Complete Electrician Simulator

Complete Electrician Simulator bundles the base game and Smart Devices DLC, placing players in the role of a young apprentice electrician who has inherited the family business. The game features a career-focused simulation where players manage jobs from a repair shop computer, travel to various locations, and complete electrical tasks for clients in a realistic environment.

Complete Electrician Simulator: Review

Introduction

In the sprawling landscape of simulation games, where players can everything from farming and truck driving to demolition and baking, Complete Electrician Simulator emerges as a surprisingly charming yet flawed entry in the “cozy sim” wave. Arriving on May 31, 2023, this compilation package bundles the base Electrician Simulator (2022) with its Smart Devices DLC, inviting players to inherit their family’s electrical business and navigate the sparks and perils of modern wiring. While it lacks the explosive popularity of titles like Powerwash Simulator, it carves out a niche through its meticulous attention to procedural problem-solving and the quiet satisfaction of illuminating dark homes. Yet, despite its alluring premise, the game is ultimately hampered by technical quirks and a conceptual identity crisis that prevents it from reaching the heights of its peers. This review delves deep into the game’s history, narrative, mechanics, and legacy to determine whether it’s a worthy shock to the system or just a short circuit.

Development History & Context

Complete Electrician Simulator was developed by Polish studio Take IT Studio! and published by Ultimate Games S.A. and Gaming Factory S.A. Its origins trace back to the base Electrician Simulator, released on September 21, 2022, for PC, followed by console ports (PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S) in 2023. The Smart Devices DLC, expanding the game with new IoT-related challenges, was released concurrently with the compilation bundle. This release capitalized on the burgeoning “do-it-yourself simulation” genre popularized by Powerwash Simulator, where mundane tasks are transformed into gratifying gameplay loops. Technologically, the game operates on a straightforward engine optimized for PC, with later console ports revealing inherent design limitations—particularly in camera controls and UI scaling. The developers envisioned a blend of accessibility and realism, aiming to capture the procedural satisfaction of electrical work while avoiding the high stakes of real-world certification, explicitly stating that in-game qualifications do not translate to real-world expertise. This philosophy reflects a broader trend in simulation games: providing vicarious experiences without the associated risks or rigorous training.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The narrative is deliberately minimalist, serving as a framework for gameplay rather than a driving force. Players assume the role of a young apprentice who inherits their father’s electrical business, “Celenic Electricity,” upon his retirement. The story unfolds through a series of emails from clients, each presenting a unique problem—a flickering chandelier, a rewiring job, or a festival-lighting contest. These tasks are imbued with a surprising amount of personality; one client mourns “the lamp bulbs that stopped talking,” while another requests help with the “best Christmas lights in town,” anchoring the game in a cozy, small-town atmosphere. A recurring theme is familial legacy, emphasized by messages from the father expressing pride in the player’s career choice and the gifting of VR goggles for training. This narrative thread provides emotional resonance, though it remains superficial. Thematically, the game explores professional responsibility and problem-solving. It repeatedly stresses the importance of safety (“There is no room for mistakes here!”) and meticulousness, yet undermines this with its “Harmless Electrocution” mechanic—players can repeatedly short-circuit circuits without consequence, reducing the stakes to a slap on the wrist (a performance penalty). This paradox highlights a core tension: the game strives for realism in its technical details but sacrifices narrative and thematic coherence for accessibility. The Smart Devices DLC extends this theme by incorporating modern IoT challenges, though the overarching narrative remains a loose collection of client requests rather than a cohesive plot.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

At its core, Complete Electrician Simulator revolves around two distinct gameplay loops: on-site repairs and workbench diagnostics. On-site, players travel to client homes using a truck, receive a checklist of tasks (e.g., “install 3 sockets,” “rewire the kitchen”), and use a radial menu to access tools and components. Success depends on correctly identifying wiring issues, grounding systems, and polarity—a process involving screwdrivers, wire strippers, and multimeters. The progression system is tied to certificates: VR-based tutorials (e.g., “Basic Wiring”) that unlock higher-paying jobs. Money earned is funneled into upgrading tools (e.g., more precise multimeters) and buying components (sockets, wires) from an in-store catalog, which is gated by player level—a slightly artificial barrier mirroring real-world licensing. The workshop loop involves disassembling and repairing sent appliances (game controllers, hair dryers) by identifying faulty parts via component testing. This segment offers satisfying tactile feedback, with players meticulously unscrewing casings, soldering connections, and replacing circuit boards.

