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SnowRunner

Saber Interactive delivers in a big way, transforming a great idea into a full-fledged experience. Our review.
83%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, stability
88% User Score Based on 24,102 reviews
Critic Score 77%Based on 21 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SEpic GamesEpic GamesPlaystation 5Playstation 5Playstation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchXbox Game PassXbox Game PassCloudCloudMac OSMac OSXbox OneXbox OneXbox Cloud GamingXbox Cloud GamingPhonePhoneTabletTabletNVIDIA GeForce NOWNVIDIA GeForce NOW
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About

"SnowRunner" is an off-road driving game that features a highly advanced terrain simulation, allowing you to conquer extreme open environments in powerful vehicles from brands like Ford, Chevrolet, and Freightliner. Overcome mud, water, snow, and ice while completing contracts and missions, and customize your fleet with upgrades and accessories. Play solo or in 4-player co-op, and expand your experience with community-created mods.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
SnowRunner screenshot
SnowRunner screenshot
SnowRunner screenshot
SnowRunner screenshot
SnowRunner screenshot
SnowRunner screenshot
SnowRunner screenshot
SnowRunner screenshot
SnowRunner screenshot
SnowRunner screenshot

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 24,102 reviews
story153 positive mentions
grinding244 negative mentions
  • story
    1,253 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many players noting that it primarily consists of repetitive fetch quests and delivery missions without a compelling narrative. While some missions offer a sense of progression and accomplishment, the overall experience feels grindy and lacks meaningful storytelling elements, leaving players to create their own narratives through gameplay. The absence of NPCs and a dynamic world further detracts from any potential story engagement, making it more of a simulation experience focused on completing tasks rather than following a cohesive plot.

    • “The variety of contracts, missions, and cargo types keep the gameplay fresh, and there's always a new challenge to conquer.”
    • “The detailed vehicle mechanics, customizable upgrades, and dynamic weather effects make each mission feel immersive and rewarding.”
    • “Completing missions is a lot of fun, because you have to work hard for each mission, and when you finish the mission, you can take a deep breath.”
    • “There is no real story.”
    • “The missions have lame excuses to do things.”
    • “The quest design is abysmal.”
  • graphics
    874 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising their stunning realism and attention to detail, particularly in terrain and vehicle modeling. Players report that the visuals enhance immersion, making the gameplay experience more engaging, even on lower-end systems. However, some users have noted occasional graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly on AMD graphics cards, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with realistic weather effects, dynamic lighting, and detailed environments that make the game feel truly immersive.”
    • “The graphics and physics are unbelievable! The visuals are just a little worse, but the physics are so much better.”
    • “The graphics are breathtakingly realistic, and the terrain is vast, challenging, and unforgiving.”
    • “Game looks like an unfinished project with a clunky GUI, but awesome physics and nice graphics in the mood of Stalker's environment.”
    • “The graphics are a lot worse than I expected; even with everything maxed out, the effects are pretty poor. No water splashing, everything looks very 'last gen' and it looks better in the trailers than actually in-game.”
    • “The game lacks polish and could do with a bit of an overhaul with the graphics, sound, and physics, but it's still a damn enjoyable game.”
  • gameplay
    859 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Snowrunner is characterized by its challenging and immersive off-road driving mechanics, requiring players to navigate difficult terrains while managing resources and vehicle upgrades. While many players appreciate the depth and strategic planning involved, some criticize the slow progression and occasional frustrating mechanics, particularly in multiplayer. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of relaxation and challenge, with extensive content and replayability, making it appealing for fans of simulation and off-road driving genres.

