RoadCraft might actually redefine what a cozy game is like while keeping reality close.
Cozy games are a staple in the gaming community, usually for their simplicity or the power to distract you for a while… But they all have one thing in common: there’s usually a lot of clean-up and fixing to do. Well, you’ve probably heard of Saber Interactive, and they’ve had many releases over the years, and you’re probably aware of the fact that they tend to go all-in with their releases.
This Florida-based studio has been around for the better part of two decades, with their most recent releases being World War Z and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Now, most of Saber Interactive’s releases usually involve some form of chaos or action, so it’s somewhat surprising to see the change of pace with their latest release.
The game in question is RoadCraft, which was released on 19 May. It’s definitely not what you’d expect. It has some cozy game elements in the sense that you have to rebuild areas, but there’s a lot more complexity that might scare off the faint of heart.
RoadCraft is technically a sim-type game that will definitely break the mold in every sense, and it’s not the reasons you’d think. The world in RoadCraft is, for the most part, massive, and it only gets bigger as you progress through a country that was devastated by natural disasters. What’s your role in all this?
Well, you’ll be the person on the ground running a company that specializes in restoration after said natural disasters, but it won’t be easy. You’ll initially set out to restore small areas and factories, at least until you get the hang of RoadCraft and everything it has to offer. The first thing you’ll be introduced to is the garage, and while it might look somewhat barren, it’ll fill out quickly with various scouting and construction vehicles.
As you might have guessed by now, you won’t necessarily be running around and repairing sites, and you’ll drive everywhere… literally. Driving everywhere can be a bit odd at times, even more so when it comes to opening gates, since you have to use a winch to pull gates open, but it does add a fun layer of challenge.
However, your biggest challenge is in navigating the paths with your various vehicles as you rebuild, because RoadCraft aims to be much more realistic than anything else like it. Getting stuck in the mud is never fun, and you can without a doubt get stuck in the mud or somehow pin your vehicle in a tight spot.
Life in RoadCraft isn’t just endless exploration and driving around; there’s work to do, and you’ll have to get to it. You’ll be driving and operating several types of construction vehicles, each one with its uses for the reconstruction that needs to happen. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword in the sense that each vehicle is fully usable for every reconstruction need, but things take a very complex turn with the controls for some of the vehicles.
To give a little more context, you’re not just driving around and casually rebuilding. You’ll have to traverse a rough terrain, pick up materials, and rebuild piece by piece. Some of the vehicles are simple enough to drive and operate, while others have a confusing set of controls that you’ll need to use.
The best example of this is Mobile Crane; you’ll have control over the angle and length of the crane, but then there’s lowering and raising the hook, rope length, and load rotation. Confusing, right? It only becomes more confusing if you’re playing alone.
Luckily, Saber Interactive thought ahead and included multiplayer co-op in RoadCraft. This is an absolute godsend because it makes what could be incredibly slow going and tedious into a fun experience where a little teamwork goes a long way. So, if solo gets a little too dry for you, grab a few friends to join you, and you’ll see just how much RoadCraft changes.
Taking another look at how close to reality RoadCraft is, most vehicles will come with the option for AWD (All Wheel Drive), Diff Lock, and Low Gear. Basically, these can mean the difference between getting stuck in the mud or climbing hills without a struggle, and you’ll definitely need them right from the start.
It’s a nice touch of reality to the game that adds to the challenge while giving you some more control over everything. Granted, it also means you’ll have to think outside the box as you navigate the roads ahead. Aside from carrying building materials around and rebuilding what was devastated, you’ll eventually need to upgrade.
Lucky for you, you get paid for almost every objective you complete, and this is where you’ll get to know the shop. You initially start with ‘Rusty’ vehicles, and while they get the job done, you’re going to need to upgrade at some point. The new vehicles don’t just look better, they also do the job so much better. However, nothing in life is ever free, and new vehicles are far from cheap.
There is another side to RoadCraft that adds a lot of appeal; it might not look like it, but there is a form of puzzle in certain places, too. Imagine making your way up somewhat narrow scaffolding and paths just to drag a box down and back to a drop-off point.
The chance of getting stuck or your vehicle falling off is high, and you might have to try a few times. However, if you do manage to get stuck, it’s not the end of the world, and it doesn’t mean you’ll have to load an old save. You can simply Retain (recall) the vehicle back to your garage and try again.
Retaining or recalling your garage is free, but not always convenient. There really is a vehicle for everything in RoadCraft, and the Field Service Vehicle is no exception. It works similarly to retreating to your base, but it comes at the cost of fuel. This isn’t exactly easy to come by, and you’ll need to be careful how you spend it. Sometimes, it’s easier to just make the long trek. The journey is half the fun, after all.
While it might not look like it, there is something oddly cozy and satisfying about rebuilding the different areas and restoring them to working order after the natural disaster’s devastation. Granted, we’re all allowed to have our own opinions, but RoadCraft definitely scratches the ‘cozy’ itch in a very different way.
On the visual side of things, RoadCraft does not disappoint with the amount of detail it puts into everything. It’s as close to reality as possible with how most of the world works and reacts, and it’s clear a lot of care and attention went into every little thing. It’s not every day we see a game with that much detail, not just in environments but also in what you can interact with. It’s a brilliant change of pace, to say the least.
Overall, RoadCraft is without a doubt one of the more solid sim games to be released simply because of how detailed it is. With limitless options of paths to the end goal, there’s endless replayability, and all you need is a little creativity. Though it is definitely recommended to play multiplayer, as single-player can become dull, the experience shows how tedious gameplay can become.
