SnowRunner is Saber Interactive's off road hauling sim, published by Focus Entertainment, released in April 2020 and reaching Steam on 18 May 2021 once Epic exclusivity lapsed. You start in Michigan on Black River, the tutorial map, and work outward through Alaska, Taymyr, Kola Peninsula, Wisconsin and a long run of seasonal regions. There is no combat and no enemy: the opposition is mud, water, load weight, fuel and your own route choice, and it supports four player co-op throughout.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Michigan
Key resources: Early trucks, the first upgrade set, and the mud lessons the rest of the game assumes you learned Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Chevrolet CK1500 upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Alaska
Key resources: Snow and ice handling, chained tyre options, longer haul routes between separated maps Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Chevrolet CK1500 upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Taymyr
Key resources: Serious Russian offroad trucks, the deepest bogs in the base game, the best test of a recovery plan Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Chevrolet CK1500 upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Kola Peninsula
Key resources: Northern route planning, new trucks and addons from the season, extended fuel management Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Chevrolet Kodiak C70 max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Wisconsin
Key resources: Logging contracts, log carriages and trailers, forestry routes through soft ground Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Chevrolet Kodiak C70 max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Michigan to Alaska)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Chevrolet CK1500 once accessible
Mid Game (Taymyr)
- Push Chevrolet CK1500 to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Chevrolet Kodiak C70
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Kola Peninsula to Wisconsin)
- Max out Chevrolet Kodiak C70. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Taymyr farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Send a scout through a map before committing a loaded truck. Watchtowers reveal the fog, upgrades sit physically in the world waiting to be found, and a five minute scout run regularly saves an hour of dragging a full trailer down a road that ends in a river.
- Farm Taymyr during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More SnowRunner Guides
- SnowRunner SnowRunner Overview
- SnowRunner Best Builds
- SnowRunner Tier List
- SnowRunner Walkthrough
- SnowRunner Beginner's Guide
- SnowRunner Tips & Tricks
- SnowRunner Weapons Guide
- SnowRunner Combat Guide
- SnowRunner Boss Guide
- SnowRunner Maps & Locations
- SnowRunner Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy SnowRunner, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Crafting Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Crafting Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Crafting Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
