Expeditions: A MudRunner Game Review

I'm guessing that for most people, getting hopelessly bogged down in mud or snow is not a pleasant pastime. Nor is driving down a narrow slope along a deep canyon a pleasant experience for most people. However, in this world (and even on our website!) there will be adrenaline and off-road enthusiasts who are inspired by such situations. Imagine that in real life there are professional drivers who face such dangers all the time. This is the basic premise of games like MudRunner/SnowRunner, in which you have to slowly and carefully transport various equipment and supplies through difficult off-road sections, taking into account numerous dangerous conditions. This is also true for Expeditions: A MudRuner Game, although there are some differences in this game from the studio's previous titles.

In Expeditions: A MudRunner Game you work for a company specializing in support, rescue and exploration. In the course of more than 80 expeditions you will have to pull stuck vehicles, restore abandoned objects and explore places to build a scientific base. In general, the variety of tasks is much higher. As such, there is no narration here (at least, without any voiceovers and author's accompaniments). The briefing of all missions is text messages. In other words, we can't call Expeditions a role-playing game. In fact, we are rather a kind of eco-puzzle game with puzzles that need to be solved with the help of trucks, all-terrain vehicles and various equipment.

Although the objectives change, the basic mission cycle remains roughly the same. The first step is to use drones and binoculars to scout the terrain and try to find the right routes (or more direct and shorter, but more challenging routes). You can set up markers for better orientation or just rely on topography and memory. Exploring the environment is a true art that requires a certain amount of skill, but even the most sighted explorers will encounter many obstacles.

The actual driving is based on a fairly simple economic model that turns mission success into money, new vehicles, and upgrades to gear and bases. Overall, Expeditions feels less open-ended and more focused than previous games in the franchise. And this approach to changing the structure arguably works a treat.

Leaving aside the increasing variety of gear, including various drones, winches, jacks, echo sounders and other equipment, Expeditions remains focused on driving. Due to the more exploratory, maneuvering nature of the missions, there aren't as many trucks, and the garage is less deep. However, this doesn't mean a lack of variety. You'll still have plenty of opportunities to customize your vehicles, both in terms of engines, tires, fuel capacity and gearbox, as well as their visuals. You'll never get bored of the same all-terrain vehicle. In fact, getting to know and exploring the potential of this much smaller car garage is much more enjoyable and easier.

Realistic driving simulators - be it racing, trucker simulators or off-road driving - should appeal to both avid specialized audiences and casual gamers. Expeditions in particular pays close attention to physics. There are many ways to simplify the game, and Expeditions: A MudRuner Game is constantly pointing these things out to you, for example, by offering to "play" with tire pressure.

Expeditions is a game based on exploring the most dangerous corners of our world, and it does a great job of it. Deserts, canyons, overgrown jungles and forests look photorealistic, and transportation physically reacts to them in the right way. Already in a few minutes after launching the game you will appropriately perceive all the dangers and threats that this difficult terrain landscape conceals.

As for the voice acting, the soundtrack of the environment and vehicles is well done, but the soundtrack is quickly forgotten, and often I just turned it off.

And now let's move on to the conclusions....