Earlier this month, the Midgar Special Pack debuted in PowerWash Simulator, transporting cleaners to the streets of Midgar for some powerwashing action. Players are tasked with cleaning out iconic Final Fantasy 7 gear like Cloud's Buster Sword, as well as the imposing Scorpion Sentinel (thankfully not in combat mode).

For those looking for a little more pressure, beat your best scores in Challenge Mode! Fight grime in different scenarios; wash against the clock in Time Challenge or test your accuracy by using as little water as possible in Water Challenge.

Power Wash Simulator

Graffiti, grime, moss, and mould, no dirt is too tough for your range of washers, nozzles, cleaners, and extensions. Different dirt types have different levels of toughness, so make sure you're getting tactical with your equipment. Feeling fancy? Then customise your look with washer skins and gloves!

From casual, clean freaks to players looking to get into the nitty-gritty, everyone can pick up and play to feel immersed. Absorb the relaxing atmosphere and stress-free pace as you strip dirt from patios, pavements, vehicles, and public parks. Stress gets to us all, so sit back, relax, and wash your worries down the drain.

Create art by cleaning the way you want. Your nozzles are your brushes; the neighbourhood is your canvas. Unleash your creative talents and transform ordinary dirt into exceptional artwork. Share your techniques and showcase your power-washing prowess and mud-caked masterpieces!

I'm almost certain that washing the roof of a bungalow isn't a relaxing pastime in reality, but it certainly is in PowerWash Simulator. Without having to worry about any of the dangers of being on the top of a roof, I take my time leisurely cleaning off the dirt plastered over the tiles. With my trusty Prime Vista 1500 Power Washer in hand, I adjust the nozzles to clear away some particularly tough, mossy stains that have no doubt accumulated over time. Nothing quite beats the satisfaction I feel when I begin to see the clean surface emerge.

It's the same kind of sense of accomplishment you get from taking the time to make your kitchen look squeaky clean, except here you don't need to put in any elbow grease to get the job done. Instead, I just sit back and wash away the muck as though I'm washing away my worries. I enjoy soaking in the soothing sounds of the high-pressure water, and the ambient noises of the gentle breeze and chirping birds as I go. PowerWash Simulator is a cleaner's paradise. But even if being neat and tidy isn't your bag in real life, developer FuturLab's turns what can so often be a chore into a somewhat relaxing affair.

Once an area of the vehicle is squeaky clean, a pleasing little ping rings out to tell me there's no more grime to wash away. It's incredibly satisfying to see the van go from a neglected, mud-covered mess in dire need of a wash, to a shiny blue vehicle anyone would be proud to get behind the wheel of. But just when I think I've cleaned every inch, there are still some little specks of dirt tucked in the nooks and crannies.

Fortunately, as you progress through more jobs, you'll earn yourself some money, which can be spent on very helpful upgrades, different kinds of cleaning fluid, and extensions for your power wash. Splashing your cash in the name of cleanliness never felt quite so meaningful. These handy new nozzles and more powerful tools certainly help when you come to the later jobs, with bigger surface areas and more challenging objects of all kinds of shapes and sizes that need some watering. The real mystery of Muckingham is just how they let all of these places get into such a state, but I'm certainly not complaining when it's this rewarding and relaxing to fix up, with the added side benefit of growing my business.

Outside of the main Career mode, there's also a timed 'Challenge' mode where you can put your cleaning skills to the test, 'Specials' which serves up some rather unique cleaning opportunities, and 'Free Play' where you take your time cleaning and bask in the joy of power washing. As someone who finds it very hard to relax and unwind in real life, PowerWash Simulator takes a relatively mundane activity in reality and manages to turn it into an enjoyable, chill experience that doesn't demand too much from you. Who knew combating grime could be fun? If you haven't tried it out yet and you have Xbox Game Pass, this is your time to shine.

Some games hide mystery in their titles, practically begging for every narrative thread to be pulled on to discover the secrets behind those words. PowerWash Simulator is not like this. Its direct name reveals that it is exactly what you think it is: the chance to live out your fantasy(?) as a water gun for hire, moving from job to job until all the dirt is blasted into oblivion. There's not a great deal of variety in such a career, and monotony can sink in, but a fundamentally simple yet satisfying style of gameplay provides a great way to chill out across numerous generously sized levels. Yes, it is just simulating the usually mundane act of hosing down your patio once a year, but PowerWash Simulator elevates itself above what could so easily become tedium by subtly gamifying the chore and shoving the most annoying parts under the rug. Anyway, let's try not to get too philosophical about it: Here's my review, in which I analyse a game about washing a 30-foot high shoe.

