Powerwash Simulator – Alice in Wonderland DLC
Falling down the rabbit hole of Alice in Wonderland, literally, is a great choice for Powerwash Simulator. Coming off of the much darker theme of Warhammer 40K, this expansion pack is a refreshing experience in many ways. The most notable change – and a more enjoyable one for me – was the absence of any vehicle levels. The base game and each of the DLC packs contain at least one stage to clean a vehicle. In many cases, players must get into very specific positions to clear away the teensiest smudge at odd angles when it comes to vehicles. While this has lessened over the last few DLCs, it remains strong in the memory of those who finished the main game with its multitude of vehicles.
Since the Warhammer 40K pack was entirely vehicles, getting a more scenic experience – one with a unique structure and psychedelic colors – Alice in Wonderland using fun, colorful settings is a great switch.
Down the Rabbit Hole We Go
Alice in Wonderland kicks off with the Wonderland Entrance Hall. Fantastically on point, the player falls down the rabbit hole and lands at the end of a winding, twisting hallway. The dimensions of the level grow and shrink with the kind of architecture you expect to see; door frames are melting, the entrance at the end is tiny, and everything is just a little off in a whimsical way. This is a great level to kick off the Alice in Wonderland DLC as it is the perfect size and sets up the experiences which lie ahead.
We then enter White Rabbit’s House. One of my favorites in the Alice in Wonderland DLC, his home is lovingly decorated with charm while maintaining the theme’s whimsy. One wall is covered in clocks. A bed upstairs is adorned with a carrot pillow. We all know who the White Rabbit is, but this stage is constructed in such an evocative way. The environment itself reflects his character in a concise and definitive way. It’s also at this point I must point out the clever additions to the dirt and grime you’ve been hired to clean. Not only do players find various foot and paw prints strewn about, but anywhere you may expect there to be food (which in Alice in Wonderland that is surprisingly often) there appears to be sprinkles in the mix as well. Powerwash Sim has always been great about the clever little details within the dirt.
A Chrysalis Without A Butterfly
Stage three of the Alice in Wonderland DLC is much more sizeable. Caterpillar’s Mushroom is at the top end of the size I personally like in Powerwash Sim. It maintains its interest with the oddly shaped bridges and mushrooms. It wasn’t until later in the level that I even realized there is more to clean on the very top of the mushroom itself. While it’s an enjoyable level I also somehow find it to be the least memorable. The color palette is brilliant like the rest of the DLC, but the architecture feels simple. I do not know what could be done to improve it and make it more engaging. It works just fine as a part of the whole experience, it just doesn’t have the same whimsy as the rest of the stages.
Certain levels in Powerwash Sim are memorable for unique features, such as the Spongebob Invisible Car. Others stay in your mind for less favorable reasons, like the Warhammer 40K Thunderhawk being an absolutely titan-sized stage. For the Alice in Wonderland DLC, the Mat Tea Party is impressive and engaging – a stage where you are shrunk down on top of the table? Brilliant – but it’s just a little too big and a little too bland. The unique structure of some of the objects like the teapot and the hourglass provide momentary intrigue. The stage as a whole, however, doesn’t lend much to the game beyond the surprise of being shrunk down and seeing a giant Chesire Cat smiling at you from the back of a chair.
“It’s Always Tea Time.”
This leads to our final stage in Wonderland, and my favorite for this DLC: The Queen of Hearts’ Court. Powerwash Sim tends to follow a pattern of progressively larger levels as a DLC progresses. The Queen of Hearts’ Court, however, is one of the smaller stages for the Alice in Wonderland DLC. It offers unique architecture, brilliant colors, and interactive croquette balls. The giant roses are easy to clean. The fact you blast off the red paint to reveal their true colors is perfect. It feels like the best way to cap off the DLC, like a well-written epilogue. Even hours after I finished the stage, I found myself thinking about that one in particular.
This is another example of the folks at FuturLab putting care and attention into their game, creating an authentic feel. They respect and embrace the Alice in Wonderland property in every detail, and it shows. This is yet another successful and engaging DLC for the Powerwash Sim library with very few flaws. It is still an enjoyable, relaxing experience overall, and another addition to Powerwash Sim that I can easily get behind.
Powerwash Simulator: Alice in Wonderland DLC is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. For more information, visit the game’s official website.
**An Xbox code was provided by the publisher**