This week's shocking Epic Games Store freebie could teach you some real-life skills

Most of us have probably changed a few lightbulbs in our time, but what about replacing a fuse? Rewiring a new plug? Or perhaps even modifying a gaming controller? I can attest from hours spent soldering a digital scoreboard together in school that bending electricity to your whim is tremendously satisfying, but it’s also scary. Enter Electrician Simulator, which is free this week via the Epic Games Store alongside an anniversary pack for competitive boat sim World of Warships.

Like many of the best simulation games you’ll find, Electrician Simulator tells you right up-front what you can expect, and doesn’t disappoint. From simple jobs like installing sockets and changing light fittings to repairing clients’ broken devices, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy. It leans slightly more towards fun over perfect simulation, so don’t expect to become an expert overnight, but you will pick up many of the essentials of electrical safety and learn about important features like circuit breakers.

If you enjoy the satisfying, methodical processes of games like Powerwash Simulator, then you’ll feel right at home with this week’s free Epic game. There’s a comfort to the steady, careful methods required – unscrewing an object, figuring out which wires do what, taking it apart, testing to see what’s broken, buying replacement pieces, and then putting it all back together again.

Some jobs will require you to head on-site and figure out what the problem even is. A light fitting isn’t coming on – but why? Is it a simple broken bulb, or do you need to dig out the wiring behind the wall? Other jobs let you settle in your own home workshop, taking in damaged or non-functional equipment and attempting to nurse it back to care. You’re even free to use those skills to customize your house and garage to your heart’s content.

Electrician Simulator is free to keep from Thursday March 19 until Thursday March 26. Be sure to claim it by then. You can also grab the Epic Anniversary Tachibana pack for World of Warships, which is available at the same time. Head here to pick up your freebies while they last.

That World of Warships pack is a special treat for the free-to-play war game’s fifth anniversary on the Epic Games Store. It includes the Tachibana, a Japanese Sakura-class destroyer that saw 20 years of service in the early 20th Century. It boasts low detectability for enhanced stealth, comes with a port slot to store it, and includes five permanent camouflages. It’s also a premium ship, which means it earns more credits per battle, has reduced service costs, and does not require any commander retraining.