Tidy Terror: Horror Game Recs for the Macabre Neat Freak
Yes, we'll be filing "gory cleaning games" under my hyperfixations, thank you!
When you think of “horror games”, I bet things like Resident Evil come to mind, right? You think of zombies or bullet management or health recovery or terrifying jump scares, but I’m guessing you wouldn’t picture a mop & bucket - unless you’re someone who literally hates cleaning, in which case, maybe this list isn’t going to be for you, lol.
I have a lot of friends who love horror books or movies, but have never been able to handle playing a survival horror video game. Something about having to actually be in the position of the person in danger is too much for them, which is honestly super understandable - there are a lot of games I have trouble with, especially if they involve being underwater because I just can’t hang with that sort of thing, so I get it!
That said, not all horror games are about screaming your head off and running for your life. Some are about cleaning up the messes afterwards. Turns out nothing takes the edge off being inside a haunted house or a blood-soaked dungeon quite like grabbing a mop and watching the grime (or blood, as it were) disappear little by little. It’s spooky, it’s messy, and weirdly enough, it’s actually super relaxing!
So let’s get into it! Here are a few of my favorite horror picks that prove tidying up can be creepily comforting & frightfully fun! (Leave me alone to my alliteration okay, you all know what you singed up for, lol.)
Crime Scene Cleaner
Vibes: Murder, gore, hauntings
Ever wonder what cleaning up after a horrific murder would be like? What about several murders, per map? That’s the role we take on here, working for a crime lord in an effort to make money to help our sick kid. The maps are detailed and very gory, and the cleaning is wildly relaxing - at least, mostly.
This is one of, if not the most graphic games on the list, so we’re starting off heavy to really set the mood. For those truly not into scary game vibes, I will warn that this one has a couple levels (or modes, with the introduction of the new Nightmare Mode) that do feature some pretty spooky things alongside the cleanup - nothing that puts you in danger or that you need to escape or fight as the player, but I also probably wouldn’t want to play this home alone late at night while in the dark, you know?
Viscera Cleanup Detail
Vibes: Sci-fi, gory, multiplayer
A classic game in the cleaning horror genre, this one is a more long-term investment timewise, which may not be for everyone. Each map can take up to several hours to complete fully because they’re so large. The physics in this game leave a little to be desired, but once you get the hang of how it works, it is really fun and the gore is great - cleaning up little intestines and bits of people is weirdly zen-like!
It’s also got a co-op type of mode, so you can play this one with friends and team up to clean the maps together! It also has some great spin off DLCs, like a Christmas one that I love revisiting every year. I think this originally started as a DLC or spin-off or something of Shadow Warrior, which is also pretty funny - they didn’t really think it’d be such a hit, but it turns out a lot of folks like cleaning up weird stuff, haha.
The WereCleaner
Vibes: Stealthy, cute, free
This one is slightly less relaxing just because it does involve stealth as a main component of the gameplay. As the janitor, you’re a werewolf but trying to hide that fact from your office coworkers, who will immediately trigger your bloodlust & cause you to eat them if they encounter you. It’s gory in a cartoon-y way, and overall the stakes don’t feel super high so that makes this one pretty chill all around.
The most stressful part of this is probably if you’re achievement hunting; I went for 100% achievements on this and did hit it, but got a little frustrated by some of the time-based ones (because I hate those in games in general, I get so anxious, lol!). That said, to just play and beat the game itself, you don’t have to be like me and can actually just enjoy your time!
ALSO? This game is FREE! You can download it on Steam for $0 and get to playin’!
Ravenous Devils
Vibes: Sweeney Todd-inspired, Victorian, light shop management
Okay, so like the last game, this one is slightly less focused solely on the cleaning aspect, although you do have to clean up blood here so I’m adding it to the list anyway! I really love this game and feel like not enough people have heard of it, haha.
You play as two separate characters and switch between them and their respective areas/tasks, managing both the clothing shop area upstairs (with the husband) and the food shop (with the wife) down below. There are Sweeney Todd elements, a full story (not just management stuff), and I don’t want to give too much away about the core game mechanics, but it’s really fun and there’s a surprising amount of extras and upgrades to unlock as you play. I particularly really liked the different recipes and costumes you can get for the married couple.
If you’re into horror and management style games, please check this one out!
If You Like These, Try…
Finally, I wanted to include a couple games that have a focus on cleaning without the horror or gore element. Sometimes you wanna just clean, you know?
Power Wash Simulator - One of my most favorite games, I genuinely scoffed at this the first time I heard about it and could not believe how addictive and calming it was to play once I took the leap and went for it. There’s a bunch of DLC (including a Shrek themed one, which I LOVE!), and also a Power Wash Sim 2 coming out soon (so the first game may go on sale, keep an eye out!).
Fresh Start Cleaning Simulator - This is a great game because it focuses on the environmental aspect of cleaning, and you’re able to visit different locations in the world to clean up different areas and rescue / pet the animals there. Very cute, with a unique cleaning tool that sort of reminded me of the backpack from Super Mario Sunshine.
Love cleaning games? Have any other recommendations for me to check out?
