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0 Cleaning Up! doesn’t have you clean ghosts, though cleaning trash can be just as scary. Or so I’ve been told.
Unbound Creations has multiple “silly games” in its portfolio, and Cleaning Up! is the newest of the bunch. Quick, cozy, and extremely satisfying, Cleaning Up! builds on what it learned from its previous projects to deliver a low-pressure experience. It’s available on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation starting April 15.
Mops, Brooms, and a Lot of Trash Bags
Cleaning Up! doesn’t bring anything new to the admittedly spotless table, but it does everything right. The game’s charming art style, simple but addictive gameplay loop, and quirky sense of humor ensure it’ll linger in my mind, even when I’m actually cleaning up. Of course, the infamous low cortisol meme song will be playing right alongside it.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Cleaning Up! is extremely straightforward. You’re thrust into all sorts of dirty sandbox areas and have to make them spotless. You do this by utilizing the right equipment for the job every time. While the vacuum is initially the only tool you’ll need in the game’s earlier levels, Cleaning Up! cleverly adds other cleaning tools into the mix.
My personal favourite tool is the broom. At the start of the game, I thought it would be useless. Why would I move trash around when I can just use the vacuum to suck it up? That was, until I learned that it’s used to break down gunk or move trash out of the way so your vacuum doesn’t break anything valuable. Knowing when to use which tool is what makes Cleaning Up! so fun.
Completing levels and certain tasks gives you money. You can use this money to buy new headwear or outfits for your character, or you can be like me and just settle for the frog hat and spend all your money on upgrading your tools. Whether it’s increasing their efficiency or cleaning capacity, you can upgrade the tools however you want.
This isn’t to say that this gameplay recipe isn’t without its faults. There’s no way to know what still needs cleaning, aside from using your eyes. This usually isn’t a problem, especially since the game counts the mission as a success, even if you miss one or two pieces of garbage. But using the mop to clean dirty floors is another problem. I found myself having to mop the entire floor of a level to find one barely visible spot that needed cleaning more than once. Fortunately, this isn’t anything more than a minor annoyance.
Level Design
While the gameplay loop is fun, things would get stale without the awesome level design of Cleaning Up! From bustling city streets to haunted mansions, every level takes you someplace new. Some levels even have level-specific penalties that you can incur if you aren’t careful. These include knocking over an expensive vase when cleaning a museum or getting hit by a cab when mopping the streets.
Certain levels even have bonuses and secrets that can keep things entertaining. A haunted mansion could have hidden puzzles that you can solve, or vacuuming a snowman in a Christmas-themed level could give you extra points. Every level is unique, and the different characters that hire you add more personality to the game. An optional co-op mode would have been nice, but its absence isn’t missed too much.
Graphics & Audio
My first thought after launching Cleaning Up! was that the game is extremely loud. After toning down the music a little, I discovered that the game looks and sounds awesome. The visuals may not be anything amazing to write home about, even though I was playing the highest setting, but the art style is extremely charming.
A handful of levels actually made me stop for a second to appreciate the lighting and attention to detail, including the diner. The level-specific props are appreciated, whether they’re bottles of condiments in the diner or Christmas decorations outside the holiday-themed home.
Every tool has identifiable sound effects that get the job done. However, what stuck out to me was the cheering of children that I heard every time I completed a level. While admittedly extremely cheesy, it felt nice to hear others celebrate that I successfully did something.
The frame rate was extremely consistent, despite the high textures, and I didn’t experience any obvious graphical glitches. Every level comes to life when you clean it to show its appreciation, and while fairly minor, I did find it charming.
Longevity
Cleaning Up! doesn’t have too many levels, and they each take an average of about three minutes to complete. While the later levels take longer to finish, this game’s main longevity lies in its replayability.
Since levels are so short, pushing you to complete them quicker so you can get more stars. While three stars are usually the most you’ll get, you can return to previous levels after unlocking new cleaning tools to go above and beyond the call of duty and benefit from even greater rewards.
If you don’t care about completing levels quickly, then there’s good news for you. Cleaning Up! doesn’t give you a time limit to get anything done. This means that you can take your time while you slowly finish cleaning. You can watch reels in between or take a bite of your food. There’s no sense of urgency here, and that’s what makes Cleaning Up! such a cozy experience.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Cleaning Up! will be the first game I turn to when I need to destress or take my mind off of things. The game knows that it’s a quick and charming game that doesn’t require much brainpower, and it takes full advantage of that. Whether you’re comfortable in bed or playing something on the bus, Cleaning Up! is an excellent way to pass the time.
While Cleaning Up! doesn’t do anything new, it polishes everything it takes from games of the same genre to deliver something cozy and addictive. Because of this, I give the game the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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