    • “It's a rather relaxing truck driving game, kind of similar to ETS2 or ATS since the main gameplay loop is just delivering cargo from A to B to be able to afford better trucks and better equipment.”
    • “The detailed vehicle mechanics, customizable upgrades, and dynamic weather effects make each mission feel immersive and rewarding.”
    • “The gameplay encourages exploration and experimentation, making it a fantastic sandbox for those who seek adventure and creativity in their gameplay.”
    • “The game could be fun but has so many horrible gameplay choices that just make it very frustrating.”
    • “Gameplay consists of moving stuff around the map mainly.”
    • “The gameplay is too complicated; you have to restart 100 times every time when you get stuck!”
  • grinding
    286 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that it requires an excessive time investment to progress. Tasks often involve driving the same routes multiple times, and the unresponsive controls can exacerbate the frustration. While some players find satisfaction in the grind, the overall sentiment suggests that the game may not be enjoyable for those who dislike slow-paced, grind-heavy gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Lots of things to unlock but no microeconomy, so no grinding.”
    • “The controls are unresponsive and clunky, making simple maneuvers unnecessarily tedious.”
    • “This is just another tedious task grinder now.”
    • “The game starts way too slow and it just won't accept my superdrive gs-850-x steering wheel while the steering wheel works on games like farming simulator just fine.”
  • stability
    218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent glitches, frame rate drops, and crashes, particularly during co-op play. While some users note that the game runs well on certain hardware configurations, many express frustration over persistent bugs that disrupt gameplay and hinder the overall experience. Despite its enjoyable mechanics and visuals, the ongoing stability issues have led to mixed recommendations from the community.

    • “My entire playthrough has been 90% bug-free.”
    • “Runs great on a base MacBook M3 Pro 14".”
    • “It runs great, plays great, and is a lot of fun.”
    • “Also has massive frame rate hitches while the game loads certain areas and you wonder for a second 'did it crash?' because it completely freezes for a moment.”
    • “Buggy as hell, you can't refuel sometimes and the game often just freezes to the desktop.”
    • “The more you play and progress through areas and maps, the more you realize how half-assed and buggy everything is.”
  • music
    165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and ambient, enhancing the beautiful visuals and creating a chill atmosphere for players. While many appreciate the soundtrack for its calming qualities, some find it repetitive and liken it to "elevator music," suggesting that players might prefer to listen to their own playlists or podcasts instead. Overall, the music complements the gameplay well, making it a suitable choice for those looking to unwind while navigating the game's landscapes.

    • “The worlds are stunningly beautiful, and the soundtracks are brilliant at creating really magical moments 'out there in the wilderness'.”
    • “Very relaxing game with beautiful visuals and an amazing soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic; each region and time sounds different.”
    • “If I had to complain about something in this game, the music/soundtrack is compared to elevator music.”
    • “The music is repetitive and leaves the game as a good opportunity to catch up on podcasts and Spotify.”
    • “Barely any music, and when there is music it is terrible.”
  • optimization
    121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame rate drops, and glitches, particularly on lower-end hardware. While some users report good performance on high-end systems, others find the game poorly optimized, leading to frustration and a diminished experience. Overall, while the graphics and gameplay are praised, the need for better optimization and bug fixes is a common concern among players.

    • “With my optimization, I enjoy the atmosphere, beating the tough terrain and realistic movement of trucks, feeling good about making it through where I need to go.”
    • “It's insanely fun, with the best optimization I've ever seen in a game, the graphics are stunning and for a non-simulator it's greatly realistic.”
    • “The graphics, performance, and of course the groundbreaking vehicle physics put this game in a league of its own.”
    • “I have over the recommended hardware requirements, but the performance is really bad.”
    • “Utter horsewaste performance.”
    • “Badly optimized for PC, FPS drops, stutter, all the 'fixes' had to do with graphics card updating software.”
  • humor
    84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players frequently sharing hilarious moments stemming from the game's quirky physics, unexpected glitches, and the chaotic fun of multiplayer sessions. Many reviews highlight the joy of playing with friends, where mishaps like flipping trucks or getting stuck lead to uncontrollable laughter, making the experience both entertaining and lighthearted. Overall, the game strikes a balance between challenge and comedy, ensuring that players can enjoy a good laugh while navigating its off-road adventures.

    • “I've experienced many funny and stupid moments in this game that always brings me back expecting the unexpected.”
    • “The physics are very good, trucks falling over and towing them straight up again, challenging roads, irritating mud, snow, gorgeous truck models and laughing at your mate(s) as they tip or get stuck.”
    • “Multiplayer just multiplies the fun with up to 4 friends with absolutely hilarious moments ensue.”
    • “Not SnowRunner. Sometimes you get yeeted into the sky, and although that's funny sometimes, it's not funny when you're playing a task and it's important, then you winch to a glitchy tree and go flying.”
  • replayability
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game exhibits high replayability due to its vast array of vehicles, numerous contracts, and the availability of DLC and mods, which significantly enhance the gameplay experience. While some players find the progression and missions tedious, many appreciate the immersive open-world environment and the potential for endless replayability, especially when playing with friends. However, a few users express a preference for other games, citing limited replay value in comparison.

