Automation: The Car Company Tycoon Game

Starting at $13.59Buy now

"Automation: The Car Company Tycoon Game" is a simulation game that allows players to design and manufacture their own cars. Players start by building their own car company, and must manage various aspects such as research, development, design, production, and marketing. The game features detailed car customization, including engine and transmission design, and allows players to compete in a dynamic market against AI-controlled competitors.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 16,956 reviews

gameplay164 positive mentions

stability226 negative mentions

gameplay
614 mentions
27 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Automation" is highly detailed and immersive, appealing primarily to car enthusiasts and those with mechanical knowledge, as it involves complex vehicle design and engineering mechanics. While the game offers a rich sandbox experience and educational value, many players find the learning curve steep and the lack of intuitive tutorials frustrating, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel overwhelming or shallow for those unfamiliar with automotive mechanics. Overall, it is praised for its depth and customization options, but it may not be suitable for casual gamers or those seeking straightforward gameplay.
- “The game’s graphical fidelity and attention to detail in vehicle animations and factory environments contribute to its immersive gameplay experience, making each design iteration and test drive feel both satisfying and visually appealing.”
- “Automation: the car company tycoon game stands as a pinnacle of automotive simulation and business management, offering unparalleled depth in vehicle design, engineering realism, and strategic tycoon gameplay.”
- “The tycoon campaign is a great mechanic and really keeps me interested in making cars.”
- “This makes gameplay more of a guessing game than it needs to be.”
- “Your company is going to bankrupt anyway even in the easiest difficulty mode, you don't have any good tutorial instead of the YouTube video, the product is so raw, unfriendly for beginners, the developers should add adviser mechanics like the Civilization game series has, which are telling you what to do to solve your problems.”
- “The whole process of setting up, signing off, facelifting, etc. is basically unintelligible, and there's no in-game guidance on how the gameplay mechanics work.”
graphics
388 mentions
29 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their high fidelity and attention to detail, particularly in vehicle animations and environments, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some users note that the graphics can be demanding on hardware, requiring a decent GPU for optimal performance, and there are ongoing concerns about optimization and the need for further improvements. While many appreciate the visual customization options, others feel that the graphics are not cutting-edge and could benefit from enhancements, especially in terms of aesthetic features.
- “The game’s graphical fidelity and attention to detail in vehicle animations and factory environments contribute to its immersive gameplay experience, making each design iteration and test drive feel both satisfying and visually appealing.”
- “The graphics are stunning, and the amount of detail in this game is absolutely gorgeous.”
- “Absolutely fantastic game with good graphics, realistic customization, and overall, a fantastic design simulator.”
- “However, it's far from great, especially given development has a tendency to stray to aspects that most of the userbase will never touch and to break, worsen or slow down the graphics side.”
- “Despite numerous game engine changes, visuals haven't improved in the last three years (on full epic settings).”
- “Third, graphics are incredibly weak; it looks like a PS1 game from 20 years ago.”
stability
234 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game is widely reported to be very buggy and unstable, with frequent crashes and glitches affecting various aspects, particularly in the vehicle designer and campaign mode. While many players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, they acknowledge that it is still in early access and requires significant improvements. Overall, users recommend caution for potential buyers due to the persistent bugs and incomplete features.
- “Great mod support; I personally run 1080 mods and it runs great.”
- “It runs great on low-end hardware as well.”
- “Updates come out at a slow rate, but so far my experience has been bug-free.”
- “Waited almost a decade for a campaign mode but it's still a buggy mess.”
- “The campaign mode is not just buggy and not totally functional, but it's just an enormous pain to play.”
- “The game in its current state is very buggy, full of glitches.”
optimization
208 mentions
16 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting performance issues, bugs, and a lack of stability, particularly on lower-end systems. While the detailed simulations and design features are praised, the overall experience is marred by frequent crashes, long load times, and a user interface that feels underdeveloped. Players express hope for improvements in future updates, especially with the anticipated transition to the Unreal 4 engine, but currently recommend caution for those with less powerful hardware.
- “The game’s comprehensive design suite allows for precise tuning and testing of performance metrics such as horsepower, torque, acceleration, and fuel efficiency, offering a deep dive into automotive engineering principles.”
- “The satisfaction you can get out of working on a performance hatch variant of a car for hours, before finally tuning the suspension to induce lift-off oversteer to scratch off that extra few seconds on the track is sensational.”
- “This game absolutely shines for what it is meant to do - let you make a fantasy car company, complete with fine-tuning the engines for economy or performance or both.”
- “The game is optimized extremely horribly, and I need to run it on the lowest settings to get a playable framerate.”
- “I enjoy this game but there's way too many bugs, performance issues, and bad gameplay in general to recommend this.”
- “Memory leaks, broken saves, engines disappearing from your car, car stats not updating after changing parts/settings, paint slots resetting, transparency/layers glitching out in photo mode... there are a lot of performance issues for a game that does not justify that with its gameplay or visual fidelity.”
story
134 mentions
6 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely considered minimal or non-existent, with many users emphasizing that it focuses more on vehicle creation and customization rather than a traditional narrative. While some mention a basic campaign mode, it lacks depth and is often seen as repetitive, with players finding more enjoyment in the sandbox features. Overall, the game excels in creativity and design mechanics, but the story mode requires further development to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “Create your own brand of cars, create models, variations, fictional events, and backstory behind the great visionary engineers under your employ.”
- “The story mode is a bit more developed than it used to be.”
