SnowRunner: an uncompromising experience for the Nintendo Switch

It's the kick-off for the mobile version of SnowRunner. This May 18, the Nintendo Switch welcomes a conversion of the flagship title of Saber Interactive. And the developers master the platform like no one else. We will remember the improbable and yet successful porting of The Witcher 3. Here, we are in an equally qualitative work. After all, it's their baby.

Without compromise

First launch of the game, we find ourselves on a home page identical to the PC version that we have been walking for over a year now. With one difference: the mods. The mobile version, which pushes the Nintendo console to its limits, will not do more. But the vehicles in the base game are already complete and sufficient. As for the options, everything is there. Nice wink, the touch screen is used here to display a magnifying glass in order to be able to read the texts, often small. Well seen from the developers, especially on the Switch Lite which has a barely sufficient screen.

We launch the game

So we start a new game and we arrive in Michigan, one of the 3 available environments…. Wait! Where are the others ? Well the base game does not include any of the 4 updates (phases) of the PC version. To get them, you have to go to the cash register. If SnowRunner Switch is in a physical version below the 30 euros mark, you will then have to pay 6,99 euros for phases 1,2, 3 and 11,99, and 4 € for phase 60… or opt for a season pass annual which includes all extensions. Anyway, we stay in the XNUMX euros for the complete game which corresponds to the price of a freshly released Switch game. And the basic version offers at least a hundred hours of play.

So let's come back to Michigan, where we are starting our first laps of the wheels. It's the slap! Visually, the Switch is pushed to the maximum (the fan reminds you) and displays graphics fluid and good finesse. We do not see any aliasing effect, and the distance clipping is remarkably managed. The decorations are present, and fleshed out. The lighting reflects on the bodies of the vehicles which are also perfectly modeled. The size of the screen limits anyway the possibility of seeing the smoothness of the textures as one could do on the PC version.

On the difficulty side - and this should be checked with the developers - " it seems to me " that physics has been reviewed. We have the impression of being less stuck in the mud puddles. But this may only be an impression, which would seem logical since this Switch version is aimed at a younger audience and less experienced than the hardcore gamers that we are on our PCs. And as long as we talk about the physics, that of the vehicles is just perfect, that of the terrain, once again, exploits the Switch's capabilities at 200%, especially in snowy environments where each wheel leaves its mark on the ground.

And even multiplayer

If the difficulty is insurmountable, you can always call on your friends. SnowRunner Switch offers to start your game with 3 of your friends. The 4 players will therefore be able to carry out a convoy provided they have a Nintendo Online subscription, like other consoles.

A video rather than a long speech

Finally if you want to really see what the game looks like, go to our channel Youtube for this live discovery during which we surveyed mainly Michigan.