PowerWash Simulator 2 Review: A Sparkling New Adventure

If you’re after a zen, meditative experience, then you’ll be hard pressed to find one more enjoyable than what’s on offer in PowerWash Simulator 2 which is a subtly welcomed improvement upon its predecessor. Listen, it’s a franchise that you’ll either get or you won’t; that much remains true in this sequel. Just as is the case in real life, some of us enjoy cleaning and some of us hate it. But if you relish in the joy that comes with admiring the fruits of a job well done, there’s plenty of that on offer here with entertaining missions, new tools, and a new cosy abode.

Developed by FuturLab, PowerWash Simulator 2 is, perhaps rather obviously, the follow-up to 2022’s PowerWash Simulator. Players will once again don the uniform of a PowerWash Services employee, responding to the calls of those in need of your cleaning services. This time around, you won’t just assist those within Muckingham. You’ll venture out into the surrounding areas of Caldera County, visiting the likes of Power Falls, Washingham, and Sponge Valley.

If you’re not familiar, the gameplay loop in PowerWash Simulator 2 is rather simple, although perhaps not as simple as it first appears on the surface. In the game’s main campaign, you’ll respond to cleaning jobs with your goal simply being to spray away until an area is free of grime. It’s more than just shooting a jet of water though. If you want to get the job done efficiently - and let me tell you, some of these missions are time-consuming - you’ll want to select the right equipment.

Which washer should you use? Do you need an attachment to extend the range? Which nozzle will prove more effective? Stubborn grime requires a focused jet whilst in other areas, you’ll be able to opt for something a tad softer but with a wider range of effect. There’s a comprehensive new soap system too which boasts unlimited usage. It adds an extra step but lather up what it is that you’re working on and the dirt will wash away much quicker. PowerWash Simulator 2 is far more tactical than it may first appear on the surface.

PowerWash Simulator 2, Credit / FuturLab

All of this is incredibly intuitive and easy to pick up with the game walking you through the various controls on the first mission. The player can both crouch and jump in order to reach dirt in areas you might not otherwise notice, plus you’ll always have a selection of ladders on hand. Yes, you can’t ignore a dirty roof just because you can’t see it.

It’s all so incredibly moreish, with the onscreen display clearly informing you of the percentage of how clean a certain area is that you’re seeing to. Opening up a menu will additionally show parts that remain grimy or that you haven’t done yet, so you’ll never be left wondering why a job isn’t complete. Certainly, you may have to think outside the box if a certain area or item is showing as incomplete. ‘Is there an angle I haven’t looked at it from?’ is a question you might ask yourself. PowerWash Simulator 2, however, does an excellent job at pointing you in the right direction to avoid any major headaches.

Upon completing a job, you’ll earn your cleaning fee which can handily be put towards new equipment of which there’s plenty on offer. One new item that wasn’t in the previous game is a large flat-headed washer attachment and my god, it’s so helpful at cleaning flat surfaces such as walls and floors. I didn’t think at the age of 28, unlocking a gorgeous new washer attachment would be the highlight of my day, yet here we are. It all adds a much-needed sense of variety into PowerWash Simulator 2 as, certainly, no two missions are alike, but it’s nice to tackle them in different ways.

You can also spend your earnings on cosmetics. Players can customise their washers and uniform, although I personally find this a tad pointless given how little you see them in a first-person game, in the single-player mode anyway. Also new this time around though, you can also now purchase furniture for your cosy new abode. That’s right. Players will return to PowerWash Services HQ between missions which is essentially your new home. I’d argue that the original PowerWash Simulator was most definitely a so-called cosy game, so I’m glad to see that devs leaned into that here.

PowerWash Simulator 2, Credit / FuturLab

Once you’ve purchased furniture or decorative items, you can enter a ‘plan’ mode to place them down as you wish. There is one catch; they do arrive grimy. I’m not sure where exactly our player character is sourcing this stuff. The first item I decided to acquire was a sofa which arrived absolutely caked in dirt. Naturally, it was nothing my handy tools couldn’t see to. That sofa was sparkling in no time. I just wouldn’t think about the sofa’s origins too deeply if you choose to sit upon it.

It’s from HQ that you’ll be able to venture out on new missions by visiting the large Caldera County map in the location’s main office. Nearby, you’ll also find a bookshelf. As you complete campaign missions, you’ll acquire items on the shelf reflecting those missions. For example, cleaning a van will garner you a van figurine. From here, you can revisit any missions you’ve already done, enjoying them in free-play.

I should also add that missions can unfold in several stages this time around which is new. In fact, the second mission you embark on is the perfect example. You’ll begin cleaning what appears to be a small floor sign. Upon completion, it turns out it’s a hidden toilet block which’ll rise from the floor. You’ll then clean the exterior before, you guessed it, the door opens revealing a grimy interior too. It’s certainly a fun little change, adding unexpected surprises to your playthough.

There are also new traversal tools you’ll encounter later on in the game including a pulley system and elevating platforms, again adding some lovely variety. If I had one criticism of the original title it is that it felt a tad one-tone. I truly believe that FuturLab has taken that on board, adding a sense of growth and development in PowerWash Simulator 2 that feels much more noticeable.

PowerWash Simulator 2, Credit / FuturLab

I’d also say that the graphics are much crisper this time around, the UI feels cleaner (that’s not a pun), plus there’s a fun little mystery that unravels throughout the main campaign. Oh, and your home base comes with three cats. Can you pet them? Yes, you can. Do they do anything beyond that? Nope, except occasionally coming out on a job with you. But listen, washing a dirty park is so much more exciting when I’ve got Ulysses and her kittens Bubbles and Squeak watching on. And yes, Ulysses is likely a familiar returning face to those of who enjoyed the original PowerWash Simulator.

If you didn’t enjoy PowerWash Simulator, then PowerWash Simulator 2 is unlikely to win you over. What I find relaxing, you may find laborious. But if you’re someone who enjoys the quiet and meditative experience that the PowerWash Simulator franchise has to offer, you’ll find endless satisfaction here. With the improved missions, streamlined graphics, and various new features, FuturLab has finally perfected its original vision, offering a wonderfully fun gameplay loop that you'll struggle to tear yourself away from.

Pros: Varied missions, plenty of new equipment for both washing and traversal, fun new base to edit

Cons: The simple and slow gameplay still won’t appeal to all

For fans of: PowerWash Simulator, Unpacking, House Flipper, Two Point franchise

9/10: Exceptional

PowerWash Simulator 2 launches on 23 October on PC (version tested via Xbox ROG Ally X), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.