Skate parks, decrepit mansions, the Mars Rover ... whatever it is, I’ll clean it.
In real life, many could no more hose down a fire station than fly to the moon.
But in PowerWash Simulator, and its recent update that features the Wallace & Gromit movies, rinsing the grime off all kinds of inexplicably filthy surfaces, whether they be homes, cars, or public buildings is fun. Once each job is completed, players earn points and money to upgrade their various pressure washers and nozzles for their up-and-coming power washing business.
It’s that simple, and the results are so satisfying. Climbing into the nooks and crannies of a towering temple is worth the trouble for the sheer dopamine hit of watching that jet of water wipe a clean line straight through a wall of grime. All the satisfaction, none of the sweat.
After first picking up PowerWash Simulator, I prepared hear a litany of disbelief when asked what I’m playing these days. Instead, from the roller rink to the New York City subway, the universal response has been a wistful sigh, followed by, “that sounds so relaxing...”
Sure, it’s an indictment of modern life’s stressors that so many people are ready to shut their brains off and pretend to clean, but PowerWash Simulator really is the perfect game to unwind with at the end of a stressful day.
Gaming newcomers may find the control scheme overwhelming at first. It is recommended to locate the button that keeps the washer spraying continuously; once you’ve got that done, cycling through the different nozzles will soon be second nature.
Lower pressures are best for large surface areas, while high pressure is great for scrubbing rust from crevices. Keep an eye on the bar in the top left, and you’ll know how long before a specific surface will ping to let you know it’s finished; if you get frustrated, another button will highlight what you’ve missed.
Before you blow all your hard-earned cash, don’t bother buying soap: Your trusty nozzles will get you through every hardship, especially as you switch out your power washer of choice for the next model.
If you were wondering why a fire station needs help aiming a large pressure hose at a brick wall, PowerWash Simulator’s career mode comes with a tongue-in-cheek story delivered through the text messages of the people who’ve hired you.
Set in the fictional England-ish town of Muckingham, players cycle through a series of increasingly ridiculous scenarios just by virtue of doing their job. It’s a real shame that my boyfriend spoiled the ending for me; that I even cared in a game about washing dirt is a testament to the game’s whimsical tone.
I haven’t played any multiplayer, as my selfish desires to clear every surface on my own aren't conducive to group play, but friends looking for a task to occupy their hands with while they catch up will have a great time with PowerWash Simulator — just take care not to cross streams.
The brainchild of studio FuturLab and developer James Marsden — not that one, although I wouldn’t put it past him — PowerWash Simulator has been continuously updated with expansion packs since its 2022 release.
Add-ons range from seasonally themed maps to collaborations with major media franchises, including Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants, Final Fantasy, Back to the Future, and Tomb Raider, which was the first franchised downloadable content to drop for the game.
The chance to clean Lara Croft’s sprawling manor must have been a shock to unsuspecting players. While I have no idea how the partnership came to be, I like to imagine that the British studio FuturLab and I have a similar fondness for the iconic English video game heroine.
The game’s text-based story delivery is a fun way to give players a taste of their favorite franchises, and the levels in nearly all the extra content — much of it free — are just as fun as the base game.
Earlier this month, just two days after Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl was up for Best Animated Feature at the 2025 Academy Awards, PowerWash Simulator dropped the Wallace & Gromit Special Pack.
Has there ever been a better pairing than PowerWash Simulator and those accident-prone affable claymation Brits? Cheese and crackers, perhaps? Wensleydale and cranberries? Zany inventions and a put-upon pup?
Washing my way through the Wallace & Gromit levels are the most smashing time I’ve had yet. The care this team has in recreating this charming world is showcased in every map, and the gameplay is the perfect way to explore each lovingly crafted detail.
Perfect timing. Right after strapping in, FuturLab announced PowerWash Simulator 2. Scheduled to release in late 2025, One would like to see the sequel fix the game’s awkward movement and controls, a constant irritant when finishing levels. Until then, players can keep busy exploring Muckingham through the game’s generous expansion packs, extra levels, and additional content.
In the end, it doesn’t matter that Flow beat out Wallace & Gromit for Latvia’s first Oscar; PowerWash Simulator players went home winners either way.
PowerWash Simulator is available now for Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Meta Quest (2, Pro, 3).
First Published March 24, 2025, 11:27 a.m.
