Car Service Together

When I saw Car Service Together pop up from V12 Studio, I hoped for MacGyver-meets-Garage chaos with friends — and, to its credit, that expectation mostly lands. Released 4 Feb 2026 on Windows in Early Access, the game leans hard into cooperative mayhem: four players, one garage, a mountain of busted cars and minimal instructions. It's a simpler, more arcade-y cousin of the Car Mechanic Simulator series: less intimidating, faster to pick up, and deliberately messy in a way that's often hilarious. The trade-off is obvious from the start — the launch build still carries noticeable bugs, repetitive progression and content gaps. But if you want short bursts of slapstick teamwork, this one delivers moments that are oddly memorable.

Under the Hood: Fast, Hands-On Garage Work

The core loop is satisfyingly tactile: you diagnose faults, swap parts, sand and paint panels, and then test drive the result. Tasks are deliberately simplified compared to heavy sims — you won't memorize ten different nuts per car — but actions feel physical: pick up, place, tighten, grind. The multiplayer angle shines because roles become emergent: one friend becomes parts runner, another handles diagnostics, someone else mans the paint booth. There are meaningful little mini-tasks like balancing tires or running quick road tests that break up the monotony. In practice I found sessions move fast and often devolve into hilarious chaos when the physics or sync hiccup. That unpredictability is part of the charm when it works, and infuriating when it doesn't.

Legendary Modifications and Satisfying Upgrades

Customization is one of the game's selling points: engine upgrades, suspension tweaks and custom exhausts alter feel and performance in an accessible way. The paint and decals suite is surprisingly creative — I spent more time dreaming up color combos than optimizing profit margins. Mod parts and performance upgrades give a short-term dopamine hit, though several players noted that progression peters out once the available upgrades are unlocked. The roadmap and in-game options hint at more detailed systems (engine desks, ECU fiddling) coming later, which is encouraging. For now, the modifications are fun but shallow — they change numbers and looks, but not the long-term gameplay loop.

Clunk, Sparkle and Performance: Presentation That Matches the Mood

Visually the game keeps a playful, slightly rough-around-the-edges aesthetic: it isn’t aiming for photorealism, and that works in its favor most of the time. Engine sounds and general audio feel undercooked at launch — several players complained about poor engine audio and balancing — and performance can stutter on some rigs even when modern GPUs are used. Co-op synced physics is an impressive technical feat for an indie studio and is often a highlight, though it also introduces desync bugs. Accessibility is decent: the tutorial is minimal, so expect a learning-by-doing curve — which some players love and others find frustrating. Overall, the presentation matches the game's identity: fun, a bit rough, and full of personality.

Car Service Together is a lovable, messy experiment: fun in short bursts with friends, but definitely an Early Access build that needs time. If you want easy-to-pick-up co-op shenanigans and can tolerate bugs, it’s worth the price for now; if you demand polish and deep progression, hold off until more content and fixes land. I’ll keep an eye on V12 Studio — the core idea is solid and could grow into something special.