Hey everyone!
We recently had some time to do a Q&A and talk a bit more about our game and for what's more to come and wanted to share with you all!
What kind of game is Clean Start? -
At its heart, Clean Start is a cozy, narrative-driven cleaning game. It combines the satisfying, meditative loop of tidying up with heartwarming storytelling.
What inspired the game’s concept?
Most of us have experienced having a parent work abroad to support the family financially. So the game is inspired by that wave of economic migration in the 90s and more specifically the stories of women who took on domestic work in foreign countries. Although it wasn’t always a pleasant experience, and they faced many fears and struggles, we decided to tell a positive story based on the highlights of their memories.
What can you tell us about the storyline, locations and characters?
You play as Lena, a woman navigating the challenges of living in a new country. She takes the most accessible path available to her: domestic cleaning. While the setting is a generic country in the West, the contrast with Lena’s Eastern European roots is reflected in the game’s "language mechanic" - as she isn't fluent in the local language, communication itself becomes part of the journey. As Lena moves from house to house, she meets a diverse cast of clients. You don't just clean their room, you discover their secrets, their sorrows, and their joys through the items they have.
Can you tell us anything about the sound effects and soundtrack?
We're still at the early stages of audio work, but I can reveal that the song found on the vinyl in our demo was made by our friends in exchange for homemade chocolate granola.
What is your favourite thing about the game?
From a developer’s perspective, it’s seeing the massive progress we’ve made compared to the original prototype. Thanks to the feedback we’ve improved almost every aspect of the game: from visuals to technical fidelity. We’ve also added new mechanics (like dusting objects in the inspect mode or watering the plants) for players to enjoy. From a player's perspective, I think it’s the freedom to arrange things exactly how you like and then seeing someone else arrange the same room in a completely different way. But who am I kidding. Of course, petting the dog is our favourite thing in the game.
What do you think players will love most about the game?
I think players will fall in love with environmental storytelling. There is a certain thrill in piecing together someone’s life by inspecting their belongings. Every old letter or forgotten toy tells a story of past experiences: the good, the bad, and everything in between. It’s very intimate.
How big is the game? What is the playtime?
We’ve designed 10 handcrafted levels. For a standard playthrough, players can expect about 5 hours of gameplay, though those who like to linger and find every hidden narrative detail might take much longer.
How far along is development?
We are officially past the halfway mark! The core systems and features are fully functional, which is a huge milestone. Right now, our team is focused entirely on the game's content: level design, narrative polishing, and creating the high-quality assets that bring these homes to life.
Will there be future story expansions?
We’ll do our best to keep the game alive with small DLCs and Holiday related levels!
Can you tell us more about the dev team / Serious Sim
Serious Sim is currently a team of five based in Poland. Every game we've made has been completely different from the last, so it's safe to say we love trying different approaches to gameplay and storytelling. We started our gamedev adventure with Radio Commander, an anti-war wargame with a unique twist on the RTS genre. Our second game, Heading Out, is a narrative racing game inspired by 1970s road movies, featuring a black-and-white aesthetic. Currently, we are exploring the cozy cleaning genre, and we love it! Games are a truly wonderful medium to experiment with.