Cleaning Up! Review | The Most Satisfying PS5 Sim You Haven’t Played Yet
Cleaning Up! drops you into a series of messy 3D dioramas with one simple mission: get everything spotless. It is a simulation game that focuses on the pure satisfaction of turning a tip into a tidy space using a variety of unlockable tools. Whether you are avoiding environmental hazards or just hunting for bonus pizza slices, it’s a focused experience designed for those who find peace in a job well done.
Developer: Unbound Creations
Publisher: Unbound Creations
Genre: Simulation
Release Date: April 15, 2026
Website: unboundcreations.com
UK Store: PlayStation Store UK
Specs & HUD |
Gameplay |
Performance |
Settings
Cleaning Up! PlayStation 5 Review: Specs & HUD
- 316.7MB Download size.
- Platinum trophy.
- World map level select.
- Each tool in the level shows a completion percentage bar, so you know what needs to be done and how far you are.
- The level then ends when all tasks are completed.
- Tutorial pop-ups as you play, and you get to practice new tools as you unlock them.
- Avatar clothing unlocks as you finish levels, and you use credits to pay for them. You have hats and skins.
- Tools to unlock – broom, vacuum, mop, the sprayer, and air freshener.
- All tools can be upgraded, and they vary in size, radius, power, and capacity.
Cleaning Up! PlayStation 5 Review: Gameplay Review & Mechanics Breakdown
Room cleaning gameplay is the core of it all. The goal is to clean the dioramas and put rubbish in the bin via either the vacuum or by brushing dirt into it. You can do the tasks in any order you like, and it’s such fun to switch off your brain and do a task experience. It’s such an addictive and soothing game that scratches an itch. You play in a full 3D game world, and you play in set dioramas, and I like that so many locations are nods to TV shows or other games. There is a story running through, but it is very forgettable.
The replay value is high, as you can go back over levels and get all the stars, and then you have the timer/speed run angle. You can and will replay old levels as you can do more jobs as you get more tools. Each level lets you earn five stars, but it’s not possible to do so in one sitting. Physics-driven rubbish means things will float around, fall and bunch up. Find pizza slices for bonus coins, but watch out for environmental hazards like cars driving around or ghosts chasing you; some are tied to bonuses, and some will knock all the rubbish out of you.
Cleaning Up! PlayStation 5 Review: Performance & Fidelity
- Decent graphics.
- Had it a few times where the rubbish would miss the bin and fly back out.
- Full 3D game world in set dioramas.
- You cannot change the camera angle, and that can make jumps tricky.
- Single player only, more as an FYI.
- I got the trophy for buying all items for your avatar when I hadn’t bought any.
Cleaning Up! PlayStation 5 Review: Settings, Customisation & Control Details
- Volume sliders for – sfx and music.
- Game settings – make the use command a toggle, enable end level spin, enable penalties, show timer, show tool wheel, and vibration strength slider.
- Having the ability to turn off penalties and still get trophies and completions of levels makes the game accessible to many people, as it takes a lot of stress out.
- Slow starter, and you have to get used to the twin stick controls.
- You cannot remap the controls.
- There are no accessibility options like dyslexic font or Colourblind support, just the no penalties and vibration strength slider.
- I did have it at times where mechanics were not explained clearly, but that was more earlier on.
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Cleaning Up! Review
Summary
THRILLS & HIGHLIGHTS
Decent graphics and such an addictive and soothing game that scratches an itch. It’s such fun to switch off your brain and do a task experience where you can do the tasks in any order you like. I like that so many locations are nods to TV shows or other games. The replay value is high, as you can go back over levels and get all the stars, and then you have the timer/speed run angle. Having the ability to turn off penalties and still get trophies and completions of levels makes the game accessible to many people, as it takes a lot of stress out.
KEY NEGATIVES
Slow starter, and you have to get used to the twin stick controls. You cannot remap the controls, and there are no accessibility options like dyslexic font or Colourblind support. The story is very forgettable, and I had it a few times where the rubbish would miss the bin and fly back out. You cannot change the camera angle, and that can make jumps tricky. The levels are too small and simple, and the game didn’t take much more than an hour to finish and get all five stars.
OVERALL VERDICT
Cleaning Up! is exactly what it says on the tin, a pure, brain-off cleaning experience that is surprisingly hard to put down. While the story is very forgettable and the camera angle can make the occasional jump a bit of a nightmare, the loop of unlocking and upgrading tools to get those five stars is great fun. It’s a short experience, taking just over an hour to see everything, but it’s a solid bit of fun for anyone who loves a good digital tidy-up.
