One of my most profound thoughts while playing Pool Cleaning Simulator, from developers Rubens Games and FreeMind and publisher PlayWay, came while I was scrubbing the bottom of a kids’ pool. This was my fifth or sixth excursion in this game, so I was well-moored in its gameplay loop: drain the pool, clean it, refill it, check temperature, pH, and chlorine, and complete whatever miscellaneous tasks elevate that particular level beyond this rudimentary loop. In this particular case, a new mechanic was introduced in the form of an underwater pool vacuum. This tool allows for the bottom of the pool to be cleaned without having to drain it, which the teachers did not want to do because of high water costs. In the midst of snaking across the bottom of the pool like a lawn mower, a friend called me, and I tried to think of a concise, yet descriptive way of communicating my experience.
“Meditation from hell” was the phrase that came to me, and for the remainder of my playtime I kept returning to that sentiment. And while that’s not exactly an enthusiastic endorsement, it’s not entirely negative either. The experience at large is satisfying—the level becoming visibly cleaner as a result of your work is rewarding—and the simplicity of its mechanics makes it easy enough to clear my head. I could see this type of game pairing well with a podcast. But the game’s rough edges get in the way of that smooth progress to satisfaction in one too many ways for my taste. Take the level gimmicks, for example. One client’s son loves rubber ducks, so in the first level at his house you have to collect a dozen or so hidden around his yard. In the second, you have to sort 200 ducks left in his pool into 5 color-coded crates. The game offers a bucket that can hold up to 10 items at once, which the level technically lists as an optional tool. (Actually everything is listed as an optional tool, including the power washer, sponge, and chlorine, which feels exceptionally odd—why let your players set themselves up for failure?) I can’t imagine having to sort 200 ducks one at a time. That the scale of tasks grew so quickly scared me for where it would go next. I never came back to play that client’s third level.
My laptop is not a machine worthy of respect, so I cannot in good conscience comment on graphics and performance. Other aspects of design do deserve a shout-out, though. The audio was complementary to the cleaning mechanics, elevating the consistent satisfaction that came with cleaning and curating a space. The music was entirely diegetic, meaning you can walk up to the speakers and stereos it played from and turn it off if you wish. I often did—the songs were short, and it felt as though the same loop would repeat more than a dozen times before moving to the next. The UI is also built into the world itself as the player’s tablet. I don’t like the layout, and moving between apps is a frequent and necessary hassle for knowing what’s expected in a level. To end this section on a lighter note, let me say that I like the layout of equipment in the player’s truck. It’s like an inventory visible in the game world, and filling it up over time is cute.
What Pool Cleaning Simulator does is nothing unique, nor exceptionally executed. (The obvious comparison of 2021’s Powerwash Simulator comes to mind, which feels like a potential inspiration for this title. My favorite tool in this game? The power washer.) But, like my cleaning job for some clients, it’s just serviceable. It feels more like scrubbing at a stab than a stain: it’s not exactly fun, but you also can’t bring yourself to stop.
Pool Cleaning Simulator is available for PC via Steam.
Related: Reviews by John D’Auria
Video games are my personal favorite art medium by far. I love how many ways an interactive story can be told, and I can't stop myself from getting hooked on a good puzzle. I'm a student majoring in game design and music, so I hope to make creative work a part of my life going forward.
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