PowerWash Simulator [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

I KNOW that my playing of PowerWash Simulator is an argument waiting to happen in my household. If my wife catches me cleaning out a bunch of virtual locales with a hose after I delayed doing my own garden for so long last summer, there’ll be rage. But somehow, I feel the risk is worth it… I just can’t stop myself from playing.

Check out some screenshots down below:

PowerWash Simulator offers exactly what it says on the box, with players working through a series of jobs where they have one goal: to blast everything clean with a high-pressure hose. Players earn money along the way in order to unlock some fresh upgrades to their gear, whilst new jobs open up as you progress that offer more unusual and elaborate locales to clean. Think of it as a first-person shooter, except your weapon is a hose and your enemy is the icky dirt that’s smothered across each area you visit.

Some players might be sold on the concept alone, with the simple act of blasting away at dirt proving cathartic and surprisingly rewarding. Seeing a garden look glisteningly clean after spending the last hour working at cleaning it is VERY satisfying, whilst seeing a fast-paced action-replay of my work at the conclusion always brought a smile to my face. Sure, the task can be repetitive and I’m sure a lot of folk play video games to escape everyday chores like this, yet I found myself wanting more and more.

Of course, there is a bit more to PowerWash Simulator to make the experience a bit more elaborate. For one, there are different nozzle types to use that are more effective at cleaning specific types of dirt that’s spread in different ways, whilst players can also purchase cleaning product that better suit different surfaces to increase their efficiency. A lot of these aren’t accessible until you have enough cash, but believe me, there’s nothing more satisfying in-game than purchasing an upgraded hose or nozzle and seeing it blast away at dirt so much quicker on your next job. It adds an extra element of progression to the game and ensures it’s all the more easier to earn cash quicker on those big jobs.

“Sometimes, I want to play a game where I don’t have to think too much and can just unwind; PowerWash Simulator is PERFECT for those moments.”

And trust me, there are some BIG jobs in the game. Whilst you start off cleaning the likes of your work van, a garden, or a dirty motorbike, you eventually work up to the likes of a forest cottage, a mansion, and even a mini-golf course. There are lots and lots of things that need cleaning in the game, with the rich variety ensuring that your power washing duties always feel refreshing. Some cleans might even take you off the planet or to more fantastical areas, with your duties sometimes going way beyond the norm.

It’s easy to track how much cleaning you’ve done or how much is left in levels, with a neat percentage bar shown on the upper corner of the screen to give you an idea of your cleaning progress. This is spread across the whole job as well as individual objects, making it easy to track so that you’re never left scanning your surroundings carefully to find that missing patch of dirt – a quick button press will highlight any dirt too, making the experience all the more accessible. That being said, there can be some frustrating moments where you can’t find that ONE smudge of dirt or are using the wrong type of nozzle to blast away at it. In fairness, the moments aren’t too common, but when they do happen? It can be a pain.

There are plenty of other ways to experience PowerWash Simulator outside of the Career Mode, with players able to simply re-visit levels or tackle them in the Challenge Mode which brings with it things like water limitations to really put your skills to the test. Admittedly, I haven’t spent a whole lot of time in Challenge Mode yet, but it’s definitely an appealing way to approach the game that encourages the player to play in a different way. Want to know my favourite way to play the game? In online co-op, with up to six players able to work together to tackle a job. One of my friends and I have spent a TON of time over the weekend just hanging out and chatting, all whist blasting our way through some power washing jobs in-game, and you know what? It’s been brilliant. I didn’t expect PowerWash Simulator to stand out as one of my favourite multiplayer experiences in gaming, but I’m excited to come back for more.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It’s just one of those games that’s perfect to relax with, whether that’s when playing with a friend or playing on your own whilst listening to some music or catching up on a podcast. There’s no denying that it won’t be for everyone and the repetitive nature of the game will bore some players quickly, but I just found it the perfect accompaniment for some of the others things that I like to do. Sometimes, I want to play a game where I don’t have to think too much and can just unwind; PowerWash Simulator is PERFECT for those moments. With additional content releasing post launch (including Lara Croft’s mansion and the upcoming Final Fantasy VII-themed jobs), it looks like the developers have plenty of brilliant ideas to give players a reason to keep coming back for more.

Developer: FuturLab
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Website: https://powerwash-simulator.square-enix-games.com/en-gb/