Roadcraft Review (PS5, Xbox Series X|S & PC)

Developer Saber Interactive and publisher Focus Entertainment have plenty of experience with simulation driving games, having brought us MudRunner and SnowRunner in the past. Now, the team is back with Roadcraft, pushing players to tackle some of the most challenging terrain the genre has seen. After spending more than 50 hours with it, it’s clear that Roadcraft offers a unique and compelling experience. While it shares roots with earlier titles, this game stands on its own by mixing familiar gameplay with new ideas. Now, let’s dive into the full review to see what works, what doesn’t, and why Roadcraft deserves a look.

Starting Off in the Mud

Roadcraft doesn’t try to impress right away. There’s no flashy intro or cinematic storyline. Instead, it drops the player into a broken world, the kind that’s clearly been through hell. The world is filled with earthquakes and floods, clearly showing that something big happened. Bridges are down, roads are wrecked, and debris is everywhere. It’s not clean or polished. And that’s what makes it interesting.

From the start, players are given old, barely-working machines. The names say it all: “Rusty Loader,” “Worn-Out Scout,” “Old Tanker.” Nothing feels fresh. But that’s the point. The game isn’t about being powerful; it’s about rebuilding. About turning junk into something useful. And over time, that junk gets replaced with better machines, better tools, and better options.

The world looks like a place forgotten by time, where nature took back control. Everything is brown, green, gray, and grimy. However, it’s detailed, and there’s beauty in the mess. Even the wreckage tells a story. The broken pipes, stranded trucks, and a collapsed tunnel are not just obstacles; they hint at the world’s history.

Early on, it can be overwhelming. The controls aren’t exactly simple, and the menus aren’t friendly. But the game doesn’t rush the player. It gives them space to experiment, and once everything clicks, it’s hard to stop.

Roadcraft Review- Driving is a Mess

Driving is at the heart of Roadcraft, but this isn’t your average driving game. Forget about high-speed races and smooth roads. This is slow, careful, gritty movement across terrain that feels like it’s actively trying to stop you. Notably, everything has weight. The trucks feel heavy. The wheels dig into mud. The hills push back against progress. Water pulls vehicles off balance. Every trip becomes a small but intense challenge. And that’s what makes it fun.

Additionally, the terrain is never predictable. One minute, a truck might be cruising along dry dirt. A minute later, it’s stuck axle-deep in wet sludge. To maneuver, players have to read the landscape carefully. That includes checking slope angles, watching water depth, and spotting soft ground before it’s too late. Surprisingly, even driving down the same road twice can feel totally different depending on the vehicle load or the weather.

Now, that brings us to the AI. Frankly, it’s not good. AI drivers often can’t handle basic tasks. They’ll get stuck on tiny rocks or misread turns. If a player sends an AI to follow waypoints, there’s a chance the vehicle will flip, stall, or simply stop. Of course, it’s funny at first, but then it gets annoying. Eventually, most players decide it’s better to do everything themselves.

Fortunately, this driving simulation game shines brightest when you drive manually. There’s real joy in pulling off a tough delivery or conquering a messy trail. Toggling all-wheel drive or locking the differential adds strategy. Every successful trip feels earned, especially when the truck is loaded and the road is rough.

A Never-Ending To-Do List

One thing Roadcraft never lacks is stuff to do. There’s always another job, whether it’s hauling steel to a new bridge, clearing rocks from a collapsed road, or dropping off fuel at a remote outpost. Interestingly, the game doesn’t tell players what to do next. It simply scatters jobs across the map and lets them choose. Each task might seem small at first, but most lead to bigger challenges. For example, delivering supplies might require crossing a broken bridge. That means fixing the bridge first. But the materials are behind a landslide, so that needs clearing too. One job quickly turns into five.

That’s the magic of Roadcraft. It creates this constant loop of small goals, each linking into the next. The satisfaction doesn’t come from completing a mission; it comes from knowing everything works together. What begins as a single delivery ends up reshaping an entire part of the map.

Furthermore, players can approach things in totally different ways. Some will build stable, efficient roads and take the safest routes. Others will embrace the chaos, winching trucks over hills, trying weird shortcuts, and hoping their rig doesn’t fall apart. Ultimately, the game doesn’t punish either style. In fact, it rewards creativity, patience, and flexibility.

