“Epic Survival Simulator Thrives in Early Access with 77,000 Steam Reviews and 94% Approval Rating”

My Summer Car is one of those games that I might never have personally heard of, yet it became extremely popular because of the niche it appeals to. What niche, you ask? Well, as the title suggests, it’s all about you and your car(s).

“My Summer Car is the ultimate car ownership, building, repairing, tuning, maintenance, and permadeath life survival simulator,” states the game’s Steam description. “You kick off the game with a ton of loose components and must assemble both the car and its engine. Not only do you need to care for your vehicle, but also yourself. Sausages, beer, and sleep will suffice… You have access to multiple cars and vehicles, not just one.”

The game immerses you for hours in first-person on the little details that go into a fixer-upper, only to have whatever car you’ve managed to construct smash into a tree within its first five minutes on the road, at which point you may find yourself trekking on foot to the nearest store to purchase some beef jerky using whatever cash you have left. A quintessential Finnish summer, indeed.

My Summer Car’s blend of meticulous car simulation along with quirky life simulation elements had already made it a hit upon entering early access in 2016, but after eight years of continuous updates, the game has amassed over 77,000 user reviews, with an impressive 94% of them being positive.