Expeditions: A MudRunner Game Review Summary

Fun, relaxing, and engaging gameplay: The game is generally considered fun, enjoyable, and relaxing, with immersive sound design and appealing graphics. Many reviewers found it engaging and addictive, praising its ability to provide a calming yet challenging experience. The game is also well-suited for playing while watching videos or unwinding after work.

Distinct, improved off-roading experience: Expeditions offers a distinct experience from Snowrunner, focusing on exploration and off-road challenges without cargo hauling. It features improved physics, more realistic terrain, and a greater emphasis on scouting with specialized vehicles. The game is recommended for fans of Mudrunner and Snowrunner who enjoy exploration and challenging terrains.

Visually stunning, detailed environments: The game features visually stunning environments with detailed graphics and realistic landscapes. Reviewers praised the level design, weather effects, and overall visual appeal of the maps. The game's graphics and sound contribute to an immersive experience, encouraging players to appreciate the details while playing slowly and carefully.

Exploration and challenging terrain focus: The game emphasizes exploration and navigating challenging terrain, rewarding players for finding their own routes. It offers large open worlds with unique atmospheres and landscapes, focusing on off-road driving and strategic planning. The game provides a sense of accomplishment when completing difficult missions and encourages players to explore and discover new areas.

New mechanics enhance gameplay depth: The game introduces new mechanics and tools, such as the anchor, car jack, and drone, which enhance gameplay and offer new options for navigating difficult terrain. These additions provide more depth and possibilities, making missions more engaging and realistic. The game also features improved physics and more detailed graphics.

Clunky UI and unintuitive controls: The game's user interface and controls are clunky, unintuitive, and poorly designed, making it difficult for players to navigate menus, manage vehicles, and understand game mechanics. This leads to frustration and a steep learning curve, hindering the overall gameplay experience. The tutorial is also insufficient and fails to explain key mechanics.

Repetitive, tedious, and unrewarding gameplay: The game suffers from repetitive gameplay loops, monotonous missions, and a lack of meaningful objectives. Players are often forced into tedious tasks, backtracking, and dealing with frustrating mechanics. This leads to a lack of engagement and a diminished sense of accomplishment, making the game feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.

Poor vehicle selection and handling: The game features a limited and uninspired vehicle selection, with many vehicles being re-used from previous titles or thematically inappropriate for the game's settings. The vehicle physics and handling are also flawed, leading to an unrealistic and frustrating driving experience. The game also lacks the logistical depth of previous titles.

Inferior to Snowrunner in many aspects: Many reviewers negatively compare the game to Snowrunner, citing its shortcomings in mission structure, cargo hauling, and overall gameplay depth. Some reviewers feel that the game is a stripped-down version of Snowrunner, lacking the elements that made the original enjoyable. However, some reviewers feel that the negative comparisons are unfair.

Poor optimization and physics issues: The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to performance issues such as low FPS and stuttering, even on capable hardware. The game's physics engine is also flawed, resulting in unrealistic vehicle behavior and frustrating situations. Some reviewers also criticize the graphics, noting low-quality textures and a lack of significant improvement over previous titles.

Exploration-focused, scientific expeditions: The game shifts focus to exploration and scientific expeditions in off-road environments, moving away from heavy cargo hauling of previous titles like Snowrunner. Expeditions are task-oriented and session-based, requiring careful planning and resource management. Players explore open maps, discover new routes, collect data, and assist scientists, with free-roam available after completing main objectives.

Technical off-road driving experience: Core gameplay involves navigating challenging terrains with customizable off-road vehicles, emphasizing realistic physics and technical driving. Players must strategically plan routes, manage resources like fuel and spare parts, and utilize tools like winches and differential locks to overcome obstacles. The game simulates vehicle weight, tire pressure, and terrain conditions, requiring patience and methodical approaches.

Mission-based, individual tasks: The game features a mission-based structure with individually completable tasks and optional side objectives. Missions often involve reaching specific locations to photograph objects or scan areas. However, some reviewers find that the mission design lacks immersion and realism, and that progress doesn't always carry over between missions.

