PowerWash Simulator: Shrek Special Pack Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Switch & PC)

I like that boulder. That is a nice boulder. Well, actually, Donkey — it isn’t. It isn’t a nice boulder, mainly due to the fact that it’s absolutely smitten with gunk and other unnatural swamp-like substances. And that Holy Grail of fairytale beauty? Riddled with the ashen remains of Far Far Away and the old crumbs of a candy cane-sporting gingerbread man. Suffice it to say, those fairytale “things” have caused quite the ruckus as of late. Alas, where there is mess, there is a goon in a waterproof suit with a power washing machine. Boy, what a weird great time to be alive. Oh yes, PowerWash Simulator is back, and it’s bringing Shrek to the table with a brand-new DLC set entirely in—you guessed it—the beloved swamp and its regal boroughs of enchantment. It’s Shrek, baby, and it…is…dirty.

Of course, PowerWash Simulator isn’t a new thing; it’s actually a pretty old thing. And yet, it’s a thing, nonetheless, and it’s a thing that continues to receive a surprising amount of DLC, despite being one of hundreds of simulation games that bases its entire concept on a, let’s face it, mundane chore. But that’s the weird thing about PowerWash Simulator: it doesn’t matter what goes into its pot, because when all’s said and done, there’s a primordial scratch that yearns to be itched, and Shrek, of all things, is just one of those many, many ingredients that we can’t help but notice and appreciate.

Perhaps I’m jumping the gun here. Maybe I’m getting a little too giddy for my boots, when in fact I should be pouring a little more water into the mix. The truth is, onions have layers, and believe it or not, so does PowerWash Simulator: Shrek Special Pack. Donkey, take the wheel.

Soap, Suds & Swamps

There’s that old saying: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, the same thing applies here — in the soapy suds of a timeless world where everything can be cleansed with a good old-fashioned power washing machine. As it turns out, the Shrek Special Pack DLC isn’t much more than what it says it is on the tin: a paid DLC for a game that, quite frankly, needs no formal introduction. To put it in layman’s terms — it’s a second coating on an established surface; it doesn’t bring anything new to the table, nor does it reinvent the wheel by adding fresh mechanics or game modes. No, what Shrek Special Pack is, really, is a five-level add-on that allows existing sponge gurus the chance to get down and dirty with the swamp rats. And that’s it.

If you’ve scrubbed one or two workstations clean in the original PowerWash Simulator, then I come bearing good news: Shrek Special Pack delivers the exact same to-do list. To cut a long story short, you begin with a grubby environment—an office, home, or business, for example—and then utilize the tools in your trusty utility belt to remove stains, spillages, and just about any other type of mucky substance. As you progress, you unlock better equipment, tools, and other useful perks, after which your only objective is to clean…and clean again till your heart’s content. That’s the nine-to-five, in a nutshell: you scrub, earn, and ultimately evolve into something of a wishy-washy wizard with a power washing machine. That formula, unsurprisingly, is what makes up the Shrek DLC. So, you don’t need the gift of clairvoyance to know what to expect from this one, I’ll say that much.

Onions & Easter Eggs

Shrek Special Pack is made up of five different levels, each of which feature their own respective stains, landmarks, and, rather generously, Easter eggs. In each of these locations, you can, of course, scout out several of the iconic spots as seen in the ogre’s acclaimed saga. Naturally, these spots each require several hours of work to complete, with the initial stages taking somewhere between three and four hours to scrub clean and assemble. Like before, you spend your time working through a series of tasks, all whilst using an array of cleaning equipment to remove prominent stains, slicks, and other irritable gunk. Again, there isn’t a timer to fret over here; it’s more the case of doing things in your own time, which means you can, in essence, slap on a lo-fi playlist or, in this instance, Smash Mouth’s “All-Star”, and go to town without any interference. Simple.

As this is DLC, you can of course unlock a few nifty tools—an Excalibur-type sword nozzle, for example. Aside from a few quirky skins and the “knight in shining armor” apparel, there’s also the aforementioned areas—Duloc, Hansel’s Honeymoon Hideaway, Shrek’s Swamp, Fairy Godmother’s Potion Factory, and the Dragon’s Lair. So, quite a hearty amount of content, all things considered. As for whether or not it justifies a $10 price tag, however, is another question. Though, I’m partly inclined to think that, for nine, maybe even ten hours’ worth of material, a mere $10 doesn’t seem like that much of a stab in the back.

Duloc & Doodads

Graphically, there still isn’t a huge amount to write home about. Well, I say that, when in all seriousness, PowerWash Simulator has a lot more going for it than the bog-standard simulation game that you’d find on the market — of which there are one too many to choose from. I’m not saying that it touts a palette that’s utterly mesmerizing and equipped with all of the thrills and frills of a unique work of art — because at the end of the day, it’s still a few layers short of a complete onion, so to speak. Even still, you can see that DreamWorks aura embroidered in its design — and that counts for something, surely.

Mechanically, aurally, and conceptually, Shrek Special Pack doesn’t deviate much from its original form; the power washer goes splash, and the dirt goes poof. In short, it’s the same rinse-and-repeat (pun intended) formula that has been used in just about every other iteration in the last several years. So again, if you come into the DLC with the expectation of seeing a blueprint that’s completely different and with its own unique doodads and features, you might be in for a bit of a shock. Still, it’s Shrek — so who cares, right?

Verdict

PowerWash Simulator has once again proven that even the most painstakingly dull tasks can be weirdly enjoyable and, dare I say, immensely rewarding. Like so many others, I can’t say that I was desperate for a chance to wax down an onion carriage, but the fact that I can is enough of a selling point to make me want to try it. I’m conflicted, to be honest, because on one hand, I probably would’ve been fine without the extra material, but on the other, I’m sort of glad that it was DreamWorks’ faithful franchise favorite that made the cut. Did we need a Shrek DLC? No. But boy, am I glad to see the inner boroughs of the swamp in all its grubby glory.

When all’s said and done, you could certainly do a lot worse than Shrek Special Pack — especially when it comes to forking out cash for a bit of additional content. There’s longevity to it, which is a lot more than the vast majority of its predecessors can claim, to be fair. Will it keep you busy for days on end? Probably not, no. Having said that, if you’re after a fresh collection of levels to play through, then take it from me: this DLC ought to be enough to scratch that itch and give you enough of a reason to rekindle that undying love for chore core gameplay. If, however, you failed to find your niche in the OG PowerWash Simulator, then heed my warning: there isn’t a huge difference between this and its counterpart. The question is, how much time are you willing to invest?

To answer the question of whether or not you should pick up a copy of Shrek Special Pack — yes, you should. It’s cheap, cheerful, and easy to peel. Cheers, Shrek.