PC Building Simulator is free on the Epic Games Store

Depending on who you ask, PC construction simulator is either completely ridiculous or incredibly satisfying. You can decide for yourself by downloading this niche simulator for free from the Epic Games Store before October 17th.

Like the majority of simulation games, PCB talks about a very specific type of fantasy. If your idea of ​​a good time is to overclock your computer while running a small business, this is a game that does just that. My favorite feature has to be to make your in-game work computer look exactly like your IRL computer. The game will even adjust your machine’s RGB lighting and wallpaper accordingly.

Photo by Alice Newcome-Beill / The Verge

However, depending on your level of experience, the game can actually serve as an interesting educational tool for anyone interested in learning more about… well, PC building. As someone who had never built a PC before playing this game, I actually relied on the knowledge I gained from this game when I started building my own platforms.

PC construction simulator has received its fair share of DLC, mostly in the form of various fully cosmetic workshop environments. However, it got an esports expansion that was a bit more storytelling focused and played more like a timed puzzle game rather than a business simulation. It’s also worth noting that the game regularly receives free updates that add new hardware to the already massive list of cases, processors, GPUs, and other bits and bobs.

Photo by Alice Newcome-Beill / The Verge

PC construction simulator keeps most of the fun parts of this hobby in the foreground, while cleverly avoiding some of the occasional frustrations and annoyances. There are really only two things this game doesn’t simulate: misplacing that last knurled screw and putting thermal grease on absolutely everything.