    • “With a vast array of vehicles to unlock and customize, and numerous contracts and side missions, the game has significant replay value.”
    • “Snowrunner offers a high level of replayability with its vast open-world environments and multiple objectives to complete.”
    • “The addition of the new American maps not seen in Mudrunner shakes up the gameplay, and the increased amount of cargo types and missions makes the game much more replayable.”
    • “There is also no viable replayability except to play out of boredom when you finish maps.”
    • “But the progression is mind numbing, the missions boring, and the replay value very 'meh'.”
    • “At this point I am starting to think that even Cities: Skylines multiplayer mod is more playable than this, which is a pretty bold claim.”
  • atmosphere
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, enhanced by beautiful graphics, realistic sound design, and diverse landscapes. Players appreciate the chill vibe and the engaging environment that complements the gameplay, making it enjoyable for exploration and challenges. However, some critiques mention that while the visuals are stunning, the atmosphere could benefit from more dynamic elements, such as wildlife, to create a livelier experience.

    • “The sound design complements the visuals perfectly; the roar of engines, the crunch of snow under tires, and ambient sounds create an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The serene and tranquil atmosphere makes it a truly relaxing experience, especially when you're tasked with rescuing a vehicle stuck in the swamps or delivering heavy cargo to a remote rural area.”
    • “The chill, take-your-time atmosphere this game fosters makes it really enjoyable, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a vehicle experience beyond the standard racing fare.”
    • “While the graphics, atmosphere, shifting, and traction are an upgrade from the prior games, SnowRunner suffers harshly from development that isn't serving the players.”
    • “Where MudRunner had art direction and atmosphere, SnowRunner has graphics, mediocre sound design, a plethora of bugs, and a core gameplay mechanic that aims to waste your time as much as possible.”
    • “The atmosphere looks and feels like a real wilderness, but feels too frozen in time; it could be much better if there were some life around—deer, boars, bears, mosquitoes, and some occasional people at work.”
  • monetization
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game is heavily criticized for relying on frequent and costly DLCs and season passes, which many players view as cash grabs rather than meaningful content. Users express frustration over the imbalance between paid and free content, with DLC trucks consistently outperforming non-DLC options, and highlight issues with the game's overall polish and functionality. Despite the game's potential, the aggressive monetization tactics detract significantly from the player experience.

    • “The monetization model is pretty much just collectibles (i.e. shiny new trucks) and those DLC trucks are always better than any non-DLC truck.”
    • “The monetization is a bit much, especially since there are DLCs that aren't part of the yearly passes.”
    • “Game itself is good, but the monetization here is super shady.”
    • “The season passes and DLCs make it hard for me to view it as anything other than a cash grab.”
    • “Constant new DLC comes out, another cash grab every 6-12 months at this point.”
    • “It is a cash grab cloaked in a relaxing truck driving sim.”
  • emotional
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of frustration and reward, drawing players into a deeply immersive experience that can evoke strong feelings, from joy to emotional turmoil. Many users appreciate the game's attention to detail and challenging gameplay, which fosters a sense of investment and connection, while others express dissatisfaction with certain mechanics that detract from the experience. Overall, it offers a unique blend of wholesome fun and emotional challenges, making it a memorable adventure for players.

    • “Challenging enough to get you emotionally invested and rewarding enough to keep you coming back.”
    • “Its attention to detail, realistic physics, and emotionally charged gameplay combine to create an addictive concoction.”
    • “As someone who loves offroading, I can say that SnowRunner has provided me with one of the most immersive and emotional gaming experiences I've ever had.”

77%Critics’ scoreBased on 21 critic reviews

Buy SnowRunner

79h Median play time
168h Average play time
20-230h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 119 analyzed playthroughs

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