The “simulator” genre is over-stuffed with titles that try to emulate every possible aspect of everyday life and turn them into video games. There is one game that stood out from the pack, one that took the gaming world by storm, claiming itself the king of the Dad Games – PowerWash Simulator.
The original PowerWash Simulator exploded onto the scene, helped by the fact that it had a day-one launch on Xbox Game Pass, giving lots of people the opportunity to try it out for free.
PowerWash Simulator earned a reputation for being the ultimate dad/cozy game hybrid. The aim of the game is to clean surfaces until all of the muck is removed, using a variety of Powerwasher tools and accessories.
The premise sounded strange, but those who experienced PowerWash Simulator were quickly hooked by the zen-like state of being you entered when scrubbing those walls. It was the ideal game for watching a podcast or just zoning out after work, giving you just enough interaction to prevent your body from getting bored.
And now, here we are, two years later, and PowerWash Simulator 2 is swaggering onto the scene. One can only imagine what bold new direction the developers have taken the series in. Perhaps time travel or multiple protagonists with a wide variety of unique abilities are here. Maybe PowerWash Simulator 2 has the same technical and gameplay jump that Baldur’s Gate 3 had?
PowerWash Simulator 2 Is Exactly What You Think It Is
If you want the absolute shortest breakdown, PowerWash Simulator 2 is just like the first game, except with new stages, some QoL features, and a furniture placement aspect to the gameplay.
That shortened explanation might be a tad unfair, but there’s no getting around the overall point – if you loved the original PowerWash Simulator, then this is more of it. If you were indifferent to or disliked the original PowerWash Simulator, then this game won’t change your mind.
PowerWash Simulator 2 doesn’t do anything drastic with the formula or try to shake up the status quo. There are a lot of dirty things that need cleaning, and it’s up to you and maybe three friends to go at it with your overpowered water pistols.
If you were indifferent to or disliked the original PowerWash Simulator, then this game won’t change your mind.
The gameplay is just as addictive and peaceful as before, as you blast the filth of a variety of buildings and objects. Like the first game, there’s a great mixture of stages, ranging from retro discos to abandoned churches. It’s all here, waiting to be cleaned.
What’s New In PowerWash Simulator 2?
The developers couldn’t have justified throwing that 2 on the end of the title without some new content, and there are indeed some fresh features that weren’t in the original. The biggest inclusion is a base that you can visit and stock with furniture (and you’ve cleaned it). You can purchase new items after each mission, and they can then be placed in the base’s living room.
There’s a limit to the number of items you can place, along with some frustrating restrictions on where you can put items. For example, you can’t put anything on a rug after it has been put down. That being said, this is a fun diversion from the main story jobs, and cleaning the furniture just adds more gunk to the pile.
What will be more interesting to fans of the original game is a new QoL feature that crops up near the end of a job. One of the most annoying aspects of the first PowerWash Simulator was finding the last couple of bits you needed to clean. You had to go through the menu, check their percentages, and then tag the item to make it shine.
In PowerWash Simulator 2, once you reach the last few items, a target will appear to show you which bits are still left that need cleaning. This makes the end of jobs far less frustrating, with far less menu diving.
There are also some new tools in the power washer’s box, including a spray that goes directly downward, making it easier to clean floors. There’s also an abseiling seat that lets you go directly up and down vertical surfaces, as well as ladders added to the large scaffolding, making it far easier to reach the top.
In PowerWash Simulator 2, once you reach the last few items, a target will appear to show you which bits are still left that need cleaning.
These might sound like small additions, but they’re a godsend, and anyone who enjoyed the original game will quickly appreciate how much they take away from the unpleasant parts of the game.
A smaller addition is multi-stage levels, such as doors opening upon a certain completion percentage. These are just smoke and mirror additions, hiding part of a level until the game is ready to let you access them.
Paying For More Powerwashing
The new content and QoL features are nice, but they don’t carry the game or justify it as a sequel. A lot of the additions in PowerWash Simulator 2 could easily have been added to the first game in one of its many DLC packs.
While there is something of a story running throughout the background of PowerWash Simulator 2, it’s mostly told through text messages that briefly flash on the screen. What’s there never grabbed my attention, and I’d struggle to sit through a lengthy YouTube lore video about the franchise. I don’t care about the residents of Muckingham – just let me clean!
A lot of the additions in PowerWash Simulator 2 could easily have been added to the first game in one of its many DLC packs.
The reason to buy PowerWash Simulator 2 is all of the jobs. Anyone who loved the original will love the sequel, assuming they want more of the same. There’s a ton of content, and the game will likely be adding more via free and paid DLC in the future. If you need a fix of grime, then this game is currently filling the needle and tapping the vein.
Closing Comments
PowerWash Simulator 2 isn’t reinventing the wheel. The game knows its audience and is happy to feed their rabid desire for more cleaning. It may not win over any people who were turned off by the original, but if you enjoy dad games and an easy activity while listening to music or videos, then this is exactly what you need in your life.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
