My Summer Car

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 27,590 reviews
  • gameplay
  • humor
  • graphics
My Summer Car Game Cover
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In My Summer Car, you assemble and maintain a 1990's Finnish countryside car, while managing your character's physical needs. Once your car is operational, participate in various activities, upgrade it with ordered parts, or tune it for races. With multiple vehicles available, the game offers a rich and detailed car customization and care experience.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 27,590 reviews
gameplay348 positive mentions
stability377 negative mentions
  • gameplay1,430 mentions

    The gameplay of "My Summer Car" is characterized by its intricate and realistic car-building mechanics, which require players to have or acquire a solid understanding of automotive principles. While the game offers a unique blend of survival elements and humor, it is often criticized for its steep learning curve, lack of tutorials, and frustrating mechanics that can lead to significant setbacks, such as losing progress due to bugs or poor design choices. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy detailed simulations and are willing to invest time in mastering its complexities, but may deter casual gamers due to its challenging nature.

    • “The unpredictable physics and the open-ended gameplay ensure that no two playthroughs are the same.”
    • “The mechanics are quite detailed and fun even on multiple playthroughs, and the story is very flexible depending on the way you play.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly realistic, and every action you take feels like it has a real impact on the world around you.”
    • “This game has a massive difficulty spike starting as soon as you open the game and it never really goes down unless you spend a ton of time trial and erroring your way through the various mechanics of the game or just look at the wiki.”
    • “Controls are just awful, the lack of guidance is unforgivable, and gameplay is full of weird quirks/bugs.”
    • “The mechanics are real, and so is everything to do with the cars, yet the police and physics are so screwed up it's actually a lot of fun.”
  • humor782 mentions

    The humor in "My Summer Car" is a standout feature, characterized by its quirky, often absurd Finnish charm that blends dark humor with slapstick moments. Players frequently mention the game's ability to elicit laughter through its ridiculous situations, such as car-building mishaps and unexpected deaths, while also appreciating the satirical take on rural life and car culture. However, some reviews note that the humor can be crude or juvenile, which may not appeal to everyone, particularly those unfamiliar with Finnish culture. Overall, the game is celebrated for its entertaining and unpredictable comedic elements that keep players engaged despite its challenging gameplay.

    • “Best early access game I've ever played, hilariously fun and challenging.”
    • “It perfectly balances the challenging gameplay with light-hearted, often hilarious moments that keep you entertained.”
    • “The game's tongue-in-cheek humor adds to its charm, making even the most mundane tasks feel entertaining and engaging.”
    • “Not funny or quirky.”
    • “Glitched game physics is not funny.”
    • “Checking the guides online are all just filled with unfunny memes and in-jokes.”
  • graphics539 mentions

    The graphics of "My Summer Car" are generally described as outdated and simplistic, often likened to those of early 90s or PS1-era games. While many players find the visuals charming and fitting for the game's nostalgic theme, they acknowledge that the graphics can be a significant drawback, especially for those expecting modern standards. Despite this, the game's immersive mechanics and attention to detail in car building often overshadow the graphical limitations, making it enjoyable for players who prioritize gameplay over visuals.

    • “The graphics in My Summer Car are deliberately simple and slightly rough around the edges, which adds to its charm.”
    • “The game embraces a retro aesthetic, with low-poly models and a muted color palette that perfectly captures the rural 1990s setting.”
    • “While the graphics may not be cutting-edge, the attention to detail in the surroundings and the realistic day-night cycle create an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are horrible, no one speaks English, most text isn't translated, the radio doesn't have English subtitles, I can't get the 200 kph achievement to save my life, the car will not stop pulling to the left, and the wasps are driving me insane.”
    • “The graphics look a bit PS2-ish and old at first glance, but playing the game that is quickly forgotten, as even visually it makes up for that with a good attention to detail, as well as the way it kind of fits the faux-retro vibe and 90s theme.”
    • “The graphics are so bad that I couldn't take it for more than a few hours.”
  • story416 mentions

    The story aspect of "My Summer Car" is largely described as minimal or non-linear, with many players noting that the game focuses more on gameplay mechanics than a traditional narrative. While some find enjoyment in the quirky, emergent storytelling that arises from player interactions and tasks, others criticize the lack of a structured plot, stating that the game feels more like a life simulator with a few comedic elements rather than a story-driven experience. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of tasks and character interactions that can create personal stories, but it lacks a cohesive narrative.

