Discovering the Joy of PowerWash Simulator
The moment I laid eyes on the title PowerWash Simulator, I had an inkling of what the game entailed. Yet, if you’re anything like me, you might have thought: Surely this can’t be enjoyable. You just spray things clean with a high-powered hose? Allow me to assure you, this game is incredibly fun!
Set in the fictional town of Muckingham, which feels like a blend of British charm and American suburbia, the game features a typical array of environments: cozy homes, bustling playgrounds, a subway system, an airport, and even a fire department. Adding to the uniqueness of this setting is an active volcano nearby, which has recently blanketed the entire area in a layer of soot. But fear not—you have a trusty van, a waterproof coverall, a state-of-the-art spray wand, and an apparently infinite supply of water. You are precisely the person Muckingham needs.
As you embark on your cleaning journey, jobs will come to you, or you can seek them out. Each task invites you to methodically wield your high-pressure hose, sweeping the water back and forth across every surface. You’ll dislodge layers of grime and restore Muckingham’s cars, boats, houses, and even its quirky monasteries to their former glory. Take your time—your mission is to confront the chaotic mess and bring back the shine. And while there may be an underlying theme of saving the world, by the time I immersed myself in the game, that hardly felt like my primary motivation.
When I first encountered PowerWash Simulator in 2023, it had already been on the market for over a year. After watching a trailer, I was hooked. I had never personally pressure-washed the side of a house and was blissfully unaware of the dedicated genre of ASMR-style YouTube videos focused on such activities. As a copy editor who relishes polishing language and revealing its potential, I find joy in tidying up the world around me. The chance to clean a skate park with a hose was simply irresistible.
Developed by the British indie team FuturLab, PowerWash Simulator was a completely new experience for me—nothing like I had ever played or seen before. (For the record, I recommend the PlayStation version; steer clear of the subpar knockoffs available on iOS and Android.) Whether your mission involves a bicycle or a bungalow, the gameplay remains consistent: wield your spray wand, adjusting the water’s width to either apply concentrated force on stubborn dirt or cover larger areas more efficiently. Once a surface is clean, it flashes and emits a satisfying chime, akin to a correct answer on a game show or the soothing bell signaling the end of a meditation session. The entire experience is remarkably relaxing.
If you’re new to the gaming world, you’ll quickly notice the absence of many common tropes. There are no enemies to fend off, no waves of marauding creatures—be they robots, dinosaurs, or even robotic dinosaurs. You won’t find any characters to engage with, so there’s no pressure to determine whether to charm, insult, or flirt with the shopkeeper you just met. Complex puzzles won’t challenge your intellect, nor will you need to manage inventories filled with food or building materials. The most intricate choice you’ll face is deciding how to spend your earnings—whether to upgrade your equipment or perhaps invest in some soap.
Without active opponents or a relentless countdown, you can focus solely on the soothing sound of water. As you advance through the game, the tasks become more elaborate and time-consuming. However, instead of feeling overwhelmed, I found myself thinking, Oh no, it’s a gigantic abandoned subway station! quickly transforming into, Oh awesome, it’s a gigantic abandoned subway station! Taking a deep breath, I dove into the task, ready to make the world a better (and undoubtedly wetter) place.
