Power-washing, pool-cleaning and mowing: Why millions are playing games about mundane jobs
Power-washing, pool-cleaning and mowing: Why millions are playing games about mundane jobs
The Appeal of Routine Simulations
In PowerWash Simulator, players don protective gear and hose down a variety of filthy in-game locations until they’re sparkling and spotless. While the concept might seem odd, the original title has sold over 17 million copies since its 2021 release. A sequel, launched in 2025, recently earned two Bafta Games Awards nominations. These games are part of a growing genre focused on simulating repetitive, everyday tasks. “We aim to create the Graham Norton of video games,” explains Kirsty Rigden, CEO of Brighton-based FuturLab, which developed PowerWash Simulator. The comparison to the affable talkshow host highlights the studio’s goal: offering calm, low-effort entertainment.
Designing for Mindfulness
According to Rigden, the genre’s charm lies in its ability to provide a meditative escape. “It blocks out other distractions, offering a pure form of relaxation,” she says. The gameplay involves cycling through tasks like cleaning a fun house or a roller disco, a literal “rinse and repeat” process. This repetitive structure mirrors the soothing rhythm of mundane work, resonating with players navigating a stressful world.
Social Media and Player Engagement
Millions of users have embraced these games, partly due to their alignment with social media trends. Platforms like YouTube and Twitch feature creators showcasing their experiences with tasks such as power-washing or mowing lawns. One viral example includes a 2021 video of US streamer Markiplier playing PowerWash Simulator, which now has over nine million views. Comedian and games journalist Ellie Gibson, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest PowerWash Simulator session—24 hours, six minutes, and 33 seconds—notes the game’s calming effect. “It’s like the satisfaction of coloring books or knitting, but with a clean monster truck at the end,” she says.
Psychological Impact and Research
The genre’s popularity extends beyond entertainment, with players using these games to cope during tough times. Both Rigden and David Harper, managing director of Liverpool-based Skyhook Games, report that many users share how the games have helped with anxiety and mental health challenges. “Hearing how our game eased someone through cancer treatments was heartwarming,” Rigden remarks. A 2023 Oxford University study supported this, finding that 72% of 8,600 participants felt a mood uplift while engaging with a custom version of the game.
Expanding the Sim World
Developers are also exploring new settings. Lawn Mowing Simulator, for instance, lets players manage a lawn care business, using real-world licensed mowers. A sequel is in development, promising to take players to the “trailer parks and town hall gardens” of America. Harper describes the game as a “safe haven” for players seeking respite from daily pressures. “It’s about transforming chaos into order, then appreciating the outcome,” he says.
“Graham Norton doesn’t make you feel stupid, but you also don’t have to think too hard,” Rigden told BBC News.
“It engages the right amount of brain and at the end of it you go, ‘Oh, that was really pleasant’.”
