PowerWash Simulator: My Newest Hyperfixation
Recently my husband upgraded his gaming PC, which means I now have a gaming PC! It was lovingly constructed from the old parts of his previous PC and other bits and bobs from a few discarded computers of years past. A real Frankenstein of a machine we refer to as "the bride." I’m ecstatic because I finally get to fulfill my childhood dreams of playing Roller Coaster Tycoon, and, trust me, I have been tycooning with the best of them. But that all came to a screeching halt when I stumbled upon PowerWash Simulator., opens a new window Lucky for me, it was on sale for the Spring Steam Sale, and lucky for you, we have it — along with many other video games, opens a new window — here at LPL!
And now all I do is dream about power washing all day. It’s a delightfully simple game, but fun and very, very satisfying. With a loose storyline, you are starting a power washing company from the ground up and taking on jobs to remove dirt and grime from various locations around a town with a lot of quirky customers. There are even storybeats involving a missing cat and an active volcano — which I have yet to uncover the secrets of — so merrily we wash along!
The existence of this game may come as no shock to TikTok users of the last few years because power washing and cleaning in general have been very popular genres of video. Not all of us can actually powerwash and enjoy that sensation in real life, so video games are the next best thing. It’s also great for playing while listening to audiobooks, as I’ve made my way through several. Two of my favorites have been The Radium Girls, opens a new window and John Green's new book Everything Is Tuberculosis, opens a new window, which I could write a whole separate blog post about. It captivated me that much and sent me tumbling down a rabbit hole for other books on the subject. But this blog is about video games, so we won't be talking about tuberculosis any further.
Different Tastes in Video Games
With my gaming possibilities expanded, there are so many options before me. Do I branch out and try something new, or do I let my hyperfixation run rampant? I know which one I’m inclined to do. (It’s the hyperfixation one). If my husband had his way I would be playing Baldur’s Gate 3, but all I want to do is power wash. He has been waiting so patiently to finally get me a PC built so he can share his favorite games with me that he truly believes I will love. He is an avid gamer and encourages me to game in any capacity, although he does wish I would play his favorites so we could talk about them together. Unfortunately, we have different tastes in games. Here are some games he has talked about over the years that he is eager to get me to fall in love with:
Now I know these are good games, and if I’m being honest, I probably would enjoy them in some capacity. The few games my husband has successfully gotten me to play I have really enjoyed, like Fallout New Vegas — what a fantastic game! And I’m positive I'll really enjoy Baldur’s Gate 3 once I start to play it. It's just that I love cozy games and Nintendo properties. Those are the types of games that have my heart. There’s nothing better than a good, little cozy game or one where you run around Hyrule. Low stakes are great, I don't need that extra stress in my life. Battling bosses in Zelda is about all I can take (and yes, I do run away from Lynels more often than not — get me to Tarrey Town, please!) So, in that spirit, here are the games you can regularly find me obsessing over:
My poor husband has an uphill battle trying to get me to play Baldur’s Gate 3. Maybe someday, but today I’ve got some powerwashing to do.
—Mary Leibold is a Cataloging Assistant at Lawrence Public Library.
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