SnowRunner Review for Xbox One

A driver’s license and a car are one of our first signs of freedom so it’s only natural that driving games have been a consistent concept for video game designers. From traditional racing games and flying games to off-road racing games and games where you can just wreak havoc behind the seat of a vehicle, driving in video games has been done in just about every way possible. Despite all those iterations of driving in games, I’ve never played something quite like SnowRunner. With a simple concept and some interesting features for the vehicles, SnowRunner, by Saber Interactive and Focus Home Interactive, puts a unique spin on a common genre and allows players to climb behind the wheel of trucks that haul cargo across the country.

Across the United States, it’s virtually impossible to travel anywhere without seeing a huge heavy-duty truck loaded with a trailer full of cargo and license plates that never seem to be from the state you’re currently in. SnowRunner gives you the chance to get behind the wheel of these trucks and deliver cargo through many different types of terrain. This is really where SnowRunner shines. The environments come with unique and realistic terrains like deep mud and snow that require the player to adapt both their driving styles and their strategy. Often in games that deal with rough driving conditions, their environments begin to feel the same and there’s a universal driving trick to get you through all the obstacles but that just isn’t the case with this game. From controlling the gear your truck is in to determining whether you should use 2WD or 4WD to the fuel consumption of your vehicle, the player is responsible for every part of making these deliveries. This amount of responsibility in the game is really unique for driving games and really kept me engaged in every delivery.

SnowRunner also allows you to customize your vehicles and build a unique fleet to handle all the contracts and environments you want to beat. This kind of customization and garage building is a staple of many driving games, and naturally finds a home in SnowRunner due to the demanding environments. Your trucks also have the ability to take damage during deliveries and you must repair them to regain the full functionality of your truck. The damage was broken down by different sections of the truck such as the suspension which gave a quick hint to the areas where your truck could be weak and where you needed to be more careful in future deliveries. In addition to the customization features, SnowRunner offers 1-4 player coop where you can fulfill contracts with the support of other players and even community created mods.

Normally, I reserve this spot for any complaints I have about the game, but I really don’t have any with SnowRunner. The environments are dynamic, the gameplay is interesting, the customization is very in depth, and I had way more fun playing this game than I ever could’ve imagined having with a game about delivering freight. It operated on a unique concept and really delivered on some ambitious environments and gameplay that I hope to see catch on in other titles. Overall, SnowRunner is a very fun game and definitely worthy of a play through while we’re all social distancing.

Score: 8.5/10

Check Out the SnowRunner Launch Trailer:

SnowRunner is now available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Games Store.

For more on SnowRunner, check out the game’s official website and discover the ultimate off-road experience: https://snowrunner-thegame.com.

Taylor Tyler

+ posts

My first console was the original Playstation and I would play Twisted Metal every now and then but games didn't hook me until I played the original Halo at my friend's house. As soon as I picked up that controller, I knew I needed an Xbox and I had to have that game. Since those early Halo days, I've branched out and played any game I could find with a great story and memorable characters but Master Chief is still my favorite. @thenotoriousTGT on Twitter

• The Eternal Cylinder Review for Xbox One
• DREAM CYCLE Preview for Steam Early Access
• IMAGINE EARTH Review for Xbox
• Phantom Abyss Preview for Steam Early Access