Dishwashing Simulator

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 329 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • grinding
Dishwashing Simulator Game Cover
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In Dishwashing Simulator, players experience an ultra-detailed simulation of washing dishes, with survival depending on keeping things clean and managing resources. The game features procedurally generated dungeons, anomalies, base construction, and a research system, creating an emergent and immersive experience. Players must manage food, water, and agriculture to survive, all while uncovering the mysteries behind their menial tasks.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 329 reviews
gameplay22 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique blend of mundane tasks and horror elements, creating a surprisingly engaging experience.
  • The atmosphere is well-crafted, with creepy sound design and procedural dungeons that enhance the tension and excitement.
  • The core gameplay loop of washing dishes, exploring dungeons, and upgrading equipment is satisfying and addictive.
  • The ending features a frustrating parkour segment that feels out of place and poorly designed compared to the rest of the game.
  • Some mechanics, like the automation system and inventory management, can be clunky and lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • The game is relatively short, and many players feel it lacks depth and content for extended play after completing the main story.
  • gameplay68 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of survival mechanics and automation, featuring a core loop that many find addictive and enjoyable, despite some clunky controls and a lack of depth in late-game content. While the initial experience is engaging, players express frustration with the abrupt shift to parkour mechanics in the final segment, which detracts from the overall flow and enjoyment. Overall, the game offers a compelling atmosphere and intriguing mechanics, but suffers from repetitive elements and a short playtime that leaves some players wanting more.

    • “The gameplay loop is honestly very fun and has a surprising amount of depth considering the overall length of the game.”
    • “Loved the gameplay loop, the writing is fantastic and plays into the game so well, even enjoyed the parkour segment at the end.”
    • “A phenomenal combination of a story-driven experience layered on top of fun, replayable mechanics.”
    • “The parkour part is annoying as the movement mechanics aren't built very well for it.”
    • “The main gameplay loop of washing dishes isn't interesting, but I understand the point is to build automation through conveyors, etc. However, in my opinion, you aren't given enough opportunity to do so since the game is so short.”
    • “The game ends way too abruptly (I think I finished it in 2-3 hours but stuck around a bit longer to explore the store/research I had barely scraped the surface on), and the end phase felt way out of place due to its tone shift in gameplay and the floaty aim/slow-building momentum.”
  • story55 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered short and somewhat simplistic, often taking around 3-4 hours to complete, with many players feeling it lacks depth and substance. While some find the narrative intriguing and innovative, particularly in its philosophical undertones, others criticize the ending as predictable and unsatisfying, especially due to a frustrating parkour segment that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, which many players find more engaging than the narrative itself.

    • “There is an actual story here that is fairly well written.”
    • “Solid game that broke the format of simulator games to provide a unique experience with a bizarre story.”
    • “A phenomenal combination of a story-driven experience layered on top of fun, replayable mechanics.”
    • “The story is hardly there and entirely bland; I genuinely thought it was going to turn into an SCP game just 10 or 15 minutes in, and though I was slowly convinced otherwise, the feeling that it could have easily been one never went away.”
    • “If you make a casual effort to progress the story, it will end within three hours or less, and is hardly substantive.”
    • “The ending itself and the story are, as said above, very predictable.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the addictive nature of farming, fishing, and crafting, others criticize the tediousness of resource gathering and the slow progression in the early game. The balance between different gameplay elements is seen as lacking depth, leading to a repetitive grind, particularly for upgrades and research. Overall, the grinding can be enjoyable initially but may become monotonous over extended play sessions.

    • “The conveyors are difficult and tedious to line up, and even when you do so perfectly, dishes still get stuck.”
    • “Research in Dishwashing Simulator is like if you had to craft every item by hand in Factorio; it's just tedious and boring.”
    • “Scrap costs for research are very high and grindy, making them really boring to get through.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is consistently described as creepy, unsettling, and well-crafted, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the tension and fear it evokes, with many noting how the mundane tasks juxtaposed with the ominous environment create a unique and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, making it highly recommended for fans of eerie and immersive gaming experiences.

    • “The atmosphere is fantastic, the mysterious, spooky atmosphere, the satisfaction of making money off of your dishes, it was all very fun, and I highly recommend this game for anyone with similar interests.”
    • “Fantastic game, one of the best games I've experienced in recent memory with regards to atmosphere-building.”
    • “The atmospheres of each map are extremely creepy and unsettling.”
    • “It succeeds at creepy atmosphere!”
    • “It is a really neat concept, because the relative safety of your room and the mundane job you have both serve to accentuate the unnerving atmosphere down below.”
  • graphics9 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them underwhelming and lacking realism, while others praise the unique retro-horror aesthetics and immersive sound effects. Occasional graphical hiccups are noted, but they do not significantly detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals seem to appeal to fans of simulation and horror genres, blending various elements effectively.

