Casual gamers unite! I have the craziest, but amazingly exciting game for you. PowerWash Simulator from developer FuturLab. So, you are probably wondering how this could possibly be worth playing, that’s ok, I did too. PowerWash Simulator has somehow accidentally found a relaxing and satisfying way to calm the restlessness in their players and that’s a good thing.
Right now, the game is in early access and is $19.99 but the game right now is stocked with plenty to do. The devs are also very responsive and have started getting the community involved in new maps, and new items to wash. If you are very picky about how you clean or organize, then this will be your favorite game.
Somehow FuturLab stumbled upon this ASMR-like game. When you start it up you can choose if you want to play career mode, challenge mode, or just select your favorite places to work on. I focused on career mode because I like to see if a story is involved. You get communications via text message, and as luck would have it, your friend has helped you get up and going with your very own power washing business. The jobs roll in fairly quick and take you to various parts of the neighborhood.
When you get acquainted with your equipment, you will see that there are options to upgrade your power washer from a medium duty to a heavy-duty power washer. There are many nozzles and cleaners too. In the beginning it is wise to play around and understand all your buttons and keys. Don’t forget that rotating the nozzle is a real thing. This function will save your hands and vision in the long run as you clean all the small nooks and crannies scattered everywhere. Once you’ve cleaned a section, the area will flash and mark the section off your to do list. If you don’t clean the area then you don’t get paid, simple enough.
The levels will take a long time to finish, this is not a fast-paced game at all, and the game is more forgiving if you take your time and organize how you work, compared to hectically trying to clean. Pretty much everywhere is caked with dirt. The camera functions very well for looking around all the time. I found too, that the power washer is proximation based, so getting closer will clean better. Background noise from your power washer and from the environment provide a calming vibe too.
The only issue I have had while playing is the placement of the ladder. Some levels require putting the ladder on to multiple surfaces (usually multi-level homes) and getting the ladder in your hands is almost impossible sometimes. This was especially prevalent at the suspected haunted house. Otherwise, the frustration I felt at times was strictly due to my own impatience. Sitting at a game for multiple hours can be a chore on its own.
Overall, I recommend this game completely. There is no violence, you don’t interact with any characters, only your text messages, and you feel completely satisfied when you’re done with a job. I would be interested to see how many people create real jobs from this. Maybe power washer sales will go up too. Just go get it and chill out. Silly? Maybe. Worth it? Yes.
10/10
Available on PC, IOS