7.6

Review: Expeditions A MudRunner Game

Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is a spin-off of the known off-road simulation games MudRunner and SnowRunner. Where those titles were about transporting heavy loads through impossible landscapes, Expeditions chooses another approach: exploration, research and survival in the wilderness. The result is a game that remains true to the slow, tactical gameplay of its predecessors, but with a new focus and a few big comments.

Don't expect quick action or arcade fun. Expeditions is a slow, methodical game in which you plow with SUVs through mud, rocks, rivers and forests. Your goal is not to deliver goods, but to carry out scientific missions: Scanning ground layers, detecting metals, installing equipment and exploring unknown terrain. You always stay in your vehicle, so all interaction is done via sensors, drones and other tools.

The Colorado, Arizona and Carpathian maps are impressive in their atmosphere and variety. From dry deserts to wet valleys and steep mountain passes, each area offers unique challenges. The physics are as expected: Real, sometimes frustrating. You have to switch constantly between 4WD, differential locking, tyre pressure and fuel management. Wrong assessment means stuck, tilt or back to base.

Expeditions introduces a range of new tools: Echo Sounder to measure water depth, drones for exploration, metal detector, vehicle jack and more. These add a strategic layer, but slow the pace considerably. Many actions require you to stop, menu’s opens and performs operations that interrupt the flow. For example, scanning areas with drones is often a matter of flying around blind until you reach 100% without clear feedback or direction.

The mission structure is variable. Some tasks are well constructed and require smart planning and equipment. Others feel repetitive or artificially limited. For example, you need to free certain upgrades to be able to continue, which undermines the sandbox experience. The progression is linear, despite the open maps, which clashes with the exploratory character of the game.

Visually, Expeditions is solid. The surroundings are atmospheric and the vehicles look good. The physics are sometimes inconsistent: A light car can crash on a few stones, while a heavier truck plows effortlessly through a river. The interface is functional but log, and the frequent use of menu’S gets you out of the experience. Sound is minimal and functional not a highlight, but also not a turnoff.