Clean Start Uses Cleaning to Tell a Story About Finding Home

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Cozy games often focus on farming, crafting, or decorating, but Clean Start is taking a different route. Instead of managing a farm or running a café, you’ll spend your time cleaning homes and uncovering the stories hidden inside them.

At the center of the story is Lena, a young woman working abroad in an unfamiliar country. As she cleans and organizes apartments, she gradually learns about the people who live there through old photographs, forgotten belongings, letters, and conversations. Each home becomes a small mystery waiting to be uncovered.

What makes the premise particularly interesting is the inspiration behind it. The developers drew from real stories of economic migration, especially the experiences of women who left their home countries in search of work and opportunity.

Gameplay itself remains intentionally relaxing. There are no timers, no fail states, and no pressure to rush. Instead, players can take their time organizing rooms while slowly piecing together personal stories and navigating Lena’s own journey of adapting to a new culture.

Developer Serious Sim recently released a new gameplay trailer while announcing that the game has already surpassed 30,000 wishlists ahead of its planned Steam launch later this year.