My Winter Car launches in early access – sequel to Finnish car simulator is even more brutal than the original

Amistech studio released My Winter Car into early access – the continuation of the brutal Finnish life simulator marketed as "not fun." Just a year after the final release of My Summer Car, the developers decided to make things even harder for players.

My Summer Car left early access in January 2025 after nearly a decade in development. Amistech didn't exactly take a break – on December 29, the studio launched the early version of the sequel while everyone else was preparing for the holidays.

Typically, video game sequels don't require familiarity with the original, as developers want to attract as many new players as possible. But My Winter Car is an exception. The game is specifically designed for those who mastered the first installment and are ready for even greater challenges.

"Sequel to My Summer Car, but with added challenge for those who can master the original game!" warns the Steam page. Considering the difficulty of My Summer Car, this means an absolutely miserable experience – though for games like these, that's perfectly normal and considered an advantage.

Essentially, this is still a simulator about repairing an old car – possibly for racing or just for show. In American movies, teenagers constantly fix up old beaters, a process that usually ends with a working vehicle and a stronger relationship with a distant father. Sounds cozy. But My Winter Car isn't an American game. It's Finnish. This isn't a gentle simulator of family bonding, but a survival game actively trying to kill the player.

Beyond wrestling with 200 unique parts to create the perfect machine, players must contend with the threat of permadeath, miserable weather, and the police.

Even with all the fun and interesting things, there is still terrible coldness and darkness of Finnish winter that makes the life dangerous, depressing and tiring.

The brutally meticulous simulator may scare off some, but there are plenty willing to accept the challenge of building a car under extremely unpleasant conditions. My Winter Car launched in early access on December 29 and has already collected nearly 5,000 reviews, earning an impressive "Very Positive" (94%) status on Steam.

My Winter Car is available in Steam early access.