I once chased someone across a B&Q car park because of a power washer. It was when I worked there – I wouldn’t chase someone now! Maybe if there was a sale… But no. I was standing by the tills when I saw someone leg it back through the entrance with a large power-washer box. Inspired by my macho colleague Russell – “Russ” – who had recently chased a shoplifter and tackled them into a hedge, I shot through the exit doors and across the car park after them.
PowerWash Simulator
- Developer: FuturLab
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Platform: Played on PC
- Availability: Out now on PC (Steam) and Xbox (One, X/S) for £20. Also on Game Pass
The thing is, I hadn’t really thought it through. I didn’t know what I’d do if I caught up with them – politely ask them to give it back? I’m not sure I actually fancied diving into a hedge. To make matters worse, they were running towards a car with other people inside. What was I supposed to do about them?
But so intimidating must my visage have been – maybe I run like a charging rhino – that by the time I got near, they had dropped the power-washer, jumped in their getaway car and taken off, doing me a massive favour in the process. I returned to the store a hero – even Russ looked impressed.
Ah, power washers. You always remember the first time you use one – that kick-back you get from the pressured water as it slams into whatever you’re pointing at, and that little “ooh” you give when you feel it. You clean a bike in minutes that used to take you an hour; you make a car look like new while envious neighbours watch on; you bring up a patio a treat. I’m not surprised someone has made a game about them.
I am surprised, however, how popular the game is. PowerWash Simulator has more than 20,000 “overwhelmingly positive” reviews on Steam – the sort of number that usually indicates big success. And it hasn’t been around that long – it just launched in 1.0 after just over a year in Early Access. It has also just added Xbox versions, and it’s included with GamePass.