POWERWASH SIMULATOR 2 (2025) Review

Review

Gaming has been a staple of my life since my Dad first bought me a Gameboy with a single game called U.S. Navy Seals. To this day, I still have both the Gameboy and the game, and gaming has been a pillar in my life ever since. My favorite genres have grown and evolved since then though and while I chase story-heavy games, long 100+ hour RPGs, edge-of-my-seat horror, and intense action masterpieces, something I had never thought would take hold of me was the simple, meditative act of virtual cleaning in Powerwash Simulator.

But here, now in my chaotic and hardworking 30s, I find myself looking to relax for a little bit after work, and a quick level in Powerwash Simulator is always calling me. I have played the original levels and all the DLC multiple times over the years and have even convinced some of my friends to try it, all with the same results. It’s a game that took the gaming world by surprise with how chill yet addictive it was, and how much of a stress relief it ended up becoming for so many of us. Fast forward to October 2025, and we now have a sequel to this fantastically satisfying game!

Powerwash Simulator 2 feels like a welcome trip home, but with a fresh, clean coat of soap! The core elements that made the first game a surprise hit are all here, but everything has been polished and expanded upon. The most significant new addition is your own customizable home base. This is a central hub you can return to between jobs. Using “P Points” earned from cleaning, you can purchase (and, of course, clean) furniture to fill the space up any way you want. Do you need to do this? No, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t already spent a good hour mixing things up in my space to give it some more personality! It adds a wonderful sense of progression and a personal touch that was missing from the first game.

The core gameplay mechanic is pristine and untouched. You start with a basic pressure washer and an array of nozzles to clean your way through each mission, combining different techniques and methods to hear that gratifying *ding* of a completed section. You then use the money made to purchase stronger pressure washers, better nozzles, and helpful extensions to deal with the tougher tasks and sprawling missions further down the line as they become bigger and crazier. We are even given some new traversal ways of cleaning hard to reach areas!   Both an electric scissor lift and a harness too (for specific missions)! These have proven to be a great help and addition to the standard ladder and scaffolding.  Even scaffolding got a minor tweak with ladders on the outside to get you right to the top without using the stairs! Powerwash Simulator 2 does not reinvent the wheel but instead gives it a fresh, sparkling clean. It’s the same game at its heart, but visually it’s nicer, the water effects are a little more realistic, the environments are more stylized, and the dirt has never looked dirtier!

Loaded with 38 new missions, you work from one to the next while the wild, overarching story of Muckingham unfolds around you. What happened to the volcano in the first game? The dodgy actions of the mayor? The huge beam of light shooting out of the temple? All of these lingering questions get answered as you progress through the missions via text messages and even small, humorous events kicking off around you while you clean. While all very funny to witness, the game itself never loses that chill, ambient vibe that made the first one such a huge success.

The developers have clearly listened to feedback. The controls were mixed up this time, which admittedly threw me off on my first job. However, a quick dip into the settings allows you to return to the original game’s setup. Once that was sorted, I was right back into the flow of pressure cleaning, my own music playing on my tablet, just letting the world’s issues wash away. This small option shows a great respect for the existing player base as well as flexibility for those wanting a change.

While I did not mind the story unfolding, it was secondary to how relaxing the game makes me feel, and for that reason, it has become a top-tier game for me to play in my adult years. The world is a crazy place, and it’s clear from the reviews of the first game, and the social media hype this follow-up has, that I’m not alone in these sentiments. It’s a form of digital zen, a mindful activity that allows your brain to switch off from the noise of daily life and focus on the simple, satisfying task of turning chaos into order.

Verdict

This game is just a delight to play, with a few minor bugs here and there which I have no doubt the team will fix over the next coming months, I am happy to get more of what I loved but feel that the graphical update could have been stronger.

⭐⭐⭐⭐