each map is pretty long, the looping music will become annoying real quick.”
- optimization68 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance even on low-end systems and minimal resource requirements. While some players experienced occasional stuttering or FPS drops, particularly in demanding scenarios, the majority found the graphics impressive and the gameplay fluid, making it accessible for a wide range of hardware. The game is noted for its well-optimized engine, which enhances both performance and visual quality, contributing to a positive gaming experience.
“Game is pretty well optimized too, it runs on my little portable 4GB RAM secondary laptop.”
“This game is purely awesome, in its physics, vehicles and gameplay, also this game is extremely highly optimized and looks fantastic even on low settings and can run at 60fps on basically a toaster PC.”
“Best of all, the game is amazingly optimized and runs using minimum CPU/GPU effort at max settings.”
“Optimization is not the best; I get FPS drops in some areas, especially if the truck is loaded with cargo.”
“The game takes a good 40 seconds to load, and it is also incredibly unoptimized, often getting stuck in option menus.”
“The game, however, is a resource hog, pushing an i7 8750H with 16GB RAM running a GTX 1070 with Max-Q design to the limits of heat and performance.”
- stability56 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 84 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users have experienced smooth performance and minimal issues, others have faced significant problems that hinder gameplay, especially on lower-end systems. Overall, while the game shows potential and has improved from its predecessor, it still requires further refinement to achieve consistent stability.
“The game has been rock solid for me (4690k, rx480, windows 10 pro), runs great, looks quite a bit better than Spintires.”
“Still alive and runs great on Steam Deck.”
“It also runs great on low-end hardware.”
“Too buggy for a $25 game.”
“Most of my own and my friends' play time in this game was spent troubleshooting and crashing.”
“The game constantly freezes and/or crashes to desktop for some reason.”
- replayability39 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is generally viewed as decent to high, largely due to the active modding community that adds new content and challenges. While some players find it lacking compared to similar titles like SnowRunner, others appreciate the variety of vehicles and open-world maps that enhance replay value. Overall, the game offers a mix of experiences, with many players enjoying the challenge of different missions and the potential for endless gameplay through mods.
“The active modding community adds additional content and enhances replayability.”
“The variety of vehicles and the open-world maps contribute to the game's replay value.”
“A single map can last many hours, and replayability is excellent, as you can install new maps and trucks through the workshop.”
“This feels like a basic indie game with no replayability.”
“Replay value however is lacking.”
“After having finished these (in addition to the challenges and some further achievement farming), there might be not much replay value.”
- atmosphere37 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and realistic qualities, featuring beautifully crafted environments that evoke a sense of nostalgia and bleakness. Players appreciate the detailed graphics, including realistic mud and water effects, which enhance the overall experience, while the slower pace and somber tones contribute to a unique, atmospheric driving experience. However, some find the atmosphere can be overly depressing at times, suggesting a desire for more dynamic weather conditions to enrich gameplay.
“Nights and foggy weather are especially beautiful, and they help create a peaceful atmosphere.”
“Beautifully crafted Soviet backwoods atmosphere.”
“The dark, grey/brown/yellow, fall/winter, dim, foggy, eerie, dirty, cloudy, desaturated atmosphere of it.”
“The game has a sombre, almost depressing atmosphere, but this is in line with the slower pace of the game.”
“And while the desaturated environment and quiet atmosphere conveys a feeling of a harsh coldness and loneliness emphasizing a need to not get stuck, it can get a little walking dead depressing.”
“The dark, grey/brown/yellow, fall/winter, dim, foggy, eerie, dirty, cloudy, de-saturated atmosphere of it.”
- humor32 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, particularly in multiplayer settings where players can share hilarious moments while navigating challenging terrains and dealing with unpredictable physics. Many users highlight the comedic value of getting stuck or helping friends out of tricky situations, often leading to uncontrollable laughter. Additionally, the use of mods adds an extra layer of fun, making the gameplay experience even more entertaining.
“It's a great game to play with friends, laughing at each other struggling to get unstuck, lol.”
“Some of the hilarious moments of us trying to get each other out of stuck situations have entertained us for hours.”
“This game is an absolute gem when it comes to playing with a friend, as in no time you will inevitably burst out laughing together as your trailer tumbles down a hill while your friend tries to winch you out of being truck-deep under the mess you just created.”
“This is so unrealistic, that's not funny anymore.”
“The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
“I expected more clever humor, but it just didn't land.”
- monetization11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many users feeling misled by advertising that does not accurately represent the game's content. Reviewers express frustration over perceived low effort in development and the decision to go with an exclusive platform, which they believe undermines the community. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with users advising against purchasing the game.
“It's a blatant, shameless cash grab that the developer(s) have no response to.”
“Seriously though, you guys hyped up Mudrunner 2 and then gave your entire community the finger by going with the Epic exclusive cash grab.”
“As of now, it looks like a polished cash grab.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a powerful experience that evokes empathy and even tears, particularly during key challenges. Players appreciate the wholesome community and the enriching modding content, which enhances the overall enjoyment and emotional connection to the game. Despite some gameplay frustrations, the heartfelt narratives and struggles contribute to a uniquely touching experience.
“It is a relentless emotional assault that I suspect will force even the most jaded gamer to feel empathy.”
“I really liked the game through the first stage (tutorials) and then on to the 'challenges'; the end of the first challenge made me cry.”
“These struggles and little stories make this humble game about trucking one of the most wholesome gaming experiences I've encountered.”
Critic Reviews
Spintires: Mudrunner Review
There’s no denying that Spintires is a different take on the transportation simulator game, but different isn’t enough if the game in question doesn’t keep consistency in its simming. A decent title to potter about in, especially with others, but whenever additional rules are implemented, Spintires is apt to suffer.
60%Mudrunner: A Spintires Game PS4 Review
More simulation than speed, Mudrunner is a technical marvel on a console
70%Spintires: Mudrunner Review
With its pedestrian pace and delivery objectives, Mudrunner won’t appeal to an awful lot of people, but that doesn’t stop it being a fun and often relaxing experience.
70%