Sauna

A sauna is a small room or building designed for heat sessions, playing a significant role in Finnish culture. In My Winter Car, there are two saunas available for the player, which help reduce the player character's stress level. The difference with saunas in My Winter Car is that it takes longer to heat up as it is colder. If the fireplace is used to heat up the sauna, it won't reach there meaning it won't heat it up.

A sauna typically contains a pile of stones heated by electricity or firewood. When these stones are hot, water is thrown on them to produce steam.

How to use the sauna

Electric sauna

The electric sauna is located at the back of the parents' home which is an electric sauna. The sauna stove has two dials on the bottom, one for temperature and one for a timer. Turn both bottom dials clockwise to the maximum and the stove will start buzzing. See the thermometer on the sauna wall. The timer will go down with time, and when it goes all the way counter-clockwise the sauna will shut off.

Important notes

• Sitting on the bench in the sauna while it is heated up will rapidly increase your thirst.
• Remember to close the sauna door or otherwise, the sauna won't heat up. While waiting for the sauna to heat up, fill the bucket up by placing it under a running tap. There's one in the shower room and in the kitchen.
• When the sauna is hot enough, climb to the upper bench, pick up the ladle and equip it using the action button (default F). LMB the filled bucket, aim slightly above the stove and RMB to throw water
• It can be tricky to throw water onto the stones, so try different angles. The most effective approach is to move the character to the seat directly in front of the stove, aiming slightly above the stove (the center of the third section of the wall up from the stove is a good target) then throw the water.
• A better method of throwing water is to look at where the water goes when you throw it. When you throw the water, a physical water model is created. Take note of where it goes, and try to throw it on to the stones.
• A few seconds after throwing water, the player's stress level will instantly jump to a lower level instead of lowering gradually. Wait for this to occur before splashing water again to lower stress as quickly as possible. Water can be thrown 13 times from a completely filled bucket, after which it will need to be filled again.

Firewood sauna

The other sauna in the game is situated inside the cottage on the island in the middle of the lake. Unlike the electric sauna at the parents' house, this one is heated with firewood. Additionally, it serves a dual purpose: the player can cook meat such as moose meat by placing it on the sauna stones, and it will cook as soon as the fire is lit.

Using the sauna is straightforward. Chop some wood from the firewood pile behind the cottage, open the stove hatch, and place up to four pieces of firewood inside (you can add more, but the game will only count them when there is space). Press the use button (default F) to light the fire, then close the hatch. You may need to refill the stove before the sauna reaches the desired temperature. It could be possible to fill the sauna with a water well, but this is unconfirmed.