Roadcraft: A Deep Dive into Off-Road Logistics | PC Review
Roadcraft emerges as a standout title, offering a unique blend of sandbox freedom and strategic infrastructure management that truly sets it apart. From the moment you begin, the game invokes a nostalgic sense of childhood play, allowing you to commandeer mighty trucks, haul essential resources like sand, and meticulously construct or repair vital infrastructure. It’s a captivating experience that feels both expansive and intimately engaging.
Familiar by Design
Developed by the creators of Snowrunner, Roadcraft carries a familiar DNA, yet carves its own distinct identity. While Snowrunner players will recognize the challenging terrain and heavy machinery, Roadcraft diverges by removing the traditional vehicle upgrade system for things like tires and engines, focusing instead on the inherent capabilities of your fleet. A notable change is the exclusive role of scout vehicles, which are now the sole possessors of winches – a strategic shift that adds a new layer to vehicle deployment and recovery.
AI to the Rescue
A core mechanic revolves around opening up the vast map. This involves a critical supply chain operation: delivering materials to depots and factories. You’re not alone in this endeavor; a unique AI driver system is at your disposal. Using an overhead map, you’ll meticulously draw out waypoints, guiding your AI convoys through treacherous landscapes, around impassable obstacles, or through shallow waters. A truly brilliant detail is the dynamic nature of these routes: as your AI drivers traverse the terrain, they gradually wear down the roads. This necessitates continuous oversight and adjustment of their paths, adding a layer of organic challenge and realism.
Eye Candy Aplenty
Visually, Roadcraft is beautiful. The graphics are excellent, creating a highly immersive environment. A particularly impressive touch is the rain effect, where you can observe water realistically accumulating on vehicles and other surfaces, further enhancing the game’s atmosphere and attention to detail.
Deeply Engaging Maps and Multiplayer Fun
The sheer depth of gameplay on offer is remarkable. Completing a single map can easily consume hours, and for those prone to missteps (like myself!), cleaning up errors or restarting sections can extend that playtime even further. The game’s design, offering multiple routes and approaches to objectives, ensures a high degree of replayability and keeps the experience consistently fresh. I have also played multiplayer with a friend. We can complete jobs on the host’s map and the money gained will carry over when I am back in my own world. I can drop in, help my friend, make some money, and then go back to my own world. Co-op is a HUGE amount of fun and where the real long-term replayability lies. Trucking with friends is a blast.
Game of the Year Contender
For me, Roadcraft stands as a formidable contender for Game of the Year 2025 so far, delivering an unforgettable and deeply satisfying simulation experience.
To hear me talk more about Roadcraft, be sure to listen to the May 28th, 2025 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:11:43 time stamp.
This review is based on a PC copy of RoadCraft provided by Sandbox Strategies for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
RoadCraft
$39.99
Pros
- Many Hours of Replayability
- Multiplayer is Fantastic
- Excellent Graphics
Cons
- A.I. Drivers Aren’t Terribly Smart
- Weather - Rains Constantly
- Limited Configuration Options for Equipment
