PowerWash Simulator 2

PowerWash Simulator 2 was provided by FuturLab for review. Thank you!

There's something particularly and oddly therapeutic about blasting away dirt and grime, watching a dull, otherwise mundane surface transform into something gleaming and spotless. The first PowerWash Simulator understood that appeal perfectly, turning the simple act of cleaning into one of gaming's most unexpectedly soothing experiences. With PowerWash Simulator 2, FuturLab hasn't tried to reinvent that strangely satisfying formula; instead, it's refined to a glistening point. The result is a sequel that's more ambitious, more detailed, and just as hypnotically relaxing as ever, but devoid of any surprise throughout.

At its core, PowerWash Simulator 2 is still about the calm, methodical cleaning of everything in sight: cars, toilets, mansions, etc. That simple gameplay loop - point, spray, rinse, repeat - remains intact, but it's now framed within a noticeably improved presentation, neatly wrapped together with copious quality of life fixes that do their best to combat any ire the first entry unduly caused. The visuals are sharper, the water physics look more realistic, and dirt particles behave in a way that feels more convincing. It's the most minor of graphical tweaks, to be sure, but welcome nonetheless. And with the various UI additions throughout, such as marking any inevitable missed surfaces when you yearn for completion, the entire package feels less strenuous than ever before.

This feeling is further enhanced by the much-improved level design. Environments are larger and more varied, but with multi-stage cleaning tasks that gradually unlock new areas as you complete earlier ones, it all feels less daunting and more dynamic. With many new tools (not the equipment itself) at your rubber-handed disposal, your reliance on ladders and somewhat-awkward parkour is lessened with the addition of scissor lifts and abseiling, to name but two.

Naturally, FuturLab has introduced several new equipment-based tools and features to keep cleaning veterans engaged. Chief among these is the scrubber, a new piece of equipment designed for flat surfaces that helps speed up those larger, more tedious jobs. Extendable nozzles, as in the case of the first game, let you reach awkward corners or hard-to-reach spots without constant repositioning, at the cost of area of effect. It shows that a combination of both the new and old mechanics works seamlessly to tackle even the largest of jobs.

These tools don't drastically alter the core gameplay, but they streamline it and give players new ways to tackle grime with efficiency and flair. Further, more generalized quality of life improvements also shine throughout the sequel, with controls feeling more responsive and intuitive, dirt indicators are easier to read, and, finally, multiplayer progression in the campaign, a particular sore point for me in the 2021 classic. The game's feedback loop, spray, reveal progress, move to the next section, has never been smoother, all things considered, and it's clear that close attention to player feedback was taken from the first game.

Outside of the core content, PowerWash Simulator 2 introduces a new hub that serves as a home base to decorate, display trophies, and interact with your charming cat companions between jobs, offering a pleasant, visually rooted sense of continuity and progression. It’s a charming idea that adds a touch of personality to your power-washing career, but in practice, it feels more like light dressing than a meaningful expansion of the core experience. While it’s nice to return to a space that reflects your achievements, the hub doesn’t significantly change how you play - or why you play - making it a neat but ultimately inessential addition.

Much like its predecessor, PowerWash Simulator 2 thrives on a sense of calm repetition. There's something undeniably gratifying about transforming an utterly filthy environment into something pristine. The sound design continues to do a lot of heavy lifting here: the hiss of pressurized water, the satisfying, Pavlovian "ding" as a section is completed, and the gentle ambient music all work together to create a meditative flow that's easy to lose hours in. That said, if you didn't find the appeal in the first game, little here will change your mind. This sequel doesn't attempt to revolutionize the experience but refine it. The improvements are thoughtful and welcome, but they don't fundamentally alter what PowerWash Simulator is and will continue to be. For some, that's a strength; for others, it may feel like more of the same.

PowerWash Simulator 2 - Steam Deck Performance

On the technical front, PowerWash Simulator 2 impresses for the most part. It's largely competent out of the box, with a 1280x720 resolution, and all settings set to low for bar Model Quality and the wonderfully titled Wetness VFX, both of which are set to High. This, in turn, achieves 80-90fps, but the very occasional stutter is in the 55-60fps range. Changing the Model Quality to Medium alleviates some of the severity of the random drops, returning a range 15% higher than before, but whether the drop in quality is worth it is ultimately up to you.

What I would recommend, however, is limiting the framerate within SteamOS' framerate limiter to 60, and changing the in-game settings to the following: Screen Resolution to 1280x720, Target Framerate to 60, SSAO to Medium, Model Quality/Texture Quality/Dynamic Shadow Resolution/Wetness VFX to High, Dynamic Shadow Shadow Distance/Soap Quality to Medium, and Fog to Low. This gives mostly stable 60, albeit with the aforementioned random drops and stutters to around 56 every minute or so, albeit with a much reduced strain on the battery, now returning a 10W - 14W (down from 12W to 20W with the default settings), allowing up to 4 and a half hours of gameplay.

Conclusion

PowerWash Simulator 2 is a sequel that knows exactly where its power lies. It builds on the original's strengths, its chill atmosphere, satisfying feedback, and simple yet addictive loop, and layers in just enough new content and polish to feel fresh. The visuals and performance have seen a clear upgrade, the environments are more creative, and the tools make cleaning more versatile and enjoyable.

And best of all, FuturLab has resisted the industry trend of price hikes. Despite being larger in scale and scope, the game retains the original's accessible price point, proving that sequels can expand meaningfully without draining your wallet.

Our review is based on the PC version of this game.

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