What were you doing in 2016? I was in my second year of university, diligently writing essays about witches in Scotland and drinking far too much bad coffee. But elsewhere in 2016, Amistech Games released My Summer Car in early access, a vehicle-building sim with a permadeath twist. With a website straight out of the ’90s and a nostalgic vibe that I’m absolutely obsessed with, after a decade in early access 1.0 is finally here, and the game has skyrocketed up the Steam charts as a result.
If you’re unfamiliar with My Summer Car, it’s effectively a hardcore car building simulation game. Set in 1990s Finland, you’re presented with a plethora of random parts that you’ll have to assemble into a working vehicle. You can then use said creation to pick up odd jobs and attend “various countryside Finnish activities,” which Amistech notes all boil down to “basically doing stupid things under influence of alcohol.”
The car you build is entirely up to you. Craft yourself a speed demon to compete in rallies and races for cash, or simply fix it up and go about your day as normal. Either way, you’ll need to ensure that it passes all of the relevant safety checks, otherwise the police will haul you and your wonderful new mechanical companion off to jail – imagine, all that hard work, wasted.
My Summer Car isn’t just about building, though; there are some survival game mechanics thrown into the mix, too. You’ll have to keep yourself fit and healthy (Amistech recommends “sausages, beer, and sleeping,” which honestly sounds like a dream), and if your car accidentally explodes, you’ll die as a result. Yes, My Summer Car features a permadeath system, upping the stakes and forcing you to be meticulous in your craft. One wrong gear, one wrong twist of the wrench, and it all goes boom.
And people absolutely love it. In the wake of the 1.0 release My Summer Car has surged up the Steam Charts, with 3,605 players diving into the chaos, and helping it to the coveted ‘trending game’ status to boot. 94% of all lifetime reviews are positive, with recent reviews clocking in at 95%, placing My Summer Car somewhere in between ‘very positive’ and ‘overwhelmingly positive.’
My Summer Car’s 1.0 version is available now at 18% off, bringing it down to $12.29 / £9.01 until Wednesday January 15. You can pick it up here if you fancy building some cars and chugging a whole lot of beer.
If you’re looking for something similar but with less of a car focus, check out our list of all the best life games – you can’t beat flirting with the Grim Reaper in The Sims, right? Alternatively, if you’re craving something new but don’t want to break the bank, here’s a rundown of all the best free Steam games.
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