- “The story still needs work, but as for the creation, customization to make a car and engine of your own that you can transfer to BeamNG is quite engaging.”
- “The tycoon 'story' is not very deep, and it doesn't really seem fun to me.”
- “It's pretty much the exact same story every time; you get to the point where you can create a second generation of cars, and factories, and as you're creating the 'blueprints' for the new vehicles and engine, the game just seems to stop seeing new things you've created.”
- “The story mode has not been totally completed as of right now.”
humor
102 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying the absurdity of creating hilariously impractical cars and engines, often leading to comical failures. Many reviews highlight the joy of experimenting with outrageous designs and the fun of sharing these creations with friends, making it a lighthearted experience. Overall, the game is described as a delightful mix of creativity and humor, perfect for those who enjoy playful automotive antics.
- “Silly funny car game where I put rocket fuel into a 160cc i3 and split atoms and go bankrupt.”
- “To get the full experience you have to try building in creative; there is something so fun about building cars that would never be made today, whether it is multi-million dollar hatchbacks, semi trucks with pizza cutter wheels, or a car that can do a wheelie so hard it backflips. Making your friends drive them on BeamNG is honestly an absolute riot.”
- “Honestly a masterpiece of a game; if you are into cars, this game can make you scream with joy. The realistic tuning paired with some of the most hilarious mods makes this a work of pure and utter magic.”
music
84 mentions
29 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the catchy and immersive soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, while others criticize its repetitiveness and dated quality. Many find the music enjoyable for background listening, especially during gameplay, but some suggest muting it due to its lack of variety. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant aspect of the game, though opinions on its quality vary widely.
- “The soundtrack might as well have written itself into my memory like it had been burned into a CD-ROM.”
- “This game has an absolutely amazing soundtrack packaged alongside its content.”
- “Automation - the car company tycoon game has the most immersive and high-quality soundtrack ever.”
- “The music and sound effects haven't changed in half a decade and are no better than what a character from Bob's Burgers could create on a keyboard in one episode; just mute it and put on Spotify instead.”
- “The soundtrack DLC is optimistic, but frankly sounds like royalty-free soft rock. It's not bad, but I wouldn't say it's worth $5 unless you really love the music or want to support the developers.”
- “This inability to mute music during boot up has been brought up in the forums a few times, and the developers have stubbornly refused to give us that option.”
grinding
56 mentions
0 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, requiring players to invest significant effort into tasks like car customization and factory setup. While some enjoy the creative freedom offered, many feel that the mechanics are overly convoluted and frustrating, often leading to a sense of needing "a second life" to complete the grinding required. Overall, the balance between fun and tedium appears to be skewed towards the latter.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game is more tedious than it should be.”
- “It's especially tedious when the menus get in your way after you spent hours trying to fix stupid problems in your design that you get warnings about, only to go broke because you can't change the price.”
replayability
36 mentions
39 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game offers a high level of replayability, particularly for creative players and car enthusiasts, with many praising its infinite possibilities and engaging sandbox mode. However, some users note that the replay value may diminish for those less invested in the mechanics or who have exhausted the available scenarios. Overall, while it caters well to dedicated fans, casual players might find the replayability limited.
- “Amazing game, virtually infinite replay value.”
- “One of the most easily replayable games out there, with infinite possibilities.”
- “This game's got endless replay value; there are just so many types of cars you could focus your company on!”
- “It's 'thumbs down' because the developers seem to have deserted this project unfinished, and thus, left us with a low replay value.”
- “4/10 replayability for the average person | 10/10 for car nuts/mechanics looking to tinker.”
- “Low replay value after you have tried massive, huge displacement power roaring, small displacement usable moon-revving, and lastly, econobox engines.”
monetization
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its poorly designed user interface and unintuitive mechanics, making it frustrating for players to engage with the advertising and market elements. Despite being in early access and feeling incomplete, reviewers note that the game is not a cash grab and offers a wealth of quality content and an active community that enhances the experience without additional costs.
- “The parts of advertising and dealing with market stuff of the campaign are half-baked - full of ingredients that might make something fantastic, but between the absolutely horrible UI and unintuitiveness, it's just bad.”
- “This is just starting to get to the point where advertising, research, engineering times, where the focus lies, factory setup... it's boggling my mind and frustrating me to a point where I can't play the game.”
- “Lots of content, great quality one also, active community that adds up to the game for free (as far as the game itself concerns), and the damn thing is not even finished yet!”
atmosphere
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a supportive and collaborative community, bolstered by regular updates and enhancements. However, the perception of staff superiority undermines this welcoming environment, while music plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall ambiance.
- “Music is another important thing; it forms a very important part of building atmosphere.”
- “Regular patches, content updates, and feature enhancements ensure that automation continues to evolve and meet the expectations of its dedicated player base, fostering a supportive and collaborative community atmosphere.”
- “I rate the staff 3/10, while some are supportive, the bulk of them seem to think themselves outright superior to their community, which doesn't really work if you build an atmosphere of everyone being welcome.”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional investment in the game, often reflecting on their extensive playtime and the personal connections formed through their experiences. This attachment can lead to a sense of closure, as some players feel satisfied with their journey and choose not to revisit certain aspects of the game again.
- “Not least of which because after 200 hours of gameplay, making it my most played game on Steam, there is a lot of emotional investment to be perfectly objective.”