That being said, there's not a great deal of experimentation needed and I soon settled on my loadout of choice, complete with a long extension that maximised the washer's range, and the second-widest angle nozzle, which offers a satisfying balance between pressure and area of effect. I enjoyed it so much that I even found myself blurting out the phrase "25-degree nozzle OP!" as I hosed down the side of a fire station, like I was on a rampant Call of Duty killstreak. I must have looked like an idiot.

Fortunately, players get power over how their character looks in PowerWash Simulator. The gloves themselves are the most important cosmetic selection. By following just two steps, it's possible to wear some personally selected gloves in just a few seconds.

Located in the bottom left of the screen will be the button that opens the equipment menu. This is the same button gamers will use to change power washers. However, instead of fiddling with the default tab, go over to the right and select "Clothing."

@Deemo37 well, erm..... no I'm not going to spend Â20 to discover I was right.... or wrong. There is literally a video in the review showing you the 'game play'. It is simply a fidget spinner of software. A single mechanic. It's at best a Â4 piece of software imo. Mind you I note it's also out for the PS5 with all its incredible power, it's utilized for this? I don't know what developers expect to gain from this apart from gullible people parted from their money. At least put some effort into making it a proper game.... it's actually not asking too much for some sort of timed events or target practice mini-games or find secret hidden things hidden under the dirt etc.... None of that is said to exist in this. So I will stand by my impression of the 'game' going by what was in that review. 

I genuinely don't get the appeal to this. I mean I power wash my car in real life and it can be a pain in the neck like when I'm not in the mood so if anyone here wants to do my car for me they're more than welcome, oh and the graphics are the most realistic yet.

@D_Munk don't judge a book by it's cover. Power wash simulator is satisfying in the same kind of a way that Farming Simulator is satisfying. There is something cathartic about cleaning mud off random items. I tried the game on gamepass because I wasn't sure either and I was pleasantly surprised that it's a mindless game where you can just relax watching the TV at the same time. It appeals to OCD types but isn't for everyone.

@D_Munk I've put a lot of time into this because of Gamepass and yeah its actually a ton of fun. People like it because its relaxing and stress free plus power washing is just fun in general and this game let's you use one minus the drawbacks of a real one.

More specifically, the free update to Power Wash Simulator will feature five jobs focused on locations in Midgar that players visit throughout FFVII's story. The Midgar Special Pack will be released across all versions of Power Wash Simulator for free, giving players a chance to clean some iconic vehicles, setpieces, and even bosses from the game. It's certainly an interesting idea for a crossover, but the grim and industrial Midgar is probably one of the most appropriate Final Fantasy locations to send a professional power washer.

Unfortunately, we have less options to play with when console games have issues. Generally speaking, console games shouldn't have as many problems as they are more easily optimised, but bugs and crashes can occur. For the most part, your options are limited to restarting and reinstalling the game. Be sure to full power-cycle your Xbox if you are having persistent problems. The console continues running even when switched off, so disconnect the power and keep it off for a few seconds before starting up again.

If the word "simulator" in PowerWash Simulator puts you off, please don't let it. Where other simulators double down on the minutiae surrounding the thing you're meant to be doing, that they put you off the thing you're meant to be doing, PowerWash Sim understands that you just want to rid surfaces of grime in the most satisfying way possible. You do not need to prize open your powerwasher with a tri-wing screwdriver or manage your finances via a convoluted banking app or determine whether a kitchen sink delivers enough pressure. Instead, you wash things with power: you power wash. You wash, powerfully.

Career mode is the game's zero to hero story, with a plotline that gradually escalates until it erupts (I can't say anymore on this front, but it's very good stuff). The mode makes the perfect start for budding powerwashers, as it steers you through the mechanics with a variety of tasks that tie into the story itself. Your first job is to clean the muck off your new company van, as you can't be zipping around Muckingham in a grotty box can you? Then once it's in good nick, you arrive at gardens. Bungalows. Playgrounds. Deserts. You go from a simple box to more intricate spaces, with many different surfaces and shapes all in need of a deep clean.

 38c6e68cf9