PowerWash Simulator 2 Review - Spray it Ain't So!

Now I know what you’re thinking, Ashton, PowerWash Sim 2 isn’t an indie; the first one was published by Square Enix… and while you are right, you are also WRONG because PowerWash Simulator 2 has been developed and published by FuturLab, and therefore I am allowed to review it, and BOY HOWDY was I excited about it! This cleaning simulator absolutely baffles those who don’t play it as to how it can possibly be fun, but does the sequel live up to the hype of the original? Or is it a filthy cash grab?

I will preface this review by saying that I absolutely LOVE Powerwash Sim. I think it is one of the coziest, most satisfying, and relaxing games on the market, so when I saw there was a 2nd game launching, I knew it would have to do a lot to disappoint me, and thankfully I am categorically NOT disappointed. I can’t say that Powerwash Simulator 2 is a marvel of technological advancement, nor does it reinvent the wheel, but with gameplay that is so simply perfect, I don’t think it really needed to.

Powerwash Simulator 2 features almost identical gameplay to the original, with a few new elements and a couple of quality of life upgrades but still delivers a fresh (if not disgustingly mucky) group of levels, items, and places for you to clean. If you’ve never played Powerwash Sim, it is as simple as you might expect. You are tasked with using your power washer (and its many upgrades and attachments) on jobs around the town of Muckingham that can be anything from vehicles to buildings, parks, and even famous ogres' swamps if you bought the DLC. But for some reason, and not one I think anyone who hasn’t played the games will understand, this simple gameplay is incredibly fun and addictive, and thankfully PowerWash Simulator 2 continues this tradition. 

While its base gameplay remains the same, FuturLab has added some new features that fans of power washing content both in-game and otherwise are sure to enjoy. The main campaign features a whole host of new challenging things to clean, including billboards, moving shooting ranges, and even airships. But when you finish these cleans, you now have the ability to travel back to your home base, a big warehouse that features level selects, mementos of your cleans, AND an entirely new facet of cleaning in the form of furniture. 

Much like the first game, you earn money as you clean, money that can be used to buy better power washers and accessories. But unlike the first game, you also earn power wash points that can be used to buy new outfits, power washer and van color schemes, and the newly added furniture. Though, much like buying something from Facebook Marketplace, the furniture arrives at your home base absolutely COVERED in muck, and before you can decorate your house with them, you’ll need to clean them off thoroughly, and some of these items are gross! You’ll then be allowed to decorate your space however you fancy, though I will say the furniture placements can be a bit finicky and not as malleable as you may be used to if you’ve played games like House Flipper. 

Alongside the new cleaning elements, there are also a couple of new tools at your disposal. Your power washer can now be equipped with a big circular head that covers large flat surfaces at the cost of distance, and the inclusion of the all-purpose soap that used to have to be purchased will make cleaning quicker and easier. Plus, there are all new methods of gaining height and movement to help you clean, including the introduction of a scissor lift and an abseil that you can ride around on while you clean. Though I did find that because there is no interaction required to ride on the abseil, I did find myself accidentally getting yoinked into the sky as it pinged me into the seat as I got too nearby.

The original PowerWash Simulator had a story all about the town of Muckingham and the mysterious statues that have emerged out of the desert, though I will say that it’s not the one thing most players go to the game for. PowerWash Sim 2 also tells a story of Muckingham and the surrounding towns after the Merman Statue’s gems are stolen. 

The original story was told primarily through the texts that clients sent you between and during jobs, which also happens in this game, though the text messages aren’t stored anywhere. So if you miss one while you’re cleaning, I couldn’t find any way to read them outside of repeating the cleans, though you can find a set of newspaper articles and other information on a board in the Home Base should the story be very important to you.

There have been a few other core changes from the first game to the second; the visual improvements allow for brighter, more colorful levels and even grosser-looking muck. The UI changes make for an easier swap between nozzles, power washers, and lengths, and there have been a few control scheme shifts which may take some getting used to for veteran players, though these can be toggled to the OG controls in the settings should you find them too different.

You can now also play the entire campaign in multiplayer, with up to 4 players being able to clean through the story at one time. Plus, in a change from the original, your progression will carry over to your own save, allowing you to skip missions you’ve completed on other people’s games and giving you rewards for doing so. If you fancy just sitting at home and playing with your partner or roommate, you can also do so thanks to the 2-player split-screen co-op mode.

Performance was great, with only a few little glitches here and there, but what is really great is the level of accessibility within the settings of the game. You can change the radar color to make seeing the dirt a little easier, change the control schemes like I mentioned, and lots more ways to make playing even easier.

PowerWash Simulator is an enigma of a game and one that even I, as a big fan, can’t really explain why it is so great. In what I think is a testament to what a good sequel this is, I feel the exact same way about PowerWash Simulator 2. It is simple, easy to play, and the perfect game to keep your hands busy while you watch something, listen to a podcast, or if you need something to lock into for a while and wash your troubles away. 

PowerWash Sim 2 has everything the original had, as well as lots of quality-of-life improvements that make the 38 levels of the 2nd game even more fun than usual. And even though the story isn’t something I am super interested in, nor is it particularly easy to follow, the weird grungy world of Muckingham and its surrounding area is still suitably quirky and unique. So, with all that said, I think PowerWash Simulator 2 earns itself a Silver Lamp of Approval for gracing us with even more satisfying levels, better washers, and the ability to pet a bunch of very sweet cats that hang out at every job site. 

SILVER - GREAT