Hot off the heels of House Flipper and released right before the upcoming Lawn Mowing Simulator, Powerwash Simulator is the latest in a series of relaxing games about the life-changing magic of tidying up. Players wield a titular power washer and methodically blast away caked-on dirt, grime, and rust, revealing the shining surfaces underneath. Then they sit back and relax, watching a satisfying time-lapse replay of their job.
It's a very soothing experience, but not one without its issues. Powerwash Simulator is still in early access and its current tutorial is bare-bones. It leaves multiple mechanics unexplained, such as how to refill soap or how to change the washer.
The Power Washer's Tools
Like plenty of other simulation games, Powerwash Simulator has a career mode. Players take on paying jobs and use the money to buy new tools. Aside from the previously mentioned soaps, the player can also buy new equipment and washers.
The pieces of equipment are add-ons, such as nozzles and extensions, that change how the washer shoots. The soap nozzle lets players shoot with soap, the power nozzle improves the spray radius, and the long extension improves the shot length.
New washers improve a player's cleaning ability. For example, the Prime Visa 3000 model washer can remove rust without using metal cleaner, while the Urban X U2 model washer is good at removing graffiti. Switching equipment as needed both makes the game more engaging and speeds up the cleaning process.
How to Change the Parts
Powerwash Simulator is a bit more explicit on how to change equipment. Press 1 to switch extensions and press 2, or scroll the mouse wheel, to switch nozzles. But there's no button specifically labeled "change washer." So how does a player do it?
The button the player is meant to hit is E, which opens up the inventory. From there, the player can edit their entire load-out, including the washer.
Every early access game is torn between two different priorities when deciding what to update. Should the developers focus on new content, such as adding more maps and modes, or should they focus on quality of life aspects, such as improving the controls? The former seems more tempting, as it gets people more excited and possibly attracts new players.
But in this specific case, the latter should be the focus, if only because the solution seems simple. Either the tutorial screen should have a bit of extra text explaining the inventory's purpose, or an unused button should be used to cycle through currently owned washers.
Powerwash Simulator is now available for PC.