Expeditions: A MudRunner Game vs SnowRunner

Fans of car simulation games are in for a new experience with the latest Saber Interactive release, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game. It’s up on all major platforms starting March 5, with a bespoke gameplay design that doesn’t seem to mimic the prequel, SnowRunner. For gamers who are yet to catch the new release, read on for a comprehensive Expeditions: A MudRunner Game vs. SnowRunner outlook and see how the titles compare. 

What is Expeditions: A MudRunner Game?

Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is Saber Interactive’s latest video game entry that launched on March 5, 2024, for almost all platforms. Off-road simulation video game fans can catch the thrill on Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. 

It’s a spin-off from the original game, the MudRunner series, but it offers players a more adventurous and advanced spirit as they employ technology to identify and achieve their objectives.

The game holds over 70 missions and more than 120 side activities. Such an extension will surely maintain your excitement through the phenomenal 30 square kilometers of driving terrain. Buckle up for an exploration of a 9-map terrain in three different regions. 

What is SnowRunner?

SnowRunner is a car-driving simulation video game from the US-based developer Saber Interactive. It’s a next-generation off-road driving game that was first released in 2020 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A Nintendo Switch version would follow in 2021, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S finally dropping on May 31, 2022.

The publishers, Focus Home Interactive and Saber Interactive, announced the game in 2018 as a follow-on from Spintires and a continuation of the prequel, MudRunner, revealing the title a year later.  

Ultimately, SnowRunner launched to critical acclaim, offering the car simulation game fandom an exciting opportunity to cruise powerful vehicles through extreme open-world terrains to complete tons of missions. Players can take on the challenging missions alone or enjoy the game in a coop with up to three friends. 

Gameplay

SnowRunner is set on a simple gameplay objective of driving through different terrains to deliver cargo for construction or repair projects. But it’s far from your ordinary drive, which makes the game pretty interesting. The map is set in rural areas where you cruise through the roughest terrain. Your task is to overcome mud, snow, territorial waters, frozen lakes, and broken pipelines.

There’s a generous fleet of over 50 vehicles, including suitable models for missions and roads like Ford, Freightliner, and Chevrolet. Some landscapes are definitely there to damage your vehicles. Fortunately, the game embeds a physical damage system indicated on the interface, adding to the game's realism.

Players also encounter timed side missions to complete and get rewards. The faster you complete a mission, the more rewards you earn. Money rewards can be used on vehicle upgrades. Additionally, they are used to acquire new and improved vehicles that can traverse off-road more comfortably. 

With Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, you will still be driving through treacherous unpaved roads but on a different mission. Players journey in exploration from Arizona to the Carpathian Mountains on scientific research missions, uncovering hidden treasures and abandoned ruins. The gameplay is set in a much similar environment to SnowRunner but with a unique mission and approach to achieving the game’s objectives.

Game Modes

For players just starting on SnowRunner, the game offers Normal Mode as the basic version. Here, players embark on balanced gameplay with a reasonable range of vehicles. Its missions are somewhat of a not-too-difficult playthrough. Offering chances to make a few mistakes and get back on track without much trouble, it is suitable for almost any player.

However, if you feel all geared up for a bigger challenge, you can switch to the little, unforgiving Hard Mode. Here, errors can be costly, and you don’t have much freedom with vehicles and other equipment. However, the overall experience in hard mode is fulfilling for gamers who prefer difficult missions with huge rewards. 

Finally, SnowRunner lets you decide if you want to take the ride alone in solo gameplay or ride along in a 4-player coop mode. 

In Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, players embark on the journey through the same virtual off-roads with no option to change the difficulty level. Each player must have a cunning and good grasp of the game mechanics to maneuver the rocky and picturesque terrain to enjoy each expedition. Beginners would have to buckle up for a curve of failures and replays. This is all before they master the basics and know the ins and outs of the expeditions. 

For the coop mode, Saber Interactive has yet to add the feature they announced would be a free update for Expeditions: A MudRunner Game fans. 

Features

Enjoy a blend of features that collectively deliver a phenomenal title with ever-rewarding gameplay on SnowRunner. Ranging from the vehicles’ colors, tires, and frame attachments, you will marvel at the game’s infuse of aesthetics and mechanical customizations. Players can always customize or expand their off-road fleet and accessories, including a snorkel for traversing the heavy waters.

But Saber Interactive does an even better job on the features for Expeditions: A MudRunner Game. The map is a vast open environment that players explore with multiple all-terrain vehicles. The developer, however, includes several tools that make the gameplay more intriguing. These could be  jackscrews that flip your ride or drones that allow you to scour the map for valuables. You can also equip your machines with sonar detectors that determine water depths. Even more interesting, you can attach a winch to a surface to help you scale stiff cliffs with your vehicle. 

Verdict

Saber Interactive goes out of its way to present some of the best car simulation video games, as evident in the MudRunner series. Originally, the games seemed to have followed the same approach, with SnowRunner hitting the climax of the off-road transportation design. The game is quite a hit, is still a highly acclaimed title, and even seems to beat the latest entry in a comprehensive Expeditions: A MudRunner Game vs. SnowRunner analysis.

Although the new installation comes with unique gameplay and some modernized features, for now, it lacks some of the basics, like the difficult levels and coop mode, which are key elements that make SnowRunner quite captivating.

So, what’s your take on our Expeditions: A MudRunner Game vs. SnowRunner outlook? Have you tried Expeditions: A MudRunner Game? Let us know here on our socials or down in the comments.