Okay, this is another one of those “dad games” that I wanted to try out, much like American Truck Simulator. MudRunners is a physics game about slogging through mud in big trucks, I know it sounds enthralling. You aren’t racing in the mud either, the game is actually a well disguised logging simulator, and I enjoy everything about the logging industry. This is a sort of low-key relaxing game.
There are two modes of play in MudRunners, sandbox and arcade mode. I played through the arcade mode as it gives you short little tasks to accomplish and serves as the game’s tutorial. Sandbox is basically just as it sounds, you have a decent sized world map to run around in. You earn money by going out in the muddy forest to pick up logs from the logging camps and transporting them to the sawmills. As you get money and level up you can unlock better upgrades for your fleet and buy new trucks. Upgrades for your trucks can range from big log claws and tankers for semis, to installing mechanics equipment on your F150 to repair any broken semis. In arcade mode you have different little challenges that task you with accomplishing certain things. One level may have you trying to navigate a fleet of truck through a roaring river, another may see you in a jeep trying to climb a mountain. They add in little bonus objectives, like completing it in X amount of time or doing it at night. I think the arcade mode is how this game is best enjoyed.
As for the actual truck driving gameplay, part of me wonders why I thought I’d enjoy this. The trucks control well enough and the driving controls are pretty simple. The challenge comes from crossing muddy roods and climbing steep rocks. Picking your course is important, sometimes it’s better to skirt the edge of a mud pit, sometimes you can run through it. You have a winch you can use to latch to trees and rocks in the world to pull you out of ruts you may get stuck in, but if you try to pull a semi out using a sapling you’re going to have a bad time. If nature can’t help you, you bring in another truck to pull the stuck one out or create a winch convoy to push each other across the marshlands. It’s fun sometimes, sometimes it’s a little too real for this farm boy. When my virtual jeep is spinning tires I just sit and think, “Yep I’ve been in this situation many of times”. So, the enjoyment comes from nostalgia for me. When things do go south, which they will, it is fun to watch it happen, seeing a 6 ton truck just floating down the river.
For a game about wrestling with nature, how the world looks is important. The graphics are decent, especially for this budget title. The mud cakes and ruts naturally and raging rivers really look impressive. They trees in the forest are textured well enough, but nothing to write home about. There are little towns on the maps that hold your garage and mechanic shop. These are a little unintentionally spooky. There’s no other NPCs or cars on the roads and the buildings look dilapidated and eerie. The trucks are all detailed nicely. There’s a mix of Soviet & American trucks as this game was made by the Ruskies I believe. The older trucks look worn and rusted, it’s a nice touch. Now as this is a budget game, they didn’t spring for music outside of the main menu. I actually don’t mind that, because this game is a perfect contender for just firing up the Spotify playlist and acting like it’s the radio in your truck as you mud through the woods.
All in all, MudRunners is fun little game to occupy your time for a bit. The physics work real well which is a lynchpin for a game like this and there’s some type of primitive fun of playing in the mud with big toys, even if they are all virtual. This for me is just a game to play on a weekday after work when you just want to chill.