    • “The story in this game is short but good.”
    • “The story is amazing and the game itself is outstanding, especially because it was made by one developer, and I am really impressed on how the progress of the game development has been going.”
    • “The story progression is also quite enjoyable.”
    • “The game is really good and fun, but the story is pretty much non-existent, with only a few snippets of dialogue and character interactions that are entertaining.”
    • “You have lore surrounding the characters, but I don't count that as storytelling, because you're not being told a story through dialogue, monologue, or environmental storytelling; there simply is no story other than the note on your fridge saying 'fix your dad's old car.'”
    • “This game sucks, no story behind it, nothing to do, don't buy it.”
  • stability384 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences. Many users recommend using tools like msceditor to mitigate some of these issues, as the game often feels unfinished and is still in early access after several years. While some find the bugs add a certain charm to the experience, the overall consensus is that the game is riddled with instability, making it difficult to recommend without reservations.

    • “Remarkably addicting, also relatively bug free when you look at other games of this caliber.”
    • “The game runs great on any setting as long as you have an okay PC like I do.”
    • “A barebone masterpiece, smooth and generally bug free; the barebone content is a grade and the slightly out of date graphics and basic AI are easily overlooked due to the enjoyable focus on game mechanics.”
    • “This game is a frustrating, buggy mess and is still in early access.”
    • “The game is often buggy and the physics engine constantly wants to screw you over.”
    • “You can die due to a glitch, the save game can get corrupt, my van glitched, killed me and disappeared, etc... the game is at a point at which the cheats shouldn't have been disabled, because you can go around some game-breaking bugs with them.”
  • grinding267 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely described as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant hours into repetitive tasks like building and maintaining a car or completing various jobs for money. While some players find this grind rewarding and immersive, others view it as frustrating and overly complicated, leading to a mixed reception where enjoyment hinges on one's tolerance for monotony and challenge. Overall, the game is characterized as a blend of fun and frustration, with many suggesting that it may not be suitable for those who prefer a more streamlined gaming experience.

    • “Just use mods if you are only playing it for the car and not the grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “I get it exists as a form of punishment for being a bad guy, but when a mechanic is so tedious that it forces everyone to mod the game, then I feel it might need re-evaluating.”
    • “The game is beyond janky, beyond tedious, and a masochist's wet dream.”
    • “This game is tedious misery.”
  • music212 mentions

    The music in the game is a mix of original tracks and Finnish songs that enhance the immersive experience of rural Finland, with many players praising its nostalgic and thematic relevance. While some find the soundtrack repetitive, the ability to import custom music adds a personal touch, allowing players to tailor their audio experience during gameplay. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, making it both enjoyable and memorable.

    • “The music is also great and the game is overall very immersive and feels real.”
    • “The sound design, however, stands out, from the revving of the car engine you painstakingly assembled to the Finnish rock music blaring from the radio—every detail contributes to a sense of place and time.”
    • “The ultimate Finnish simulator, I know only two games that capture the true Finnish spirit and that's this game and Unreal World. The game gets updated fairly often, with more content bundled with bug fixes and such, you can put your own music into the game and also get a custom paint job for your car. All in all, it's a great game for those looking for that Finnish spirit and to have fun.”
    • “There is no background music and you spend a lot of time driving down the same lengthy routes to carry out chores and shopping runs.”
    • “The soundtrack in the background is super repetitive and annoying, zero tutorial on how to do anything.”
    • “Unfortunately you can't pick up any girls because for some reason the town of Alivieska only consists of men. You can add your custom music to the radio if you have converted the mp3 files to ogg.”
  • optimization141 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting poor performance, frequent frame rate drops, and significant issues even on high-end PCs. While some mods, like the Modern Optimization Project, can improve performance, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization updates to enhance playability and stability. Despite its fun gameplay and unique mechanics, the lack of optimization detracts from the experience for many users.

