SnowRunner Season 9 review: The best DLC yet?

In my SnowRunner Season 9 review, I talk about whether the first Year 3 Pass DLC, Renew & Rebuild, is hot stuff or likely to leave you feeling cold.

For a game in its third year of life and based on a simple gameplay mechanic, there is always a danger the flame of enjoyment will go out. Whether we like it or not, things fade with time. And time waits for no man, nor woman neither.

SnowRunner Season 9: Renew & Rebuild has another problem, one encapsulated perfectly by a commenter. “How do I explain to my son”, they said, “that you do not actually get to put out fires?” For a firefighting DLC, it does seem odd the most we get are glowing embers and some sparks.

Yet here we are with a video headline that asks if it is the best DLC yet. Spoiler alert, I think it is. And, no, that is not just me high on fumes. This is Saber Interactive firing on all cylinders, refining what we know and love into its purest form thus far.

Please note: This is the script from my YouTube video, click play above to watch or go here. And check out my best trucks round-up.

Just a SnowRunner Season 9 review

Based in Ontario of Canada (careful with the pronunciation, Ben), Season 9: Renew & Rebuild includes two new maps. Each two by two kilometres in size, partially ravaged by fire and home to two new trucks. The old-timer Zikz 566-A and the new Derry Special 15C-177 longboi.

Featuring glowing sunsets, eerie twiggy wastelands contrasted by majestic forests, clear waters, winding singletrack, perilous ascents and descents, The Albany River and Burned Forest are Mother Nature at her best. There are even some fish though no hungry bears on narcotics to ruin your picnic.

Even with autumnal vibes as seen in Michigan and elsewhere, and some familiar assets, Ontario manages to impress. From the burnt desolate areas and flooded farmland to mountainous pathways, rocky river crossings and deep quarries, it is rarely anything but impressive.

Enjoyment is not just aesthetic either, it is felt in the driving. Impatience is punished, but progress is less of a chore than in Amur and Imandra. Challenge comes in the form of efficient route planning and technical driving on perilous roads, not simply how big your wheels are.

There is also less repetition, partly because you can take multiple routes and use a wider variety of trucks. But also because there is a breadth of contract types and the developer has avoided using as many mass cargo deliveries as a cheap and lazy way to improve longevity.

Yes, the water deliveries could have been more rewarding but at least you never feel as annoyed at H2O as you do at potatoes in Season 8: Grand Harvest. There is less to do, more on that later, but still a lot and it hits better throughout.

It is just a shame, then, that helping put out fires does not have much of an impact on the world beyond giving you more cargo, warehouse access and decent money and experience – the latter largely pointless for SnowRunner veterans.

In fact, the water delivery aspect is rather damp although it does bring a layer of fresh challenge and the new Fire Tank addons and trailer build on the current repertoire of customisation options.

Nor is there as memorable a finale as in Amur, where you get to see a rocket blast off. However, none of that stops Season 9: Renew & Rebuild from being top-notch driving fun. So long as you did not expect Saber Interactive to reinvent the wheel.

The lack of refuelling locations does at least sharpen the challenge, adding more incentive to buddy-up, if you can get past connection issues, or simply use support trucks such as the Caterpillar 745C. As I mention in my best trucks round-up, fuel efficiency goes a long way in Ontario. Pun intended.

As for value for money, I have already put tens of hours into Season 9: Renew & Rebuild. There are 16 tasks for the Fire Department, six for Ontario Administration and five for Waymause Mining Ltd. That includes logging, water delivery, oversized cargo, rails and more. Plus some sidequests.

The fact you get new stickers, some of which are amusing and some poignant, and two actually useful trucks really help make it a worthwhile purchase. Whether or not the Year 3 Pass is worth it will depend on what comes next, of course.

Speaking of trucks, the Derry Special 15C-177 really embraces the firefighting theme and is a powerful steed when upgraded. For heavy loads and versatility, it is top tier. Just be mindful that it can tip over when jacked up on the Active Suspension.

The Zikz 566-A, meanwhile, does well too. Versatility aplenty, decent off-road performance despite the thin wheels, looks great and has a reasonable range. Other trucks are better, but it is a pleasant change of pace and can get most jobs done.

Honestly, Season 9: Renew & Rebuild could have been a base game region. It may be 50 per cent smaller than Amur and the Belozersk Glades yet it still feels epic. A DLC well worth playing then if you still find SnowRunner’s pleasant A to B modus operandi satisfying.

And on that note, I shall draw my Season 9 review to a close. Let me know in the comments what you think and, as always, I will do my best to answer any questions. Subscribe and like! Take care, bye.