I'm happy to be dragged through the mud by "Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game"

Please, don't get stuck. Please, don't get stuck. Damn. That's what I get for not sounding out the water level. All I had to do was explore the last corner of the map. Instead, the mission degenerates into a rescue expedition, during which the third vehicle also gets stuck in the mud. Luckily, there are no parking charges in the Arizona wilderness - that would start to get expensive.

I have no choice but to get my last truck out of the garage. But carefully now. I roll gently down the stony slope to the river, which holds three-quarters of my fleet in its wet clutches. I activate the differential lock so that all the wheels turn at the same time and give my vehicle more power. I change the gearstick to manual. This allows me to regulate the speed better. Then I attach my winch to the rear bumper of the off-road truck that has crashed. The wheels of my much lighter Scout are spinning, but slowly the lorry moves out of the mud. Another half metre - done. With a little more caution, this rescue operation would not have been necessary. But in "Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game", pulling your own lorry out of the mud on a regular basis is simply part of the game.

Linear and entertaining fun

"Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game" is, as the name suggests, part of the "Mudrunner" universe. Studio Saber Interactive landed a surprise hit with the last instalment "Snowrunner". The vehicle simulator, in which you manoeuvre huge heavy goods vehicles through muddy terrain, sold over ten million copies.

"Expeditions" focusses on smaller vehicles and shorter missions. Whereas in "Snowrunner" it can take half an hour or more just to reach the first stopover, in "Expeditions" I often collect my reward after just 15 minutes. This is partly because the missions are more compact and guided - but also because the routes are shorter.

Instead of transporting bridge parts or logs, in "Expedition" I go on an exploration tour, carry out measurements or collect dinosaur bones. In the two areas of Carpathia and Arizona, there are not only abandoned ruins, but also archaeological excavation sites. The vehicles are divided into the categories Scouts, Heavy and Offroad. You won't find any 18-wheel 40-tonne vehicles here. The missions are spread across three areas, with the first, Colorado, serving primarily as a tutorial and is also set in rocky Arizona. The wooded Carpathian Mountains are clearly the most visually varied.

The DNA of the "Mudrunner" series is immediately noticeable. Not only does the game look almost the same (pretty) as "Snowrunner", but the controls, the physics and the feel of the vehicles are instantly recognisable for fans. On the one hand, this is positive, as "Snowrunner" is a sensational game, but on the other hand, I feel there is a lack of differentiation. Although the scope is clearly too big for an add-on, I would have liked to have seen a few more new features in a proper sequel. But for 40 francs/euros, I'm not going to complain. And there are certainly new features.

Gadgets, air pressure and experts

There are the gadgets, for example. With the drone, I can explore an area quickly and safely to find a safe route to my destination. The echo sounder shows me how deep a riverbed is and whether I'm better off using a vehicle with a snorkel to cross it. Otherwise my engine will run down and get damaged. And then it comes to the story as in the introduction. As with "Snowrunner", the most important tool is the cable winch. I attach it to surrounding trees or vehicles to pull myself up steep slopes. The winch can now finally be moved in two directions. And if there are no branches nearby to save me, I set one of the new ground anchors and attach my winch to it.

Another new feature is that I can change the tyre pressure. Less pressure gives more grip on rocky surfaces, but also increases petrol consumption. Differential lock and manual gearstick are already available in "Snowrunner".

In addition, "Expeditions" introduces experts who act as modifiers. I select them before each mission. They have different advantages. The mechanic, for example, ensures that my vehicle suffers less damage when I'm speeding through the terrain. Logisticians bring additional fuel and spare parts. Operators, on the other hand, are drone experts who, among other things, mark airdrops on the map. Just like tools, experts cost money and I can only activate a limited number per mission.

More compact, but no less tricky

Unlike in "Snowrunner", where usually only the destination is shown on the map and the rest is left to me, "Expeditions" takes me more by the hand. The game often guides me from point to point until I reach my destination. There is room for manoeuvre in between, but the missions are more linear than in the predecessor. However, the areas also offer places to explore yourself. Sometimes I find tools, spare parts or resources that I can turn into money. Occasionally I stumble across side missions in which I have to pick up tourists. Exploring also yields financial rewards. And I can never have enough money. After all, there are 20 vehicles to unlock, all of which I can improve with numerous upgrades. A more powerful winch, more storage space or a better engine are just some of the things I can use to upgrade my trucks.

The many upgrades are necessary if I don't want to constantly get stuck or end up on the roof due to clumsy manoeuvring. Mud, as in the series name, is plentiful. In "Expedition", the brown sludge looks even muddier and leaves even better tyre marks than before.

Arizona's rocky landscapes offer a completely new challenge. Instead of getting stuck, there is a risk of collision damage or the vehicle tipping over. Individual boulders are particularly treacherous. They tend to get stuck under the car or shift to the most unfavourable places. I do miss the nice mud animations, but the driving technique requires more sensitivity. Too much speed and I collide with rocks or damage my suspension if I underestimate the depth of a pit. Fortunately, I can load my vehicles with spare parts and reserve tanks. If these are also used up and I don't feel like taking on the same hardships with another vehicle, there is a recovery option. This is free of charge the first time and brings my vehicle, including the load, back to the base. After that, the fun costs money and quickly cancels out the reward of a successful mission.

The recovery doesn't just work in emergencies. I also use it for fast travelling. This makes the missions even more entertaining and is great for people like me who can't stand backtracking.

Conclusion: a rocky road in the most positive sense

Driving slowly through the mud and leaving thick tracks in the process is also one of the highlights of "Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game". The driving experience and the animations are great. I can literally feel the massive off-road vehicles through my controller. The new gadgets liven up the gameplay and make for a more entertaining experience with the linear missions. In its predecessor "Snowrunner", I often wished for a more varied mission design. "Expeditions" delivers exactly that by focussing on smaller exploration missions with more agile vehicles.

The rocky landscapes of Arizona are an interesting addition that require a different driving behaviour. Even more sensitivity is required here and the game penalises mistakes more quickly with damage to the vehicle. As I can even adjust settings such as air pressure with just a few button commands, "Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game" is still suitable for casual players.

If you're looking for a cosy vehicle simulator that offers a little more pace and structure than "Snowrunner", then "Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game" is just the thing.

"Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game" is available from 5 March for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch and was provided to me by Saber Interactive. I tested the PC version.

Video games

Saber Interactive Expeditions: A MudRunner Game

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Saber Interactive Expeditions: A MudRunner Game

XBOX, DE

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Saber Interactive Expeditions: A MudRunner Game

Switch, DE

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Video games

Saber Interactive Expeditions: A MudRunner Game

Windows, FR