PowerWash Simulator 2 Cleans Up with More Tools, Maps, and Levels

A Unique Approach to Cleaning in PowerWash Simulator 2

Many people have told me that I play PowerWash Simulator like someone who hates themselves. It's a fair observation, as my method involves being extremely meticulous when cleaning each map. I start from the ground up, rotating around the objective until everything is spotless. However, this approach isn't always efficient, and it can be frustrating because grime often works its way down, messing up areas that were already cleaned. Despite that, I don’t care. I do what I want, and what I want is to create a satisfying timelapse at the end that looks like I'm doing a fun twirl.

This method has remained consistent in PowerWash Simulator 2. While I had a great time playing, FutureLab hasn’t reinvented the wheel here. The game feels more like an updated version with new elements rather than a complete overhaul. The maps are structured similarly: dirty objects on a dirty floor. However, there are some new tools that make the job much smoother.

New Tools for a Cleaner Experience

One of the most notable additions is a new type of soap that works wonders on tough grime and stains. There's also abseiling equipment, a scissor lift, and my favorite, the circular surface cleaner. This tool resembles a vacuum cleaner or buffer and can glide over flat surfaces like floors or walls, blasting off dirt in seconds. It’s particularly useful for maps with large open spaces, such as the Skate Park from the original game, as it covers more ground than the powerwasher, even with the widest nozzle.

The surface cleaner is great for open spaces but becomes finicky around corners. I used it first on the new Art Deco House map, which is exactly what it sounds like—a dirty Art Deco house. While it took some getting used to, I quickly mastered the tool and got the ground clean in no time. I even tried using it on a large wall, which ruined my precise cleaning montage but got the grime off faster than ever before.

Despite these improvements, I’m not ready to retire my trusty powerwasher just yet. The surface cleaner is great for open spaces, but it struggles around corners. At one point, it started to freak out when I got too close to a window ledge, violently convulsing in my hands. That was my cue to put it down.

Exploring New and Challenging Maps

Not all of the new maps are just standard dirty houses or cars. There are also some more puzzling and extreme locations available to work through—perhaps word got around about my skills. One of the best maps involved cleaning a giant billboard in the middle of a desert using only a powerwasher and abseiling equipment. After climbing to the top of a giant poster for a Town of the Year award, I hooked up my equipment and jumped onto a swing suspended in mid-air.

With this, I could move in any direction, albeit clumsily, cleaning the poster however I wanted without the hassle of going back and forth with a ladder. It was fun, smooth, efficient, and even a little dangerous—qualities of a great PowerWash Simulator map.

My favorite by far was the humble Public Toilet. This is part of a new level design called the multi-stage job. Instead of just cleaning a single object or place, multi-stage jobs work like puzzles, as you clean sections to reveal the next stage. The Public Toilet started with a small pedestal, which I polished up quickly. After getting the final ding, I heard an unlocking noise, and the rest of the outhouse gradually rose from the ground. Then, after cleaning the outside, I heard a door open and saw the final stage: cleaning the inside, which included a toilet, baby-changing station, sink, and mirror.

This design breaks up what could otherwise be small and mundane maps, making them more exciting. It’s a small test of what a multi-stage job could look like, and I’m excited to see how this feature will be expanded in the future, especially with bigger and more complex maps.

Small Improvements with Big Impact

PowerWash Simulator 2 also includes several quality-of-life improvements. The original checklist only allowed players to highlight one unfinished section, and it was hard to pinpoint unless you were right in front of it. Now, players can select multiple sections, and if they’re far away, a small orange checkbox appears, flashing when they get closer. This makes finding unfinished parts much easier, especially on large maps with many small areas to clean.

Other additions include particle effects, butterflies, and even cats that follow players around on jobs, purring until they're petted. These aren’t mindblowing, but the visual changes in the dirt grit as it gets cleaned add a nice touch.

A Familiar Yet Improved Experience

Amid all the new tools, maps, and furry friends, PowerWash Simulator 2 didn’t feel like a traditional sequel. It’s more of the same with a few new flourishes and ways to improve the experience. While it doesn’t break new ground, FutureLab manages to push the boundaries of what a powerwasher can do. I’m more excited about seeing where the game will go in the next half-year, as what I’ve seen so far seems to set the foundation for a long-term investment. I hope to see a payoff for this effort in the future.