In the vast and oft-quirky world of indie games, simulation titles are a rich vein of creativity: you can clean a car, trim a tree, or manage a farm. But with Laundering Simulator: Clean Cash and Laundry, developed by indie gamedev Ritual Interactive, we get perhaps the most literally titled simulator yet — a game about cleaning cash (and yes, laundry metaphorically) in the criminal underworld. The concept alone is enough to make you stop and raise an eyebrow. But beyond the eyebrow-raising premise, does this game deliver a fun, engaging experience, or is it a novelty that fades fast? Let’s dive in this indie game review now!
Gameplay & Core Loop
In Laundering Simulator, you assume the role of a “cash laundering operative”—not the heroic sort, but someone tasked with taking dirty money (physical stacks of bills, sacks, sometimes even hidden in mattresses), cleaning them up (laundry-style), sorting, packaging, and shipping them back into circulation or into safe “clean” assets.
The main gameplay features include:
- Sorting and loading money: You’ll unpack sacks or boxes containing stacks of banknotes, sort counterfeit or stained bills, separate denominations.
- Cleaning operations: Using machines that simulate washing, drying, drying racks, conveyors, UV scanners or other tools to remove stains, marks, dirt.
- Packaging & shipping: After cleaning, you bundle, wrap, tag the stacks, deliver them to handlers, or make creative use of extra cash (e.g., build decoration or buy new equipment).
- Persistent upgrades: As you progress, you unlock better machines, more efficient workflows, more exotic currencies or items to launder.
- Physics-driven chaos: Stack management, bag flips, bill piles, and that satisfying “money everywhere” moment. (Similar to praise in Cash Cleaner Simulator, which shares thematic similarities.)
- Story/mission overlay: There may be tasks with special requirements (e.g., “deliver $100,000 in $50 bills, with no stains”) that add challenge beyond “just clean money.”
The loop is: collect dirty cash → clean/sort → package & deliver → upgrade your equipment → take on tougher jobs with more money, more complexity, more physical mess. The question is: how fun and varied is that loop, and how well is it executed?
What Works Well
1. Novelty & Concept
The idea of actually laundering physical money is bizarre, unexpected, and memorable. It stands out in the indie simulation space simply because few games commit to such a literal interpretation of “laundering.” If you want an experience unlike other “simulator” games, this fills the niche. Bravo to the idea of indie gamedev Ritual Interactive.
2. Satisfying Physics & Visual Feedback
Reviews of related “money-cleaning” simulation games highlight how satisfying it is to see piles of cash, to toss sacks, to watch bills fly, to physically manipulate large stacks. If Laundering Simulator captures that tactile satisfaction—sorting, cleaning, packaging—it can hit a sweet spot of “mundane task turned fun.”
3. Management & Upgrades
The upgrade path (better machines, faster throughput, more currencies) promises depth beyond the base task. The idea that you can improve your workflow adds motivation—rather than simply repeating “wash → ship” forever.
4. Indie Spirit & Value
For players interested in indie games with unique concepts, this one is a strong pick. It doesn’t need to pretend to be AAA; it just delivers on its weird promise. If the devs keep supporting it, the value is high relative to expectation.
Areas for Improvement & Things to Be Aware Of
1. Potential Repetition & Depth
A simulator of this sort risks becoming repetitive: the same tasks, same machines, same currencies. If the variety doesn’t scale—e.g., new machines, new currencies, new challenges—the fun may plateau. Some reviews of similar games pointed this out:
“My only criticism is that it was too long… after a while it just gets annoying.”
2. Technical Polish, Workflow UX
Handling many physical objects (bags of money, stacks of bills) poses UI and performance challenges. If your machines lag, bills clip through tables, the stack physics explode randomly—this can turn from satisfying to frustrating. Indeed, some users of similar games reported physics issues:
“Knock a table and boom—everything’s on the floor.”
Laundering Simulator will need to ensure stable performance and intuitive controls.
3. “Moral” Tone & Audience Reception
A game about money laundering may raise eyebrows (though in a tongue-in-cheek way). Some players might balk at participating in explicitly criminal operations, even though it’s a simulation. The tone and narrative framing will matter.
4. Onboarding & Tutorial Complexity
For players new to simulators, or who expect polish, guiding them through sorting criteria, machine options, packaging rules will be important. If early missions feel overwhelming, the game may lose players early.
5. Long-Term Engagement & Content Updates
Simulators often thrive on long-term content: new machines, mode challenges, leaderboards. If the dev stops after launch or doesn’t add fresh “jobs”, the title may fade faster. An active roadmap would boost longevity.
Final Thoughts
Laundering Simulator: Clean Cash and Laundry is an indie simulation game with a high-concept hook and the potential for satisfying, somewhat absurd fun. If you enjoy the idea of taking dirty stacks of cash, cleaning them, and packaging them like a weird “money laundromat,” this is unique—and likely to be amusing, relaxing (in its weird way) and engaging.
However, it’s not without risks: repetition could set in, physics and UI need to be solid, and long-term content will determine whether it stays compelling. For fans of simulation games looking for something different in the indie space, this is absolutely worth a look. If you prefer deep narrative, huge mechanical complexity, or ultra-refined polish, you may want to wait for updates or watch community feedback.
To us at Indie Games Tavern, if you’re ready to stash bills in laundromats, upgrade your money-sorting workflow, and experience the strange joy of cleaning cash—then Laundering Simulator deserves a spot on your wishlist. Just be prepared for weirdness, some mechanical repetition, and the indie simulator slideshow of “weird job made fun.”
Who Should Play It?
- Simulation fans who love quirky premises and don’t mind “odd tasks” turned into games.
- Players looking for an indie title with less pressure, more weird fun.
- Gamers curious about hand-on object interaction, sorting mechanics, physical physics fun.
Who Might Wait or Skip?
- Players expecting massive sandbox freedom or deep narrative.
- Those who dislike tasks framed as “dirty cash cleaning” or morally ambiguous fun.
- Gamers seeking highly refined premium simulators with huge feature lists at launch.
Laundering Simulator Review by Indie Games Tavern.
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