If pushing toy diggers, trucks, and loaders in a sandpit consumed hours of your childhood, and you’ve been waiting for a more immersive, engaging driving simulator, RoadCraft might just be your next obsession. Developed by Saber Interactive, this upcoming title blends the meticulous off-road navigation of SnowRunner with an ambitious infrastructure-building component, letting players reshape the world around them through their construction efforts.
As the head of a disaster recovery company, players tackle the monumental task of restoring sites devastated by natural disasters, and rebuilding civilisation one road, bridge, and power grid at a time. The world of RoadCraft feels vast, often pushing the player to make impactful decisions through the restoration of destroyed infrastructure.
Saber Interactive has already proven its expertise with slow-burning yet deeply satisfying gameplay in titles like SnowRunner and Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, and with RoadCraft, they seem to be expanding upon this formula in a positive way, adding new layers of depth. The game provides an opportunity not only to navigate challenging terrain but to transform it through construction.
Beyond Transport
RoadCraft’s standout feature lies in its dynamic terrain interaction. You’re not merely hauling cargo through treacherous conditions, but actively constructing and restoring the pathways that will make future transport possible. With over 40 vehicles—including cranes, bulldozers, and tarmac layers—RoadCraft offers an expansive toolkit that goes far beyond the standard off-road fare.
The game features a robust sandbox-style approach where players can carve out new routes, construct bridges, and bring vital resources to life, all while managing their fleet of construction vehicles.
During Steam Next Fest, players had the chance to sample a demo with three unique maps, each showcasing different environments and mission sets. This early taste revealed a seamless blend of driving, operating heavy machinery, and managing reconstruction resources.
The full release of RoadCraft promises to allow up to four players to team up in co-op mode, adding a collaborative layer to the gameplay—a welcome feature for those who enjoy working together on large-scale rebuilding projects.
A Step Forward in Player Agency
One of SnowRunner’s frustrations was that, despite its impressive fleet of vehicles, progress often felt slowed by unchanging environments. RoadCraft addresses this by giving players the ability to alter the terrain, making the world feel dynamic and responsive. Whether carving new paths for supplies or laying down the foundations for new infrastructure, players are empowered to leave a lasting impact on their environment.
The upcoming full release promises even more freedom, especially in how players approach construction and terrain modification.
How Does It Play?
The early demo suggests a careful balance between realistic vehicle handling and intuitive construction mechanics. The trucks retain their characteristic weight, making progress slow and deliberate, while the new gameplay elements—such as crane operation and road laying—are accessible after a short learning curve.
However, as with any demo or preview, there were a few technical hiccups, including some issues with the much-touted AI-driven supply route which required some finessing, but arguably my desire to jump in too fast was usually my biggest downfall. Patience is key here.
Visually, RoadCraft also takes a step forward from previous titles in terms of environmental detail and lighting, offering atmospheric, immersive landscapes. Multiplayer, supporting up to four players, has the potential to be a major draw, provided the developers ensure smooth connectivity for a seamless co-op experience.
Thoughts So Far
RoadCraft demonstrates an exciting evolution of the MudRunner formula, successfully combining off-road traversal with meaningful world-building.
The core gameplay loop—salvaging materials, building bridges, and restoring roads—feels like a natural progression of what Saber Interactive has been perfecting. There’s a lot of promise, but success will ultimately depend on the freedom offered to players and the refinement of the technical elements.
With its release scheduled for May 20, 2025, and the demo available through Steam Next Fest from February 24–March 3, RoadCraft gives a substantial preview of its potential.
For fans of the genre, especially those looking for a sandbox construction simulator with a heavy-machinery twist, it’s a title worth keeping an eye on.
The full release will feature two editions: the Standard Edition, which includes the base game and exclusive vehicle DLC, and the Rebuild Edition, offering the base game, and additional vehicles, and the upcoming Rebuild Expansion, which will add even more missions and vehicles in 2025. Both editions are available for pre-order now on Steam, PlayStation Store, and Microsoft Store.
RoadCraft will release on Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on May 20, 2025. Stay tuned for our full review closer to release.
