Car Mechanic Simulator 2018
Third entry in the car repair simulation series.
Car Mechanic Simulator 2018, a simulation game from Polish developer Red Dot Games, puts players in the role of an auto mechanic. Released on PC on July 28, 2017, it later arrived on Nintendo Switch in February 2019 and on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June of that year. A stripped-down mobile version came out in June 2018. It is the third title in the series, succeeded by Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 in August 2021.
Players explore their shop, showrooms, and barns from a first-person view, buying damaged cars to fix and sell. Tools are unlocked through jobs and experience, and the workshop expands over time, enabling more complex repairs and classic car restorations. Gameplay involves inspecting engine, suspension, and chassis parts, identifying broken components, and replacing or repairing them. Engines are highly detailed, requiring realistic disassembly. Tasks use equipment like tire balancers, spring pullers, detailing kits, and engine mounts. Later, a test track and paintshop become available.
The Switch version received "generally unfavorable" reviews on Metacritic, while the Xbox One version got "generally favorable" ones. Rock Paper Shotgun found the game "singularly captivating and cathartic" but criticized initial bugs and design choices; a post-patch review noted the technical issues were fixed. Nintendo Enthusiast heavily criticized the Switch port, calling it a mobile version repackaged as a "sad attempt at making a quick buck."
Downloadable content mostly adds officially licensed cars, unlike the base game's fictional analogues. A free Tuning DLC, released on October 30, introduced cosmetic upgrades, performance parts, and a Dyno for measuring vehicle improvements.
The sequel, Car Mechanic Simulator 2021, launched on August 11, 2021, for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a PlayStation 5 version on May 2, 2022. Games.cz described it as a remaster with minor additions, not enough to justify an upgrade for owners of the previous game's DLC.
- Developer
- Red Dot Games
- Release date windows
- July 28, 2017
- Release date nintendo switch
- February 15, 2019
- Release date playstation 4
- June 25, 2019
- Release date xbox one
- June 25, 2019
- Release date mobile
- June 2018
- Series position
- third game in the Car Mechanic Simulator series
Lore & Background
Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 is played from a first-person perspective, with the player able to walk freely around the shop, showrooms, and barns where damaged cars can be purchased to be repaired and/or resold. The player has access to a wide variety of tools, most of which are unlocked by completing jobs and earning experience. Over the course of the game, the player expands their workshop, allowing them to complete increasingly complex repair work as well as the restoration of classic cars. Gameplay involves examining the various components of the vehicle's engine, suspension, and chassis, identifying damaged components and replacing them. This can be done by purchasing a replacement component or, at higher levels, repairing the existing one. Engines are rendered in a great deal of detail, requiring the player to remove parts in a realistic manner in order to access the relevant component. The player must use realistic hardware like a tire balancer, spring puller, detailing kit, and engine mount. Further sections of the workroom become unlocked over the course of the game, including a test track which can identify issues with a car's brakes and suspension, and a paintshop used to paint and customize the car's body. A variety of downloadable content is available, the majority of which expands the range of cars available. Unlike the cars in the base game, which are fictional analogues for real cars, DLC cars are officially licensed replicas. A free Tuning DLC released on October 30 expands cosmetic upgrades and high performance parts, and unlocks a Dyno to check vehicle improvement.
Reader's Guide
Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 received mixed critical reception depending on platform. The Switch version received 'generally unfavorable reviews' and the Xbox One received 'generally favorable reviews' on Metacritic. Rock Paper Shotgun called the game 'singularly captivating and cathartic' while criticizing a large number of bugs present in the initial release, as well as a number of design decisions. A follow-up review after patching indicated that the technical issues had been resolved. The Nintendo Switch version was heavily criticized by Nintendo Enthusiast for being a port of the mobile release, calling it 'a really sad attempt at making a quick buck off of unsuspecting buyers'. The game was followed by Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 in August 2021, which Games.cz called akin to a remaster with minor added features, but not enough to justify an upgrade if one already owned all DLC for the previous game.
Did You Know?
- Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 is the third game in the Car Mechanic Simulator series.
- The game was developed by Polish studio Red Dot Games.
- A free Tuning DLC was released on October 30, adding a Dyno and high performance parts.
- The Nintendo Switch version was a port of the mobile release, according to Nintendo Enthusiast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 and who made it?
It is a first-person auto-repair simulation game developed by the Polish studio Red Dot Games. You play as a mechanic who buys wrecked vehicles, diagnoses and fixes them with progressively unlocked tools, and resells them for profit.
When was Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 released and on which platforms?
The PC build hit stores on July 28, 2017, with a stripped-down mobile version following in June 2018. Nintendo Switch players got it in February 2019, and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One followed in June 2019.
How does the core gameplay loop work in Car Mechanic Simulator 2018?
You browse showrooms and barns to pick up damaged cars, then repair them in your workshop from a first-person perspective. Finishing customer jobs earns experience that unlocks new tools and lets you expand your garage space.
Where does Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 sit in the series timeline?
It is the third entry in Red Dot Games' car-repair simulation franchise. The series moved forward with Car Mechanic Simulator 2021, released in August 2021.
Why do fans consider Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 a standout in the genre?
It sharpened the hands-on, first-person feel of virtual auto repair so that every bolt, panel, and fluid swap feels tangible. Its multi-platform rollout also brought that tactile workshop experience to console and mobile audiences who previously had no access to the series.
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