My Summer Car: the insane, annoying and awesome Finnish car simulator that’s taking the world by storm

One of the oddest computer games ever is hitting the charts. My Summer Car emerged from the Steam early access program and has already sold over 1.5 million euros worth of copies. It is an unusual entry even among other Finnish video games.

The game is an open ended sandbox simulator with a specific twist. It builds on clichés of young working-class men who take tinkering with old cars seriously. The setting is the mid nineties Finnish countryside. These places were suffering from decay after the 90s recession.

There is a clever subtext here. The game allows players to deal with their feelings toward a barely populated and bleak landscape. It is a simulation of a very specific reality.

Finnish summer realism

The player exists in a Finnish summer with few worries and a fair bit of free time. The world is modeled after an authentic Finnish setting with local writing, voice acting and props. There is a dedicated button to swear. Everything is subtitled in English.

The game has received bemused praise from media outlets like Eurogamer. Some critics have reservations about the tedious realism. The game’s 90s style website suggests this project simply had to be made.

The Datsun project

The player wakes up in a house in the middle of nowhere. The primary goal is to assemble a small Datsun 100A lookalike. The car is in the garage and is entirely disassembled. It must be rebuilt with the correct tools.

Wrong assembly leads to mechanical failure. This is frustrating or fatal if it happens at high speed during permadeath mode. The house contains tools, Finnish sausage, beer, a sauna and a TV. A mail-order catalog allows the player to order parts from across the world.

Work and survival

There is a van modeled on the Toyota Hiace for shopping and errands. The player character is a handyman contractor. The phone rings with jobs like emptying septic tanks. These jobs provide the money required for car parts and survival.

The player must manage meters for food, hygiene, thirst and fatigue. Drinking too much beer makes driving difficult and leads to waking up in odd places. It is a demanding game that uses humor to balance the difficulty.

Cultural impact

My Summer Car follows in the footsteps of other serious simulators like Euro Truck Simulator or the bizarre Goat Simulator. It has gained international attention from YouTube personalities who find the Finnish eccentricities amusing.