MudRunner VR brings the beloved off-road simulation experience to virtual reality on the Meta Quest 3. Saber Interactive promises a new level of immersion as players traverse rugged, muddy, and often unforgiving terrains. While the game successfully translates many of the original’s mechanics into VR, it comes with notable compromises that limit its potential. The experience is engaging for dedicated fans of off-road simulators. Still, the learning curve and control frustrations may dampen the appeal for casual players or those new to the series.
Developer & Publisher // Saber Interactive Inc
Platforms // Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, Meta Quest 2
MSRP & Release Date // $19.99, May 30, 2024
Reviewed On // Meta Quest 3
Gameplay and Mechanics: Immersive but Clunky
At its core, MudRunner VR is about driving heavy-duty vehicles through extreme environments, from deep mud to fast-flowing rivers, all while battling against physics. Who doesn’t love slinging a little mud around, right? The game emphasizes precision driving, terrain awareness, and strategic use of vehicle tools, including winches, differential locks, and an all-wheel drive. These mechanics transition well into VR, offering players a cockpit-first perspective that enhances the feeling of weight and resistance as you struggle to navigate harsh terrain.
While the driving mechanics feel robust, executing interactions outside the vehicle feels awkward. Tasks such as attaching winches, refueling, and loading cargo rely on teleportation-based movement, which can break immersion for some players. Instead of freely moving around, you “blink” to a preset location, which feels restrictive, especially compared to other VR games that allow free movement.
Another drawback is the lack of physicality in vehicle controls. While you can grab the steering wheel, use the handbrake, and shift gears, many interactions feel unnatural due to floaty hand-tracking mechanics. If I were sitting while playing, I would sometimes have to awkwardly bend my arm while doing certain things like shifting gears. The physical controls aren’t as fine-tuned as other VR driving sims, making precise steering more difficult than it should be. This could frustrate players used to VR games with tight, realistic control schemes.
Vehicle Selection: A Solid Roster with Unique Handling
MudRunner VR offers a diverse lineup of vehicles, ranging from small scout jeeps to massive heavy-duty trucks. Each has unique handling characteristics, making your choice of vehicle crucial for completing missions successfully.
- Light Scout Vehicles – Small and nimble, perfect for exploring and finding the best routes before bringing in heavy machinery.
- Medium Cargo Trucks – More balanced in speed and power, useful for a variety of terrain but can struggle in deep mud.
- Heavy-Duty Trucks – The real workhorses, ideal for carrying large loads and pulling other vehicles out of tough spots.
My favorite was the “Light Scout Vehicles” because I enjoyed exploring. While the selection is faithful to the original game, some fan-favorite vehicles are missing in the VR version. Additionally, vehicle customization is minimal, meaning you won’t be able to tweak much beyond basic utilities like winches and fuel.
Story Missions: Functional but Lacking Depth
MudRunner VR retains the core mission structure of the original game, where players must complete off-road delivery and rescue tasks under challenging conditions. Missions generally involve transporting cargo, recovering stuck vehicles, or scouting dangerous routes before committing to a full trip. However, the VR version lacks a strong narrative, making missions feel more like standalone objectives rather than a cohesive campaign. Unlike some VR games that enhance immersion with voiceovers or cutscenes, MudRunner VR delivers its objectives in a straightforward, text-based format, which can feel underwhelming.
Types of Missions:
- Cargo Deliveries – Transport logs, fuel, and supplies across extreme terrain.
- Rescue Operations – Use winches and recovery trucks to free stuck vehicles.
- Exploration Tasks – Unlock new areas and map out safe routes.
While the gameplay itself is satisfying, the lack of narrative elements makes missions feel repetitive over time. Adding dynamic events or more variety in mission types would have helped keep the experience fresh.
Visuals and Performance: Serviceable But Dated
For a VR game in 2024, MudRunner VR’s graphics are functional but unimpressive. I’ve experienced a decent amount of VR titles and this is one of the least impressive I’ve seen. I do want to say that the vehicle models look solid, with decent attention to detail in dashboards and interiors. Then, on the flipside, the environment textures feel low-resolution. Mud, water, and terrain deformation are visually effective but don’t hold up well when examined closely. Foliage and background elements look basic, which can sometimes break immersion, especially in daylight settings.
Regarding performance, the Quest 3 handles the game well for the most part. However, there are occasional frame drops when navigating highly deformable terrain. The mud physics engine is one of the game’s best features, and while it runs smoothly most of the time, it can cause momentary stuttering in busier scenes. Lighting effects are also basic, with the game struggling to create a truly atmospheric experience, especially at night when shadows and reflections are less dynamic than they should be.
Learning Curve and Accessibility: A Tough Ride for Beginners
MudRunner VR has always been a difficult game for newcomers, and this VR adaptation is no different. If you’re unfamiliar with the mechanics, your first few hours will be filled with getting stuck in mud, dealing with frustrating recoveries, and, in some extreme cases, rolling vehicles. Unlike arcade racing games, MudRunner demands patience, problem-solving, and an understanding of how vehicles interact with terrain. The tutorial does a servicable job of explaining basic mechanics, but it doesn’t fully prepare you for the real challenges ahead.
Expect to spend time trial-and-error learning how different vehicles handle different surfaces. While this depth is great for simulation fans, casual players may find it tedious and unforgiving. Additionally, the game doesn’t offer many comfort settings for VR motion sickness. I haven’t suffered from VR sickness yet, so I couldn’t say how bad it might affect someone. The cockpit view is generally stable, but some players may struggle with how the camera reacts to uneven terrain. No smooth locomotion outside the vehicle causes movement to feel unnatural compared to other VR games.
What’s Missing? Areas for Improvement
If they could implement a way to lean out of the vehicle windows, that would be a tremendous improvement. It would greatly improve visibility and immersion. As someone who lives in Indiana and has been “mudding” in the country areas there wasn’t a time I didn’t have to lean out the window to see at one time or another. Loading and unloading are mostly automated rather than physically handled. If it was more physically handled, it would help with immersion.
Instead of teleporting movement, full VR walking should be an option. When playing VR, I want to be immersed and get the best full experience possible. Full VR walking would greatly help this game. The thing I care least about, but would like to see, is a Co-op mode. The game would benefit from multiplayer, especially for recovery-based missions. Lastly, if they want to bring more people in, better options for motion sickness would help many players.
Final Verdict: A Niche VR Experience with Rough Edges
MudRunner VR on the Meta Quest 3 offers a challenging, immersive off-road simulation but falls short in key areas. The realistic vehicle handling and terrain physics are impressive, but clunky controls, dated visuals, and movement restrictions prevent it from reaching its full potential. If you’re a hardcore fan of MudRunner or love slow-paced, realistic simulators, you might overlook the game’s flaws and enjoy what it offers. However, if you’re looking for a polished and fluid VR driving experience, you may find the awkward movement system, lack of manual interactions, and steep learning curve frustrating. For off-road sim fans, MudRunner VR could be worth checking out. For general VR players, however, you can find better driving experiences elsewhere.
Final Score: 6.7/10
Pros:
- Realistic terrain physics
- Deep, strategic gameplay
- Immersive first-person VR experience
- Satisfying sense of accomplishment
- Good variety of vehicles
- Stable performance (mostly)
Cons:
- Clunky controls
- Teleportation-based movement breaks immersion
- Dated visuals
- No ability to lean out of vehicle windows
- Steep learning curve
- Limited interactivity outside vehicles
- No multiplayer
