One of the first games I got to try out at PAX East last week was Moldwasher – a remarkably relaxing 2D cleaning game with a wildly cute aesthetic. As someone who’s played a surprising amount of Power Wash Simulator, I really dug the brain-tickling vibes and impressive pixel art, and, based on the snippet I played, I think this game will be able to nab the attention of lots of cozy game fans.
In Moldwasher, you play as a small nigiri sushi who seems to love cleaning. In the demo I played, there were a couple of small areas to clean. Using a power washer, your job is to assume the role of this chibi sushi and blast away mold, dust, and other nastiness from places like a refrigerator and a kitchen counter. Given you’re a piece of sushi, you aren’t especially big, meaning you wander these areas in a Honey I Shrunk the Kids-esque manner, which adds a unique twist to differentiate the game from contemporaries like Power Wash Simulator.
Credit: Anshar Publishing
There’s something so calming about cleaning in games when it’s done right, and Moldwasher is an excellent example of this. Spraying dirt and grime is already a pleasurable feeling in 3D games, but doing so on meticulously crafted pixel art is a whole other experience. Blasting away at the sharp edges of each item and watching the darkened colors become lively and bright again releases endorphins like nothing else, and I’ve got to commend Rubel Games for managing to make the game scratch that itch in my brain so perfectly.
Moldwasher features incredible pixel art.
Even beyond its satisfying element, the pixel art is simply well-made. Your little sushi avatar is adorably designed, and the settings and objects meant to be cleaned are colorful and tell you exactly what they are – even when caked in dust. According to the devs, you’ll also collect little knick-knacks and the like as you clean each level, which you can use to decorate your own area in the full game, so I’m excited to see how that factors in.
Credit: Anshar Publishing
The soundtrack of Moldwasher goes for a delightfully chill, lo-fi vibe that complements the cute aesthetic and laid-back gameplay. I could swear the snappy sounds of washing mold off items were in sync with the music, too, though it was hard to confirm given how loud the PAX East showfloor naturally was. Regardless, the audio was certainly a highlight of my short time with Moldwasher, and I’m excited to hear it more clearly when the game releases in full.
Moldwasher was a fantastic first game for me to dive into at PAX this year, as it somehow put my mind at ease before I’d be tackling more intense games over the next few days. Though I can’t say I love cleaning dust in real life, virtually power-washing pixelated dust off of household objects as a piece of sushi has proven to be incredibly pleasant, and though there’s no release date at the moment, a demo is currently available on Steam if you want to check it out for yourself.
