Making a game about cleaning is certainly not going to be the winning take in the video game world, but PowerWash Simulator 2 reclaimed the throne once again. The game, again, made the process of cleaning mundane objects in some remote location fun. If you like to hear the sound of water rushing out of a hose and peeling off the dirt crusted on the object, you will feel right at home. This is my impression of PowerWash Simulator 2: Dirt Meets Water Again.
Twice the Dirt, More the Water
The basic gameplay of PowerWash Simulator 2 has been executed perfectly, and every simple mechanic here hinges on the idea of simplicity. The game is what it says on the title, as I saw myself washing away a truckload of dirt from a truck. And I felt my emotions going from tedious to perfectionist in the matter of 15 minutes. I never had the chance to play the original PowerWash Simulator, so stepping into the sequel was a new venture, and I went in with a good amount of skepticism.
But the longer I played the game, every inch of dirt that I peeled off also took away my skepticism towards the game. One of the interesting systems of PowerWash 2 Simulator comes from its way of relaying information to the player. It showed all the items that needed to be cleaned and the parts that had already been cleaned. Think of it as Resident Evil room clearance on the map. The game doesn’t want you to miss any dirt on the object, and I had to make sure the cleaning job was done to perfection, as the in-game money was on the line.
The choice of hose and soap also made the work even better. Cleaning off the dirt from the glass was different from a normal exterior. The same goes for the hose variety; a precise water spray will cover less area but will clean off everything it touches. A wider water spray will cover more area, but it will not be as thorough as the precise water spray. These kinds of small touches do make the game intriguing and more engaging throughout my 40-minute journey into the demo.
The Sound of Water
The audio is a blessing for anyone who just wants to hear the sound of water scraping away years of dirt clinging to the object. Many players who play racing games like to hear the sound of the engine roar when the tire meets the race track. The same can be said about PowerWash Simulator 2; the unfiltered sound of water cleaning off the dirt is soothing and can be relaxing.
The water effect also added another layer of immersion, as once the water clears the dirt from the object, a general wetness can be seen soon after. A nice touch that adds another layer to the cleaning job.
Lacking some Small Touches
While the sound of water clashing against the dirt is a solid choice for any game that carries a simulator in the title, the game is about washing objects. But a fresh set of relaxing music, as an option, would’ve also worked for a different gameplay. Or any running mundane dialogue playing off some radio, as many players do engage with these cozy games with a podcast on the side.
Another visual touch that could’ve made the experience a bit better is the running dirt water from the object to the drainage holes on the ground. Since I was wasting gallons of water cleaning off a windshield, I would’ve loved to see the water carrying the dirt slowly reaching the ground and then making its way to the drainage hole.
| Pros | Cons |
| Engaging Gameplay | No Music Options |
| Power Tool Sounds | |
| Rewarding Gameplay | |
| Simple Visuals |
The entire demo for PowerWash 2 Simulator was nothing but a relaxing time I had with myself. I just lay back and did something I rarely do in my real life, cleaning. The gameplay does not do a whole lot, but it does little things to perfection to make the gameplay addictive from the very start to the very end.
I will easily recommend the PowerWash 2 Simulator demo for anyone who is looking to play a game in the afternoon or after a day of work.
