The final week of May saw several new releases grab attention on Steam. The highly anticipated life simulation game 'Paralives' received 'Very Positive' acclaim upon launch, while the classic-feeling indie game 'Mina the Hollower' drew in a crowd. Among the new titles, a particularly humorous game stands out: the garage operation simulator 'Cheap Car Repair.'

The game is set in a remote Polish countryside village in the 90s. 'Cheap Car Repair,' when translated literally, means 'affordable automotive maintenance.' Your mission, as the player, is to fix various clients' cars in the cheapest and least labor-intensive way possible. Why the obsession with such cheap repairs? Because you need to save every penny to fix your own car, which is practically a wreck.

The game begins with a simple rust removal task as part of the tutorial. Typically, removing rust from a vehicle involves a complex process. You'd meticulously sand down the rust as thinly as possible, then fill the abraded areas with putty, let it cure, and finally apply multiple thin coats of paint, matching the car's colour without drips.

However, such a process is far too intricate and demanding. Your character, however, opts for a more direct approach: a rotary sandpaper grinder that aggressively buffs the surface. It's so powerful that it doesn't just remove the rust; it strips the entire surface down to bare metal. After all the rust is gone, a spray paint is applied. Forget any fancy clear coats; a quick polish with a grinding tool gives it a reasonably similar hue.

For any car enthusiast, this part might make your neck stiffen and your heart race. But this is just a taste of what 'Cheap Car Repair' truly offers. What's the most crucial element for fixing your own car? Vehicle parts. And where's the easiest and most reliable place to get them? Someone else's car.

'Cheap Car Repair' uniquely features a 'Sloppiness' meter, rather than a 'quality' score. To complete a job, this meter needs to be at least in the yellow zone, with green being excellent. It's similar to what you'd see in typical cleaning or repair simulators, but it's called 'Sloppiness' because deliberately doing shoddy work is not only possible but encouraged.

For instance, a customer unfamiliar with cars will have a rather large green bar on this 'Sloppiness' meter. This means they're unlikely to notice if a part or two goes missing, and they'll still pay you. That's your golden opportunity. Use minimal materials, pocket the stolen parts, and fill your coffers. When refuelling, you can even mix in water, say, 50/50. What if the car breaks down? Well, they'll just have to bring it back for repairs – killing two birds with one stone.

Of course, trying these antics on a knowledgeable adult male customer could lead to severe repercussions. You need to be discerning, reading the room and acting accordingly. The protagonist's questionable character is evident from the start. He's secretly siphoning electricity from his neighbour and occasionally raids their shed for parts. He's an extreme penny-pincher, even resorting to petty crime to save money.

Underpinning these humorous elements are solid simulation mechanics, like applying putty to car bodies or meticulously unscrewing and removing individual parts. Once your car is repaired, you can even take it for a spin around the village. The town also has shops where you can purchase scarce materials and parts.

'Cheap Car Repair' boasts a 'Very Positive' user rating on Steam, with 91% positive reviews. Comments include: 'The 90s garage atmosphere and Polish social commentary are well-captured,' 'I don't know why they implemented systems for selling wood, hitting people with cars, or robbing neighbours, but it's fun,' 'The process of fixing cars sloppily due to poverty is both pathetic and hilarious,' and 'It's perfect as long as the customer doesn't notice.'