My Summer Car

My Summer Car is a highly detailed and immersive car-building and life-survival simulator that offers a unique and challenging experience to players who are passionate about automobiles and the intricacies of car assembly. Developed by Finnish developer Johannes Rojola under the alias ToplessGun, the game was first released in early access on Steam in 2016, with a full release on January 8, 2025. Set in the summer of 1995 in the fictional Finnish countryside town of Alivieska, the game puts players in the shoes of a young man left alone at his family home while his parents are away on vacation.

The Core Gameplay Experience

The essence of My Summer Car revolves around the painstaking process of assembling a car from scratch. The player’s primary objective is to build, maintain, and upgrade the Satsuma AMP, a vehicle modeled after the real-life Nissan Cherry or Datsun 100A. Starting with a garage full of scattered parts, the player must piece together every component, from the engine block to the smallest nuts and bolts, ensuring that each part is installed correctly and tightened with the appropriate tool.

Key Features

• Full Car Assembly: Over a hundred individual parts must be installed manually.
• Realistic Simulation: The game features a highly detailed driving and engine simulation, requiring attention to fuel, oil, and coolant levels.
• Permanent Consequences: With permadeath mechanics, poor decisions or accidents can lead to starting over from scratch.
• Variety of Vehicles: In addition to the Satsuma, players can utilize a tractor, van, mopeds, and even a boat to explore the game’s vast open world.
• Life-Survival Elements: Players must eat, drink, sleep, and manage stress levels to survive.
• Economic Activities: Completing various jobs such as wood delivery, septic tank cleaning, and bootlegging moonshine provides funds for car upgrades and living expenses.
• Customization and Tuning: Players can personalize their Satsuma with aftermarket parts, turning it into a rally beast or a flashy street racer.
• AI Traffic and Police: Law enforcement keeps an eye on reckless driving and potential violations.
• Cultural Immersion: The game captures the essence of Finnish countryside life in the 90s with authentic music, language, and humor.

Building the Satsuma

One of the most intricate aspects of My Summer Car is the car-building process. Unlike most games that offer step-by-step guidance, My Summer Car expects players to figure things out independently. This requires trial and error, referencing real-world automotive knowledge, and utilizing the in-game catalog to order necessary parts. Every assembly step must be precise, from installing the pistons to tightening bolts to the correct torque. A single missed component can lead to catastrophic engine failure on the road.

Once the Satsuma is assembled and roadworthy, it must pass an inspection at the local vehicle authority office. Failing to meet legal requirements such as functioning lights, emissions standards, and proper tire condition can result in fines or the inability to legally drive the car.

The Challenges of Survival

Beyond the mechanical aspect, players must also take care of their character’s basic needs. Hunger, thirst, and fatigue play a crucial role in the game, and neglecting them can have fatal consequences. The Finnish summer lifestyle is vividly portrayed, with activities such as relaxing in a sauna, drinking beer, and even dealing with the effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

Stress management is another essential aspect. Working on a car or dealing with frustrating mechanical failures can increase stress levels, which can be alleviated by engaging in leisure activities such as watching TV, listening to the radio, or enjoying a sauna session.

Earning a Living

To support the car-building project and daily expenses, players can take on various side jobs scattered around the map. These include:

• Firewood Delivery: Chopping wood and delivering it to neighbors for cash.
• Septic Tank Pumping: Using a vacuum truck to empty septic tanks.
• Moonshine Production: Brewing homemade alcohol and selling it for a profit.
• Car Towing: Assisting stranded drivers or recovering wrecked vehicles.
• Taxi Service: Giving rides to drunk locals from the town’s pub.

Completing these tasks provides monetary rewards and helps in exploring the map and encountering quirky NPCs.

Rallying and Beyond

Once the Satsuma is properly tuned and passes inspection, players can participate in the local rally championship held weekly. The rally event offers an opportunity to push the car to its limits on winding dirt roads against AI competitors. Winning races provides prize money and bragging rights, but mechanical failures, crashes, and police encounters can quickly derail progress.

Additional Vehicles and Exploration

While the Satsuma is the star of the show, My Summer Car offers a range of other vehicles for players to utilize. These include:

• Tractor: Useful for hauling logs and rescuing the Satsuma from ditches.
• Van: Ideal for grocery shopping and transporting larger items.
• Boat: Enables travel across the lake to reach remote areas.
• Moped: A quick and fuel-efficient option for short trips.

The vast open world features a mix of paved roads and challenging dirt tracks, complete with AI traffic and unpredictable weather conditions.

The Community and Modding Scene

Since its initial release, My Summer Car has fostered a passionate community of players who share tips, create mods, and contribute to the game’s ongoing evolution. The modding scene has introduced a wide range of custom parts, new vehicles, and even quality-of-life improvements to enhance the gameplay experience.

Conclusion

My Summer Car is the fruit of love between car enthusiasts and fans of complex simulators. Its steep learning curve, unforgiving mechanics, and unique blend of realism and humor make it a one-of-a-kind experience. Whether players are meticulously assembling their dream car, navigating the challenges of rural life, or participating in thrilling rally events, My Summer Car offers an engaging and often hilarious adventure into the world of automotive obsession.