The game shines in its variety of contracts, from simple bulb replacements to complex house rewiring. However, it falters in execution. Camera controls are notoriously cumbersome, especially on consoles, where players struggle to zoom/pan around tight spaces, leading to frustrating trial-and-error sessions. The UI is another pain point; text is microscopic on console, requiring manual adjustment, and the radial menu can be imprecise. While electrocution is harmless, it encourages sloppy play, turning complex tasks into guesswork. A particularly egregious example highlighted in reviews is a mission where players are “baited” into taking a broken console from a client’s home (marked as theft), which is then returned via email—a “Schmuck Bait” moment that feels tonally inconsistent with the game’s otherwise professional tone. Despite these flaws, the loop of diagnosing problems, sourcing parts, and completing jobs provides undeniable satisfaction, akin to solving intricate puzzles.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The game’s world is a meticulously crafted slice of suburban England, featuring semi-detached houses, snowy streets (perpetually stuck in Christmas), and the player’s modest garage-home. This setting is a double-edged sword: the art style is charmingly realistic, with detailed textures on tools, components, and environments. Workbenches resemble functional garages, and interiors feel lived-in, with cluttered shelves and personal touches (e.g., Christmas cookies on the workbench). The day/night cycle enhances immersion, allowing players to witness the fruits of their labor—illuminated rooms, strung-up lights—after dusk. However, the Christmas theme feels forced and repetitive, with carols, decorations, and quests dominating the base game, creating tonal whiplash when juxtaposed with non-seasonal content.

Sound design is a mixed bag. Ambient effects (dogs barking, car horns) and tool noises (screwdrivers buzzing, soldering hissing) are authentic and immersive. However, repetitive environmental sounds (e.g., a car horn blaring every 15 seconds) grate on players, leading many to mute the game. The soundtrack consists of looping, low-key electronic music that fades into the background, contributing to a relaxing atmosphere but lacking memorability. Voice acting is absent, relying on text-based emails and menu prompts—a choice that maintains the game’s quiet focus but limits character development. Overall, the world-building excels in authenticity but suffers from tonal inconsistency and audio fatigue.

Reception & Legacy

Upon release, Complete Electrician Simulator received a mixed-to-average critical reception. On Metacritic, it holds a Metascore of 60, with critics praising its niche appeal and mechanical depth but criticizing its technical flaws. Screen Rant noted it “does what it does well enough,” while Movies Games and Tech lamented its “lack of realism” compared to peers. User reviews were more favorable, with a “Mostly Positive” rating on Steam (73% positive) based on over 3,000 reviews. Players highlighted the “relaxing” nature of the workbench puzzles and the satisfaction of completing jobs, though many echoed complaints about camera issues and short length (4–7 hours for the main story).

Commercially, the game found its audience among fans of the House Flipper-style genre, with the compilation bundle offering value for newcomers. Its legacy is modest but notable. It contributed to the “simulator” craze, particularly in demonstrating how niche professions could be gamified. Intriguingly, Dutch career portal Randstad adopted it in 2022 for a “Career Mode” initiative to teach real-world skills, though the game explicitly disclaims educational utility—a testament to its perceived thematic resonance. The active Steam community, evidenced by dozens of user-generated guides (e.g., walkthroughs for achievements, key locations), underscores its cult following. However, it failed to innovate beyond established formulas, leaving no significant imprint on future titles. Its true impact lies in its niche appeal: it remains a “guilty pleasure” for simulators seeking low-stakes, detail-oriented tasks.

Conclusion

Complete Electrician Simulator is a product of its genre: charming, technically ambitious, yet hampered by inconsistent execution. It excels in transforming the minutiae of electrical work into engaging, tactile puzzles, with a progression system that rewards patience and a workshop mode that offers genuine satisfaction. The narrative, while thin, provides enough context to ground the gameplay, and the art style creates a cozy, lived-in world. Yet, its flaws—punitive camera controls, a UI ill-suited for consoles, and a trial-and-error gameplay loop that undermines its own safety messaging—prevent it from ascending beyond “curios sim” status. The Christmas setting feels tacked-on, and the short length suggests limited replayability beyond the endless mode.

Ultimately, Complete Electrician Simulator is a niche but worthwhile experience for fans of the simulation genre, particularly on PC where its controls shine. It captures the quiet joy of solving problems and illuminating darkness, making it an ideal palate cleanser for players burned out on high-octane action. However, it falls short of greatness, lacking the innovation or polish of genre titans. Its place in history is as a testament to the Powerwash Simulator era—a spark of creativity that sizzles but fails to ignite a revolution. For those willing to tolerate its quirks, it offers a shockingly good time; for others, it’s best left to the professionals.