10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting SnowRunner on Nintendo Switch 2
When I reviewed Expeditions, I came away really enjoying Saber Interactive’s approach to off-road exploration. The funny thing is, despite all the praise SnowRunner has received over the years, I’d somehow never played it… That changed when it arrived on Nintendo Switch 2, and after spending dozens of hours hauling cargo across Michigan and Alaska, I completely understand why so many players have fallen in love with it. Like many newcomers, I made plenty of mistakes during the early hours of the game. I bought upgrades I didn’t need, took routes I definitely shouldn’t have and recovered back to the garage more times than I’d like to admit. Looking back, there are quite a few things that would have made those first few hours much easier, so if you’re just getting started, here are 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting SnowRunner on Nintendo Switch 2.
1. Spend Plenty Of Time In Michigan
Although SnowRunner gives you access to other regions fairly early on, there’s no need to rush away from Michigan. The opening area introduces new mechanics at a comfortable pace, and every bridge you repair, road you clear and contract you complete teaches you something that becomes useful later in the game. The only exception I’d recommend is making a quick trip to Alaska once you’ve found a capable scout vehicle. There’s a fantastic Heavy Duty truck waiting there that can make some of Michigan’s larger contracts much easier, and I’ll explain where to find it a little later.
2. Finding The Scout 800 Makes Exploring Much Easier
One of the first things I’d recommend doing is finding the Scout 800, which is located just northwest of the main town in Black River. It quickly became one of my most-used vehicles because it strikes a great balance between size, capability and fuel efficiency. Once you’ve installed a roof rack, you’ll be able to carry extra fuel and repair parts, allowing you to spend much longer exploring without needing to return to the garage. I used it to uncover watchtowers, discover upgrades and recover abandoned vehicles across Michigan, and it remained my main scout until I eventually unlocked the Hummer H2 in Alaska.
3. Upgrade Your Tyres As Soon As You Can
Early on, I assumed my trucks simply weren’t powerful enough to deal with the terrain. It didn’t take long to realise that the real problem was the tyres. As soon as better tyres became available, almost every vehicle in my garage became noticeably more capable. Mud pits that had previously stopped me in my tracks suddenly became manageable, and I found myself relying on the winch far less often. If you’re wondering where to spend your first bit of money, tyres are one of the best investments you can make.
4. Learn How To Use The Manual Winch
The winch is one of the most useful tools in SnowRunner, but I didn’t realise just how much control the game gives you until much later. Pressing Up on the D-Pad and selecting Attach Winch lets you manually choose where the cable connects to your truck before selecting exactly where it attaches nearby. That extra level of control makes recovering overturned vehicles and trailers much easier than relying on the automatic winch, especially when you’re working at awkward angles or trying to pull something back onto its wheels.
5. Slow Down And Use The Right Gears
It’s easy to think a little extra speed will help you power through deep mud, but more often than not it only makes things worse. Once the terrain starts getting difficult, engaging All-Wheel Drive and shifting into Low gear gives your truck far more control while reducing the chances of digging yourself in even deeper. Progress can feel painfully slow at times, but it’s still much faster than spending twenty minutes recovering an overturned truck or making the same journey all over again.
6. You Don’t Need To Buy Better Trucks Straight Away
For a long time, I assumed I needed to save up for bigger and better trucks, but SnowRunner hides some fantastic vehicles if you’re willing to explore. Once you’ve found the Scout 800 and equipped the roof rack, I’d recommend making a quick trip to North Port in Alaska. Head towards the bottom-left corner of the map, and you’ll find the Royal BM17 tucked away amongst the trees. It’s surprisingly easy to reach with the Scout 800, and once you’ve towed it into the open, you can simply jump inside and use the Recover option to send it back to your garage. Between the Royal BM17 and the GMC MH9500 you receive early in the game, you’ll have two capable trucks that can handle many of Michigan’s larger contracts without needing to spend a cent on a new vehicle.
7. Recovery Can Save You A Lot Of Time
Recovering your truck back to the garage can feel like admitting defeat when you’re first starting out, but it’s actually one of the quickest ways to manage your growing fleet. When you discover an abandoned vehicle, tow it somewhere safe, jump into the driver’s seat and use the Recover option to send it straight back to the garage. From there, simply open the map and switch back to the truck you were driving before. On Normal Mode, recovering doesn’t cost anything, so it’s an easy way to collect new vehicles without wasting time driving them all the way home.
8. Set Waypoints Before Every Journey
The map is one of the most useful tools in SnowRunner, and it’s worth spending a little time planning your route before setting off. Pressing R2 while viewing the map lets you place waypoints, making it much easier to follow longer journeys across multiple roads and trails. It’s also a great opportunity to spot broken bridges, river crossings or sections of deep mud before committing to a delivery, which can save a lot of frustration later.
9. The Shortest Route Isn’t Always The Best One
One lesson SnowRunner teaches surprisingly quickly is that the obvious road isn’t always the easiest one to drive. If a road has turned into a sea of mud, don’t be afraid to drive around it. Quite often the grass beside the road provides far more grip, and taking a slightly longer route can end up saving both time and fuel. Spending a few extra minutes finding a better path is usually much easier than trying to recover a truck that’s buried itself to the axles.
10. Some Contracts Are Worth The Effort
One of the first larger contracts I completed was Lumber for Locals, and I’ll admit I hesitated when I saw what it was asking. Three trips hauling long logs followed by another six with medium logs sounded like a huge time commitment. After unlocking the Royal BM17, though, I decided to give it a go. By the time I’d finished, I’d earned a healthy payout, gained two ranks and unlocked even more upgrades for my growing fleet. More importantly, it was the contract that really showed me why so many people love SnowRunner. Every successful delivery feels earned, and watching your garage slowly fill with better vehicles and upgrades makes all those muddy kilometres worthwhile.
I’m still only around 20 hours into my SnowRunner adventure, so I know there are plenty of seasoned truckers out there with tips and tricks that I’ve probably never even considered. If you’ve discovered something that made your life easier, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. You might even help another new player who’s just starting their own journey. Until then, happy trucking, and I’ll see you in the mud.
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