If you've played My Summer Car, you already know that the series is a punishing experience that asks the best of you to stay alive as well as learn how to restore vehicles and drive them. My winter car there is no other. In fact, it's made worse with some new features and changes that make it more difficult.
Chances are, you won't know how to do practically anything when you start the game. It's part of its appeal and steep learning curve. However, if you want to know a few things before you start My Winter Car, here are some tips for beginners that won't spoil the experience and will help you.
This game is in early access, so the usefulness of any of these tips may change in the future.
Play My Summer Car first
You probably already know that, but My Winter Car is a sequel to My Summer Car. The change of season isn't just aesthetic: the presence of snow and cold temperatures drastically changes roads, vehicle maintenance, and what your character needs to survive. In fact, all the biggest changes and additions this new entry is a more punishing experience.
So if you think My Winter Car is too harsh, but you see aspects you like, you can try My Summer Car first. It's still an annoying and hard game with no instructions on what to do, but it has fewer things to worry about.
My Winter Car: Problem Bar, Explained
My winter car brings serious problems.
Turn off Permadeath
Once you start a new game, you will need to fill out a license card with your name and picture if you want. There are other nonsensical details on the card and they are in Finnish. But watch the last one that says “On”: it's a permadeath feature.
This is turned on by default because it's part of the experience: if you die, you have to start over. And chances are you'll die from then on you learn a lot of things by trial and error (and I like to think while reading this and our other guides). But if you think it's too much and you'd like to have a checkpoint system, just turn it off,
How to start a car
You can drive your starting car in less than a minute after starting a new game, but let's slow down for a moment. It's a driving simulator title, so traveling requires a little more than just getting in the car and speeding up.
Exit the house and you will see a parked car. Go forward, crouch and disconnect the device it is connected to: it is the heater that protects the vehicle from freezing. Next, you can either scratch the windows by pressing the left mouse button and moving the mouse from side to side multiple times, or use the car's heating system.
For the latter you must start the engine (left click on the key until the engine starts), a turn on the fan and window heating. It will take a minute, but the snow in your car will melt.
Also, do not turn off the blower while driving, as this will prevent snow from covering the windshield.
Left-click the car's throttle a few timeswhich will help you if the car temperature is low and move the temperature device on your right to keep the car warm for you as well as your body temperature.
You're almost there. Now you have to apply the parking brakego into reverse (press B) and then manually change gear control (B for downshift, G for upshift) accelerate. Keep an eye on the car's temperature (the gauge on the left) and its fuel tank (on the right, you usually have half a tank when you start) and you're free to roam the first day.
Remember to turn off anything else running when you park. Always connect your car to the heating device when you get home or if you see one where you park.
Take a minute to check all the controls
If following the previous tip was a little complicated, it's because you realized something important: the lack of instructions and guidelines in My Winter Car is only part of what makes it difficult — lGetting all the different checks is also essential.
Press F1 and check various settings using the player and vehicle controls. For example, you will discover the Reach (Q) action, which allows you to get closer to objects. Since this game has a weird detection sensor, you'll be using it a lot to check your surroundings.
Anything that requires pressing numbers uses your numeric keypad.
Other relevant actions include hold U to check the watch (stores operate at fixed times), Space activates driving mode when inside the vehicle, F allows you to equip/use itemseat food and drink and P makes you urinate.
Install Fly Mod as soon as possible
If you don't want to play My Summer Car, but still want to make this game a little more enjoyable, there is another option: installing mods. I personally recommend installing ongk's NoClip which allows you to fly to any location in the game.
Sometimes it works a bit clunky as your character will jump or appear inside buildings you haven't entered when you turn this off. However, it's a great tool to get somewhere faster than by caror just learn the map in a different way.
Take notes or pictures of every bit of information
Stocks? Quest markers? Journal entries? None of these exist in My Winter Car. You only have attributes/stats that show your character's needs and the money in your wallet. There is no menu or inventory tab to track anything.
This means that whenever you see a phone number you can use or want to call a specific location on your house map (that you can't take with you!). you need to write a note on a piece of paper or take screenshots. Since information like phone numbers are really important in the game, be sure to write them down somewhere.
If you want the full hardcore experience and avoid cheatingthere is actually a way to save notes in the game: you have a ticket at home, where is the television. You can pick it up, open it with F, and type whatever you want on each line. Then you have to drive it in the car or leave it at home.
You have more money than you think
At the top left of the screen you'll see your money indicator, but that's the money you have on you. You also have a bank account (and a credit card), although the game never tells you that. You start with 2000 MK in your accountso you have a little over 4000 MK in total.
To check your bank account and activate your card, you have to visit any ATM (the gas station has one) and interact with it. Insert card, create PINand that's it.
Once you create your PIN, it will always be the same. You will not be able to change until you start a new game.
Still, start working whenever you can
My Winter Car has several jobs for you. To get started, you usually need to find an ad with a phone number, call that number, and then go to the marked location (however, the flyer distribution will send the stuff to your home). When you use the car, you will have to buy fuel which is quite expensiveand your character's needs will ask you to buy food and drink.
So you won't need a job on the first day, but start looking for him once you get a feel for the game and how to stay alive. Here is our article with jobs available and we recommend chopping and delivering wood to earn money fast.
Don't start restoring anything yet
Although the game never shows you a clear objective, the soul of the series is to restore vehicles and then race them or keep them as your own projects. But don't worry about any of that for the first few hours.
Take the time to learn the controls and all the other things in this manual and others. Restoring vehicles takes time, a good knowledge of many mechanics, and steady income. Sit back, learn everything you need to, and if you want, start diving deep into the repair universe.
My winter car: How to get gas
Getting gas in my winter car
