Developed By: Futurlab
Published By: Square Enix
Category: Simulation
Release Date: 01.31.23
Price: $24.99
A little while ago, I played a game called Cleaning Up, and it made me want to revisit PowerWash Simulator. I never reviewed it, and it’s been a few years since I last played, so I figured now would be the perfect time to revisit the game. My first game back was a quick co-op job with a friend, and it made me regret ever quitting.
The short version is that PowerWash Simulator is the most satisfying game that I have ever played, and it’s worth every penny. Throughout the main career, you take on a bunch of odd cleaning jobs. This includes a variety of buildings and vehicles, many of which take you an hour or more to complete. But that’s the beauty of the game. It’s slow and monotonous, and that makes it great.
My first game back was with a friend who had already put more than 100 hours into the game. That should say a lot on its own. We did the free cruise ship DLC, and even with two people, it took nearly 90 minutes to complete the job. But because the gameplay is so casual, we listened to music and talked about anime the entire time. The game was just in the background, and the entire process was super satisfying.
The game itself is self explanatory. Use your power washing tools to clean all sorts of dirt and grime. As you complete jobs and earn money, you can unlock different nozzles, extensions, and liquids. I didn’t focus too much on the fancy stuff, but people who are super detail oriented or love cleaning will appreciate the detail and accuracy.
Accuracy man. If there’s a flat surface that’s big enough and has a lot of dirt, you can literally write words using certain nozzles or even draw. The cursor is very sensitive, which allows for an insane level of realism. It’s like cleaning in real life, but without all the hassle of actually moving around. Way more satisfying too, especially when the job is done and you see what your hour of hard work has accomplished.
When I first played the game all those years ago, I put in around 25 hours, and it was all a blur. But the developers have been constantly putting in the effort to make the game even better ever since launch. Now there are a few free jobs to download, and a couple paid DLC packs too. The base game was huge with more than 30 jobs but all the DLC basically constitutes a second game. All the extra content will add a bunch of hours to your playtime and that will grow exponentially if you’re playing with friends.
PowerWash Simulator was already a great game at launch, and it was a great price. But it’s even better now. A sequel did come out last year, but it’s not available for the original Switch. If you want to scratch that itch with one of the most satisfying games ever, revisit the original PowerWash Simulator if you have a Switch.
10/10