    • “From the moment you step into the unexpected room, you're greeted with realistic visuals and sound effects that immediately draw you into the task at hand.”
    • “I won't spoil much here, but it's a curious game that blends lethal company, voices of the void, and the best of liminal space aesthetics into one.”
    • “The retro-horror aesthetics and wandering gameplay are underwhelming and overdone.”
    • “From the moment you step into the unexpected room, you're greeted with not much realistic visuals and sound effects that immediately draw you into the task at hand.”
    • “First off, the graphics, they're unbelievable.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game experiences notable stability issues, including frequent glitches, problematic controls, and buggy physics, particularly with item mechanics and crate interactions. While some glitches are part of the game's design, they can detract from the overall experience, though there are indications that the developers are actively working on patches to address these problems.

    • “There's some glitches here and there that get annoying.”
    • “Genuinely fun concept, but the controls, item glitches, and item mechanics feel like you have to fight the game to get anything to function.”
    • “Physics are quite buggy at times, especially with crates, but it seems the developers are already patching that.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, experiencing a range of feelings from laughter to sadness, enhanced by immersive gameplay and atmospheric design. The survival elements evoke a genuine sense of dread and urgency, making players feel like true survivors rather than just completing tasks. Overall, the game successfully balances humor and horror, creating memorable emotional moments.

    • “I laughed, I cried, I fished scrap metal out of a toilet.”
    • “Early on in playing it, I was extremely pleasantly surprised that it was actually a very good game. The gameplay loop speaks a lot to the good game design that went into it. The best part of it has to be the ambience; it's one of the few survival games that really made me feel like an actual survivor, rather than just doing chores. The horror element of going down into the depths for food and resources creates a sense of dread that I found very engaging.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    While the game lacks expected content updates, the potential for mod support could significantly enhance its replayability by introducing new themes and elements. Players appreciate the blend of a compelling story with engaging mechanics, contributing to a rewarding experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “A phenomenal combination of a story-driven experience layered on top of fun, replayable mechanics.”
    • “This isn't an EA game, and public statements indicate further content updates aren't expected, but the fever dream of mod support (more exploration environment themes, more foods, more plates, etc.) would probably extend replayability by an order of magnitude.”
    • “This isn't an EA game, and public statements indicate that further content updates aren't expected. However, the fever dream of mod support (more exploration environment themes, more foods, more plates, etc.) would probably extend replayability by an order of magnitude.”
    • “Once you've completed the main storyline, there's little incentive to return. The lack of meaningful side quests or additional content makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
    • “The game offers a single playthrough experience with minimal variations. After finishing it once, I found no compelling reason to dive back in.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is multifaceted, as players find themselves engaged in various activities like base building, farming, and factory management, often leading to distractions from the main horror elements. This suggests that while the game offers a rich and enjoyable experience, it may lack a clear focus, resulting in players becoming sidetracked by its numerous systems and mechanics.

    • “I enjoyed the horror part until I got distracted by the base building and enjoyed that, then I got distracted by the farming, then the fishing, then the aesthetics, then my optimal box placement, then the story, then what the monsters look like, then the ball, then the hole, then the monsters again, then factory optimization, then more dish washing. Oh my gosh, the dishes go ding, and drying is a thing too! How to make that optimum?”
    • “I enjoyed the horror part until I got distracted by the base building, then the farming, then the fishing, then the aesthetics, then my optimal box placement, then the story, then what the monsters look like, then the ball, then the hole, then the monsters again, then factory optimization. Oh my gosh, the dishes go ding, and drying is a thing too. How do I make that optimum?”
    • “The game feels like a never-ending cycle of trying to optimize every little aspect, which can be overwhelming and takes away from the core experience.”
    • “While the mechanics are interesting, the constant need to optimize everything makes it feel more like a chore than a game.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the balance of challenging gameplay and amusing physics quirks that enhance the experience without becoming frustrating.

    • “The difficulty was just right, and there was just enough jank to the physics to make it funny but not annoying.”
    • “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud throughout the game.”
    • “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with hilarious character interactions and unexpected plot twists.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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