Even the optional side tasks are worth doing. Clearing junk off a random road might not be required, but it can make future deliveries easier. Bringing extra materials might give a few additional bucks, but it also makes the world feel cleaner and more usable. Over time, the whole map begins to reflect the player’s effort.

Multiplayer Mayhem

While Roadcraft works fine as a solo experience, multiplayer takes it to another level. Up to four players can join the same world, share vehicles, and tackle jobs together. Co-op feels surprisingly natural. One player might focus on scouting and planning, while another drives the heavy hauler. Someone else might handle loading cargo or repairing equipment. Everyone finds a role, and the teamwork creates some truly fun and chaotic moments.

Now, when it comes to multiplayer gameplay, the host has full control. They can manage permissions, block randoms from joining, and decide who can access what. That makes it easier for organized groups to stay on task. But even casual groups will have fun, especially when things go wrong in hilarious ways.

On the other hand, the voice chat is built in, though most players will probably prefer Discord or similar apps. Communication is key. Without it, trucks might get stranded or routes might cross awkwardly. But with solid teamwork, big jobs feel smoother and more rewarding. Watching a friend try to pull three trailers through a swamp and tip all of them is peak comedy. Then suddenly, the whole team jumps into action, bringing winches, scouts, and cranes to rescue the mess. Ultimately, multiplayer gives the game more life. It turns it from a quiet sim into a messy, living puzzle where everyone’s trying to fix the world together.

Rough Around the Edges- Roadcraft Review

As good as Roadcraft is, it isn’t without problems. The game looks solid overall, but technical issues show up pretty often. One of the most obvious problems is object pop-in. Small rocks, bushes, and other details sometimes appear only a few feet ahead of the truck. It’s distracting, especially in more detailed maps. On PC, even strong rigs can suffer from micro-stutter or frame drops, especially when weather effects kick in.

A good graphics card is a must. Something like an RTX 3080 can handle things well, especially when paired with DLSS or FSR upscaling. But even then, performance can dip at times. It’s not game-breaking, but it’s noticeable. 

In addition, console versions hold up fairly well. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X both offer a 60 FPS performance mode, while Series S is limited to 30 FPS. The game looks good on all three, but the resolution can vary depending on the load.

Bugs are part of the package, too. Trucks sometimes clip into structures or get stuck on invisible objects. Crane arms can behave strangely. Occasionally, a truck will refuse to move until it’s reset. Notably, these issues don’t happen constantly, but they happen enough to be frustrating. Still, they don’t ruin the game. Fans of sim games expect a little jank. It’s almost part of the experience. And Roadcraft, to its credit, always recovers. A reload or quick switch usually solves the problem.

Roadcraft Review-The Good

What really sets Roadcraft Review apart isn’t just its systems, it’s the feeling it creates. The game is quiet. Reflective. It encourages players to take their time and think things through. Notably, there’s no loud music. The soundtrack sticks to simple acoustic guitar and ambient tracks. It doesn’t demand attention, but it adds just enough atmosphere. Most of the audio comes from the vehicles themselves, from engines rumbling, metal scraping, to winches pulling cables tight. These sounds ground the experience and make it feel real.

The voice acting is minimal. One operator checks in occasionally, giving players new tasks. She’s calm and informative. It’s not a dramatic role, but it fits the tone of the game. You’re not a hero. You’re a worker. And that’s exactly how it should feel. There’s also something peaceful about playing. Watching the sun rise over a half-flooded highway, or finally clearing a road that’s been blocked for hours, brings a kind of satisfaction that’s rare in modern sim games. 

Verdict

Roadcraft Review is far from perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. What it offers is something few sim games do: a slow, thoughtful, meaningful experience. The game gives players tools, challenges, and freedom. It trusts them to figure things out and rewards them for doing so. It’s not always smooth. It’s not always fair. But it always feels real. For Sim fans, or anyone who enjoys solving problems at their own pace, this is a must-play. Whether playing solo or with friends, there’s always something satisfying to do. And for $40, it delivers more value than many bigger titles.