PowerWash Simulator 2 review — Another clean sweep

Isn’t it delightful how the “simulator” trend turned the mundane into some of the most riveting pastimes modern gaming has to offer? Look no further than the flagbearer in PowerWash Simulator: artfully washing down building after building, vehicle after vehicle, for the love of the job. What initially sounds like the most pointless virtual venture ever made quickly reveals itself as a therapeutic, Zen-like experience as all that dirt, slime, and gunk just melts away.

PowerWash Simulator 2 takes a “don’t fix what ain’t broken” approach, with not much has changed since FuturLab’s 2022 outing. But if my 50+ hours of playtime are any indication, that’s hardly a problem. This sequel has some new tricks up its waterproof sleeves, but PowerWash devotees should feel right at home.

A refresher for those who missed out on the original: you are Muckingham’s local powerwasher, tasked with hosing down everything from houses to trucks to disco clubs to theme park attractions. PowerWash Simulator 2 again lends itself to open-ended task management. From from meticulously washing one component at a time to merrily spraying everything in sight, all serve the same goal: scrubbing down every square inch. Not that you can just spray willy-nilly and expect to complete the job: with stains of all sorts mixed amidst the muck, you’ll frequently switch up nozzles, extensions, and washers to eradicate the more vexing splotches.  

It's inherently addictive, appealing to our inner completionists as the percentage ticker climbs ever higher. Like its predecessor, PowerWash Simulator 2 is generous in its dopamine hits, as players revel in the symphony of dings checking off every objective on our to-do list. As the bells keep chiming, the cash rolls in, and the grime melts away. We’re eventually left with the ultimate reward of a hard day’s work: sitting back and beholding our spotless masterpieces for our happy clients. Before you know it, that ever-infernal temptation for “one more game” sinks its hooks in, and before you know it, you’re already neck deep into your next assignment.

With 38 jobs to complete – all replayable and offering co-op multiplayer – you’ll hardly be left wanting for more. Familiar locations and new areas beyond the town of Muckingham naturally await, but PowerWash Simulator 2 shakes things up with multi-phase levels that gradually open as you play clean-up. From hi-tech underground bathrooms to local plays exposing corrupt politicians, they’re creative set pieces, innately building upon the series’ tongue-in-cheek humor. Callbacks, easter eggs, and sight gags of all sorts litter each stage, be they interactive gimmicks (rollercoasters!), those ever-ubiquitous garden gnomes, and yes, your avatar’s trio of adorable cats. (Before you ask, yes, you can pet the kitties; no, you can’t wash them. A sensible tradeoff.)

Of course, all are hosts to the series’ patented absurdist storytelling. Conducted from text message conversations courtesy of our clients, the population of Caldera County is subject to gem theft, spousal disappearances, scheming politicians, time travel, and impending celestial disaster courtesy of the moon. Naturally, only the mundane talents of powerwashing can save the day, although I remain steadfast in my headcanon our poor avatar just wants to be left to his job. (You won't believe how many clients treat them as their silent therapist.)

Supplementing your returning assortment of washers is the Roomba-shaped surface cleaner, excelling on flat planes. I confess to caring little for its finicky floor-to-wall transition, but I suspect their rapid clean-up in the player's immediate vicinity will render them a popular choice. Meanwhile, soap canisters have been entirely reworked into a singular all-purpose model, sticking to any dirt splotches and rendering them easier to clean. With the reworked economy, you can trade in old equipment to save up for new toys, so spend accordingly. (Protip: save up for that Triple Tip Nozzle; you’ll thank me.)

Indeed, quality of life is the name of PowerWash Simulator 2’s game. New additions to on-site equipment provide fresh approaches to clean-up, be it abseiling swings yo-yoing the player up and down, to convenient scissor lifts that, well, lift you up and away. No longer do you have to trudge up those scaffolds, as they’re now equipped with ladders. By far the most appreciated perk is the checklist tracker: say goodbye to wasting time hunting down those stubborn stain stragglers, as helpful orange icons will lock onto any uncleaned components. With how big some of these missions can get, it’s a real lifesaver, but you’re free to turn it off if you’re up for a pixel-hunt challenge.

This sequel’s only cracks form in the head office hub. You can earn furniture to decorate your lobby, yet while hosing down second-hand antiques fits nicely with the concept, it feels rather barebones: much of your rewards are recycled variations, and all these tables and cubby units are practically begging for non-existent knick-knacks to populate. It Doesn’t help that with the teeny-tiny limit in their respective point currency, you’ll frequently be subjected to annoying “you’ve hit the limit!” prompts. (Thankfully, the announced DLC roadmap promises new furniture, but we’ll need to play the waiting game to see if room decoration can live up to its potential.)

There are other nitpicks I could cite – there’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it performance issues, and there may not be enough “new” for those who had their fill from the first game – yet for this custodian’s money, PowerWash Simulator 2 seamlessly preserves the original’s genius design, meditative strategy, and the riveting humor and personality tying it all together. It doesn’t need to be this funny, but really, who'd have thought powerwashing a blimp would get those neurochemicals flowing?

Our only question is: with all the left-field crossovers surely heading our way, can the crossover DLC surpass the star power of Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Final Fantasy VII? The Simpsons, Star Wars, and Adventure Time seem like fitting starts, no?