SnowRunner: 5 Best Tips for Beginners

If you thought trekking across the length of a post-apocalyptic world and back was daunting, wait till you get a load of transporting timber across ice-riddled canyons and crevices. That’s SnowRunner, in a nutshell, and it’s hands down one of the most demanding, albeit oddly satisfying physics-based driving simulators on the market. It’s so demanding, in fact, that publisher Focus Entertainment figured that the best way to squeeze fledgling truck drivers of all their patience, really, was to build a new game. But that journey—Expeditions: A MudRunner Experience—is still a fair ways off yet, so we’ve still got plenty of time to make a few more pitstops in the base game and its snow-glazed sequel.

To put it out there, SnowRunner isn’t the most complex game you’ll ever come across. It’s a little demanding at first, sure, but like most things, a little practice can take you a long way, and in this case, delivering timber faster than Evel Knievel himself. For the sake of putting you on the right track, though, here are the five things you should focus on just as soon as you get behind the wheel.

5. Avoid Shortcuts

In a game that requires you to make deliveries across vast distances, it’s easy to succumb to the temptation of throwing caution to the wind and taking whatever shortcuts you can find. This isn’t recommended in SnowRunner, though, as the only thing waiting for those who take shortcuts is a busted set of tires and snow-grazed breadcrumb trail a million miles from the nearest checkpoint or fuel station. So, do yourself a favor and stick to the roads; it’ll take longer, sure, but it’ll also save you from having to deal with any off-road disasters.

When it comes to planning your route, you’ll want to take pitstops including gas stations into account, as there’ll be a good chance your mode of transportation won’t be able to take you from A to B without the occasional hiccup. So, if you can help it, stick to the main roads, and keep your fuel as stocked up as possible.

4. Don’t Flee to Alaska

Shortly after you arrive in Michigan—a location in which the bulk of the low-paying missions are pinned—you’ll have the choice to move over to Alaska. It’s a tempting offer, for sure, as each Alaskan haul comes with a higher paycheck and better routes to explore. That said, as it’s Alaska, a place known for icy trails and dangerous roads, it’s recommended that you stay in Michigan — at least until you’ve found your feet and learned all the tricks of the trade.

Of course, you’ll have to move to Alaska at some point or another, as the riskier jobs will give you the money needed to buy better vehicles and other cosmetics. Having said that, you shouldn’t rush the opening area, so as soon as you receive the invitation to up sticks and relocate — reject it. Point is, there’s plenty to see and do in and around Michigan, so be sure to wipe the slate clean before moving on.

3. Finding Watchtowers Is Paramount

It’s all well and good being able to set out and forge your own paths, but unless you know the roads like the back of your hand, you’ll come to find that trips aren’t nearly as fun. On the contrary, they can actually turn out to be real pains in the backside, as you’ll spend more time trying hawking over landmarks than actually making any form of progress. To prevent this from happening, you’ll need to start checking off those watchtowers dotted around the world.

The purpose of the watchtower is simple: to provide its visitors with a lay of the land, and essentially fill in a portion of the map with missions, intel, and upgrades. You’ll want to start unlocking these as soon as possible, as enough watchtowers under your belt will pretty much reveal every route, shortcut, and gas station, making your job a whole lot easier.

2. When in Doubt — Winch Your Way Out

As frustrating as it is to admit, the fact is, you will get stuck when out on the road. This is something that, quite frankly, every seasoned pro and their neighbors have to endure at some point or another, so it’s best to get familiarize yourself with items like the winch as often as possible. Sure enough, the winch is arguably one of the most powerful tools in a driver’s arsenal, as it has the power to tow you out of any patchy situation. And given the fact that you’ll be spending a great deal of time slushing through snow — you can bet that it’ll come in handy at least once or twice per trip.

To use the winch, simply attach it to a solid surface, and then use it to pull yourself out of the sticky spot to a safe location. If you can help it, avoid driving down any dirt tracks, as these are more likely to have their fair share of sludgy puddles than the main roads. Don’t sweat it if you have to, though; just use the winch and you’ll be fine.

1. Salvage Abandoned Vehicles

When out on your adventures in and around Michigan and Alaska, there’s a strong chance you’ll come across one or two (or dozens, depending how much you play) abandoned vehicles. Don’t ignore these, as you can actually flip a profit by either having them towed to a nearby garage, or repairing it for an extra bit of pocket change.

Before you move over to Alaska, aim to salvage a few abandoned motors and build up some extra cash. Chances are, you’re going to need something a little more substantial when you finally hit the ice — so it’s better to fork out for all the additional upgrades before moving on. For starters, get yourself some chained tires, as these will help you hug the ice and keep you from having any slippery accidents. Once done, purchase a couple of additional vehicles, such as a pickup truck and a couple of other roadworthy vehicles.

So, what’s your take? Do you have any useful tips for SnowRunner newcomers? Will you be picking up a copy of Expeditions: A MudRunner Experience when it arrives on consoles and PC? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.