PowerWash Simulator

Lore & Background

PowerWash Simulator is a simulation game played in the first-person perspective. Set in the fictional town of Muckingham, players manage a small power washing business and take on jobs for a variety of clients in different locations in the form of levels. The main career mode features a total of 38 jobs, with several bonus jobs also available. Using a power washer, players remove dirt, grime, lichen, moss and rust from various vehicles and locations, ranging from residential houses to a Mars rover. The power washer is equipped with four washer nozzles with varying power and spray diameter. Cleaning solutions designed for specific surfaces can be applied. Progress bars in the user interface indicate how much debris remains, and the player can press a button to highlight any dirt remaining. Upon completing a job, players earn money that can be reinvested to purchase cosmetic items and upgrade their power washing tools. Some levels grant players the use of a ladder or scaffolding. The game features online cooperative multiplayer for two players in career mode, and up to six players in free play. An additional single-player challenge mode tasks players with completing certain jobs with limited water or within a time limit.

The plot begins with the player character starting their own power washing business in Muckingham, gifted a van by their friend, archaeologist Harper Shaw. Over the course of jobs, the player receives text messages from clients. As the power washer completes jobs, their reputation grows. Strange occurrences begin in Muckingham, including unusual activity near the dormant Mount Rushless volcano and the disappearance of all of Muckingham's cats. It is revealed that Mayor Jefferson has been diverting the town's water to an illegal mining operation by corrupt tycoon Blake Thrust. The power washer is eventually hired to clean a flying saucer controlled by time-travelling scientists from the year 2278. One scientist, Ceruleon Skye, explains they were investigating the impending eruption of Mount Rushless, which in their future triggered global extinction. Thrust shot down their ship and stole technology, causing the volcano to become active ahead of schedule. The power washer cleans a temple filled with tributes to themself, and a gem emerges that fires a beam at the volcano. Skye explains the temple was built by the Pacifists, the Pacific counterparts of the Atlanteans, and that Thrust's search for their civilization punctured Mount Rushless's magma chamber. Skye travelled back in time and told the Pacifists the power washer's story, and they converted the temple into an offshore platform with a neutralizing beam that would stop the eruption when cleaned by an experienced power washer. With the timeline safe, the power washer returns to find Ulysses the cat hiding in their van with her kittens.

FuturLab is a smaller developer that had previously released games like Velocity 2X. Company founder James Marsden encouraged FuturLab to remain video game genre-agnostic. During a brainstorming session about first-person shooter ideas, Marsden made a throwaway comment about an 'FPS powerwashing game.' Development director Kirsty Rigden, who had recently been watching power-washing videos, immediately took interest. The company put together a prototype released on Itch.io where it received positive reception, inspiring a larger release. PowerWash Simulator has had several downloadable content packs featuring other companies' intellectual property. FuturLab hired a licensing and business development manager to work full-time with companies and brands. Paramount was the first company to grant a license to use their characters from SpongeBob SquarePants.

Reader's Guide

PowerWash Simulator received 'generally favorable' reviews according to review aggregation website Metacritic, but received 'mixed or average' reviews for the Windows version. Critics noted the game's casual, relaxing gameplay and satisfying gameplay loop, with praise for its career mode, zen-like feel, variety of modes, and online co-op. Some criticism was directed at pacing of some jobs, the soap system, water and dirt simulation, sound, and character movement. The game's development originated from a throwaway comment during a brainstorming session at FuturLab, leading to a prototype on Itch.io that garnered positive reception. The game's plot involves time travel, ancient civilizations, and a volcano threat, tying together the cleaning gameplay with a narrative about saving Muckingham. Multiple downloadable content packs have been released themed after other media franchises, including Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy VII Remake, SpongeBob SquarePants, Back to the Future, Warhammer 40,000, Alice's Adventures, Shrek, and Wallace & Gromit. The last free update was released on 29 May 2025. A sequel, PowerWash Simulator 2, was released in 2025.

Did You Know?

• The game was first released in early access on Steam on 19 May 2021.
• The fictional town where the game is set is called Muckingham.
• A standalone VR port titled PowerWash Simulator VR was released on 2 November 2023 for Meta Quest devices.
• The game's plot involves time-travelling scientists from the year 2278 and the Pacifists, counterparts of the Atlanteans.