While the competitor Steam is starting its big summer sale today, Epic is giving you two free games shortly beforehand. At first glance, they may seem a bit niche, but if you enjoy simulators from time to time or are not averse to the Game of Thrones theme, you could dust off a few enjoyable hours here for 0 dollars.
Here are the most important key data for the two free titles:
- Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 was a big hit on Steam and YouTube at the time. There is already a sequel, but that doesn’t mean you should despise the original. The beginner-friendly design makes car screws fun even for those who cannot distinguish a wheel nut from a spark plug in real life.
- In the digital version of the popular board game with a Westeros setting, you fight for supremacy in the seven kingdoms. As one of up to six players, you take control of one of the great houses and use military strength and diplomacy to attempt to climb to the Iron Throne. Of course, this can also be done alone against the AI.
How the two titles play and for whom they are worthwhile, we clarify in the rest of the article. If you want to jump straight to the free games, you can find them by clicking on our attractive button:
To the two free games
This is what awaits you in Car Mechanic Simulator 2018
link to YouTube content
The car screwdriver simulator turned out to be a real insider tip when it was released in 2018 (90 percent positive ratings), which was also the case until its successor appeared three years later surprisingly consistent player numbers posted to Steam. On average, 1,500 people worked on the digital bodies every day for 36 months. Considerable for a simulator without multiplayer mode.
Budding inventors can look forward to around 1,000 spare parts that they can install in over 40 vehicles using 15 tools. These can then not only be painted and tuned, but of course you can also drive them yourself. Thanks to color-coded borders, you always know exactly which part goes where, and with a little practice, repairs are easy even for laypeople.
Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 – View Screenshots
With the wages from the randomly generated commissioned work, you gradually expand your workshop and earn a fortune. You can then spend your wealth on rare cars at auctions, for example. There is also an editor for building your own vehicles.
This is in it: Many well-known brands such as Mercedes, Porsche or Chrysler can be found on Steam add via DLC. None of those are currently visible on the Epic Store and we doubt they’ll be included in the free offering.
If you like the principle after playing the free predecessor and you would like it to be a bit more modern, you can read in our test of the successor whether the upgrade is worthwhile.
Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 Test:
A little treasure is hidden under the grate
This is how the board game for Game of Thrones is played
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Game of Thrones: The Board Game – Gameplay from the digital board game
The dig ital edition of the board game, in which you direct the fortunes of one of the great houses of Westeros, doesn’t boast a very high player count, but those who tried it gave it a positive rating of 74 percent on Steam.
After the death of King Robert Baratheon, the seven kingdoms vie for the Iron Throne. You have a total of 10 turns to sufficiently increase your influence with your troops, skillful diplomacy or insidiousness and achieve supremacy.
At the same time, however, all kingdoms must sacrifice some of their resources to strengthen the Night’s Watch on the northern border, otherwise there is a risk of an invasion by the wildlings. The entire gameplay is based on the tactically clever use of limited resources.
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game – Digital Edition – Screenshots ansehen
Although you move units on a campaign map like in a classic strategy game, this is comparatively small because at the end of the day it is a replica of a real board game. So don’t expect the depth of a Civilization.
The single player experience occasionally suffers from bugs, slow enemy moves or AI dropouts, while the multiplayer lobbies are relatively empty and it’s best to bring your own friends. With these, however, you can expect a thoroughly successful adaptation of the popular analogue version.
This is in it: In contrast to the Car Mechanic Simulator, the two DLCs are already listed at Epic, but will probably not be part of the free offer either. They each set the campaign in a different scenario familiar to connoisseurs from the novels A Dance with Dragons and A Feast for Crows.
If you are generally interested in board games, then browse through our list of the best parlor games that perfectly complement our digital hobby:
The best board games for PC players:
Board games for beginners and experts
Who are the two free games suitable for?
Due to its beginner-friendliness, pretty much everyone can spend a few fun hours with the Car Mechanic Simulator 2018. You don’t have to be familiar with cars or simulators, because the missions and the initially manageable spare parts repertoire gently introduce you to the gameplay.
When in doubt, trying out the digital board game only helps, because although there are similarities to the strategy genre, the gameplay, which is limited to ten rounds, is much more manageable than PC generals are used to. If the sparks fly in a round against the AI, it might be worth getting five friends together for an online session – then the stupid AI won’t bother you either.
Will you be persuaded by the two games to try out car mechanics and board games, or do the two free games completely miss your taste this week? Write it to us in the comments!
