As a child, I was fascinated by diggers and excavation machines—though, show me a four-year-old who isn’t! And if I’m being honest, it’s a fascination that has never left me. Boys never grow up—just the size of their toys changes, I suppose. That said, few people get to romp around in a six-tonne machine capable of tearing down a house in minutes in their day-to-day lives—unless, of course, it’s their career. So, when I saw RoadCraft, it piqued my interest. Particularly as it’s developed by Saber Interactive, the team behind MudRunner, SnowRunner, and Expeditions: A MudRunner Game.
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The Saber name, of course, implies that this is a simulation-focused road construction, built upon the foundations laid by its predecessors.
At first glance, this could seem like an extremely niche title, both in terms of gameplay and subject matter, but dig just a little beneath the surface and you’ll find an oddly compelling and addictive gameplay loop.
Digging the Depth
The game features 40 different heavy equipment vehicles, which you’ll use for damage assessment, debris removal, material transport, infrastructure repair, and the reconstruction of damaged bridges and roads—or, in short, four-year-old me’s dream come true.
But beyond the heavy machinery you’ll be operating, RoadCraft has refined vehicle control and overall handling. Whether it’s flatbed trucks for transporting sand, cranes, bulldozers, or more specialised hardware like a trench digger (used for laying down cabling).
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The game’s core focus is on rebuilding. You’ll find yourself in an area devastated by a storm, meaning bridges and roads need repairing to get the region functioning again and to allow deeper exploration for larger projects—such as delivering supplies to a town or restoring power.
A full road-laying system is in play, where you progress from a muddy pit to smooth tarmac. You have complete control over how much effort you invest—if you opt to simply lay sand and monitor it over time, you risk future failures, whereas properly paving it with tarmac will save you time in the long run.
Straight into the Trenches
RoadCraft is very much a game that throws you into the action and leaves you to figure things out. Beyond key objectives, there’s virtually no guidance on how to complete tasks, which can be daunting given the game’s scale.
However, you can seamlessly hop between the fleet of vehicles at your disposal and put your problem-solving skills to the test—balancing efficiency with effectiveness.
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This turns the game into a sort of navigational puzzler—you’re here, and your objective is way over there, but vehicle limitations mean you need to plan your route carefully, finding the safest passage.
If this sounds as dull as dishwater, I wouldn’t blame you for thinking so. But, once you give it a go, RoadCraft can quickly sink its hooks into you. Its oddly soothing gameplay style has a way of making you invest more time than expected simply plotting a path for a four-tonne crane to squeeze through.
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If you want to ramp up the excitement immediately, grab a few mates and head online—up to four players can team up to tackle jobs collaboratively, which is where the game truly shines.
You’ll have total freedom in how you approach each goal—whether you work together or independently is up to you. However, with each player controlling a different vehicle, tasks can be completed in a fraction of the time.
Missing Foundation
Oddly, beyond construction and repairs, the game lacks a real progression system. Other than unlocking new vehicles and areas, there isn’t much of a carrot-on-a-stick incentive to drive you forward.
Visually, the game looks outstanding. As you trudge through mud-filled fields or storm-ravaged towns, there’s an oddly authentic, real-world atmosphere to everything.
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RoadCraft is undoubtedly a niche game—but it also feels like the culmination of Saber Interactive’s work, built upon the foundation of the Runner series while incorporating fresh ideas introduced in Expeditions.
No, it won’t be for everyone—but if you enjoy sim titles, challenging driving, or slow-paced yet high-stakes gameplay that’s oddly satisfying, it’s well worth a look. Or, if you and your mates just fancy running amok in some seriously cool diggers, it’s perfect for that too.
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