    • “With the modern optimization plugin mod, I can run this on my laptop with a four-core Intel Pentium Silver with integrated graphics and 4 GB of RAM at an average of 14 FPS (still playable if you use the lowest graphics setting).”
    • “The game is incredibly good, but it needs improvements such as performance so that you can play with higher FPS.”
    • “The overall goal of this game is to finish the car, buy all the performance parts, and tune it for the best performance to win a rally race your character wants to enter.”
    • “Legitimately broken and poorly executed. I don't know why all the reviews are looking past the horrible controls, poor performance, many glitches, and unfair design.”
    • “The lack of optimization and the FPS drops are terrible, making it impossible to play properly.”
    • “This game is poorly optimized, and when I say poorly, a pile of dirt gets more FPS in this game. I have a decently good PC; I run GTA 5 online at 80 FPS, and when I walk up to the Satsuma, my FPS drops from 30 to 20. That is just trash.”
  • emotional51 mentions

    Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments of joy and heartbreak, particularly related to building and operating their cars. The experience is described as an emotional rollercoaster, with many reviewers noting that they cried from both frustration and joy, making it a uniquely impactful gaming experience. Despite its flaws, the game resonates deeply, leaving players feeling invested and emotionally affected by their in-game successes and failures.

    • “Nothing in a video game has ever given me the same feeling as starting and moving the car for the first time, and similarly, nothing has made me feel such heartbreak as the car stalling on the tracks right after and getting hit by a train, losing the save.”
    • “This is one of the very few games that actually made me feel real emotion for the events taking place in the game.”
    • “I've spent 60 hours on this game, and every single hour has made me cry tears of joy; it's about building cars, and I hate cars.”
  • atmosphere50 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic representation of 1990s Finland, enhanced by realistic day-night cycles, ambient sounds, and attention to detail in the environment. While the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they contribute to a unique charm that resonates particularly with players familiar with the culture and setting. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging, authentic, and capable of evoking a strong sense of place and time, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The cyclical nature of time, the shifting weather patterns, and the subtle changes in the ambient soundscape coalesce to create an atmosphere of genuine immersion and connection with the game world.”
    • “Nothing in this game is sugarcoated, it is a fun hard life game with an eerie but beautiful atmosphere and actually quite a lot of realism.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game feels like you actually traveled back in time to Finland in the 90s.”
    • “While the graphics might not appeal to everyone with their intentionally dated, low-polygon style, they contribute to the game's nostalgic atmosphere.”
    • “The entire game itself has an atmosphere like no other.”
  • replayability37 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with many users noting its infinite replay value and the enhancements provided by a vibrant modding community. Players appreciate the unique charm and challenge it offers, making it enjoyable for those who thrive on permadeath survival mechanics and varied gameplay experiences. However, some critiques mention a lack of content post-main objectives, which could limit replayability for certain players.

    • “The game’s modding community also adds to its replayability, offering various mods that enhance or radically change the gameplay experience.”
    • “An excellent game that, while somewhat difficult in the beginning, is quite fun and has a lot of replayability.”
    • “The replay value is great; my 140+ hours do not lie, I’ve played through 3-4 times!”
    • “This game would be a solid 8/10 for me, but the lack of things to do once you complete the main objective and the repetitiveness of the driving, map, and jobs make this game good, but has no replayability value to it.”
    • “Too many games today are pretty, but incredibly hollow when it comes to actual gameplay and replay value.”
    • “The side jobs provide a replayable 'story' that helps you slowly turn your once simple pile of parts into a rally machine.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players finding the advertisements humorous while others perceive the prolonged "early access" status as a potential cash grab. Despite the fun gameplay and quirky jobs, the overall execution is criticized as being bare bones and lacking polish, which detracts from the experience.

    • “That said, it's still in 'early access' for over 3 years, so it seems more and more like a cash grab.”
    • “I understand there is some humor to the game, and I did laugh a couple of times at some of the stuff happening, but I also had to laugh at the fact that this game is so bare bones, sloppy, and not even in English as their advertising video shows.”
    • “Meanwhile, you are juggling a bunch of odd jobs, delivering wood, making moonshine, even dropping off advertising leaflets, or helping your grandma with groceries so that you can feed yourself and pay your bills to keep everything running.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the character design and gameplay, indicating that the visual and interactive elements contribute positively to the overall character development experience.

    • “I really love the character design as well as the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

33hMedian play time
130hAverage play time
12-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 155 analyzed playthroughs

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