Strategic planning is essential: Careful planning and preparation are crucial before embarking on expeditions, involving vehicle selection, equipment loadout, route planning, and resource management. Players must consider terrain type, weather conditions, and travel distance to optimize their approach. The game emphasizes strategic thinking and thoughtful decision-making to overcome challenging obstacles.

Tools and gadgets enhance gameplay: Players utilize various tools and gadgets, such as drones, binoculars, and metal detectors, to scout the environment, locate resources, and plan routes. New mechanics include placing anchors for winching and constructing bridges to overcome difficult terrain. Finding items and upgrades is integrated into the gameplay, enhancing exploration and customization.

Missing DLSS/FSR/Ray Tracing: Many players have noted the absence of DLSS, FSR, and ray tracing support. Some players suggest that implementing these technologies could improve performance and stability, especially for those seeking higher frame rates or better visual fidelity.

Graphics similar to Snowrunner: The game's graphics quality and physics are comparable to or slightly improved compared to Snowrunner, as it uses the same engine. However, some players feel the graphics are worse or clunky, while others praise the detailed environments and realistic visuals.

Runs well on Steam Deck: The game generally runs well on the Steam Deck, with stable performance in both portable and docked modes. Some players note that the text size is small but still readable on the Steam Deck's screen.

Settings reset frequently: Some players have reported that game settings, particularly wheel settings, reset frequently, requiring reconfiguration each time the game is started. This can be frustrating for players who use custom control setups.

Low CPU/GPU utilization: The game does not fully utilize the CPU and GPU, with graphics card utilization remaining below 50% regardless of graphics settings. This suggests potential for optimization improvements to better leverage hardware resources.

Generally negative, not recommended: Many reviews express negative sentiments, advising against purchasing the game due to bugs, poor design choices, and a lack of content. Some reviewers felt misled and requested refunds, while others uninstalled the game shortly after starting. Some reviewers suggest that the game is only worth 0.99 euros.

Generally positive, enjoyable experience: Many reviewers express overall positive sentiments towards the game, with some calling it 'amazing' or 'very well made'. They recommend it to others, especially those who enjoy the genre or are looking for a relaxing experience. Some reviewers are sure that it won't be their last experience with the series.

Hopes for future improvements: Many reviewers express hope for future updates and content additions to improve the game. They are looking forward to new seasons, maps, and vehicles. Some reviewers hope that the developers will continue to support the game despite its initial reception.

Compared to SnowRunner: mixed: A significant number of reviewers compare the game to SnowRunner, with mixed opinions. Some feel it doesn't live up to SnowRunner's standards, while others appreciate its different focus on exploration and scouting. Some reviewers suggest that the game would have been better as a SnowRunner expansion.

Good for patient, strategic players: Some reviewers recommend the game for players who enjoy challenging tasks, realistic physics, exploration, and slower-paced gameplay. They emphasize the need for patience, strategy, and careful planning.

Exploration-focused, not Snowrunner re-skin: Expeditions shifts focus from Snowrunner's cargo delivery to exploration, offering a unique off-road experience. While built on the MudRunner framework, it introduces new features and mechanics, distinguishing itself from its predecessors. Some players initially expecting a Snowrunner re-skin may be disappointed, but the game aims for a different niche.

Active development, limited vehicles: The developers are actively updating the game with new content, including vehicles, locations, and features. However, the initial vehicle selection is limited compared to previous titles. The developers have a history of releasing DLC, with varying degrees of success, and players are waiting to see if Expeditions receives the same post-launch support as Snowrunner.

Three regions, varied map sizes: The game features three regions: Little Colorado, Arizona, and the Carpathians. Arizona and the Carpathians each have four connected maps with loading screens. Maps in the larger regions are about four times the size of Little Colorado.

Expedition customization and flexibility: Players can select up to four vehicles for an expedition and equip them with modifications. Operators can be chosen to provide buffs for expeditions. The game does not force players to complete an Expedition once selected, or to return to the mission select screen after completion.

Repetitive, unpleasant vehicle sounds: The game's audio is dominated by engine and gear grinding sounds, which can become repetitive and grating. The music is not particularly enjoyable and is often overshadowed by the vehicle noises.