Deal | New record low: Satisfying cleaning simulator drops to just around $1 on Steam

Something that often feels like a chore in real life can actually be a lot of fun in a video game. We're talking about cleaning and tidying up, of course, which is essentially what Fresh Start Cleaning Simulator is all about. Released in 2022 by Chicken Launcher and Awaken Realms, the simulator has just reached a new all-time low on Steam, according to SteamDB: An 86% discount brings the regular price down from $9.99 to just $1.39.

In Fresh Start Cleaning Simulator, players aren't cleaning apartments but restoring nature. Equipped with a device that appears to combine a pressure washer and a vacuum cleaner, they travel around the globe to clean up polluted landscapes and help protect the environment. Mud gets blasted away, trash is vacuumed up and withered plants are brought back to life. What makes the experience special is how dramatically the surroundings change. What was once a gray, muddy wasteland gradually transforms into a lush green oasis – and according to reviews, this delivers exactly the satisfying feeling players expect from a cleaning simulator.

To add some variety between cleaning sessions, players can also rescue cute animals, solve small puzzles and discover hidden objects. Collecting trash earns experience points that can be used to upgrade equipment. Overall, the game is strongly reminiscent of PowerWash Simulator – except that the cleaning takes place in nature rather than on dirty building facades and filthy cars.

On Steam, Fresh Start Cleaning Simulator has received nearly 2,600 reviews, with a respectable 86% positive rating. Alongside the satisfying gameplay loop, players praise the colorful graphics and the charming environmental theme. However, the game reportedly lacks variety and offers little gameplay depth. Players also report numerous bugs, including faulty collision detection, disappearing objects and cleaning progress that fails to register. At a price of just over $1, though, these issues may be easier to overlook. Steam currently lists the game as "Unsupported" on the Steam Deck. According to ProtonDB, however, it should run without issues on Valve's handheld.

The trailer offers a few glimpses of the gameplay:

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