Spilled!

While it may not offer the intricate detailing of some other clean-up simulators, Spilled compensates with its heart-warming charm and accessible gameplay plus endearing graphics that is complemented by its subtle soundtrack. It’s a testament to the creativity and passion of indie developers, and a must-try for anyone seeking a relaxing yet meaningful gaming experience.

Short but sweet, Spilled! is a solo project that sees you cleaning up oil spills and litter from a series of waterways. You'll have it completed in roughly an hour, but it's very much an hour well spent, especially if you love relaxing clean-up games.

As you clean up an area, the water becomes clearer, wildlife returns and new areas open up. At regular intervals, new gameplay elements are introduced, such as the ability to spray water, upgrade the boat and lift things from the seabed. It's over in an hour, but it's an hour for the soul. A break in a hectic gaming world.

Managing to encompass the feeling of a leisurely stroll through an idyllic, relaxing location, Spilled! has both a great message regarding the environment, while also being a relaxing experience in and of itself. The short runtime might leave you wanting a bit more, and the boat can occasionally feel a tad cumbersome, but Spilled! remains a visually lovely and atmospherically pleasant jaunt through waters ready for your clean up operation.

Spilled! is, in sum, an educational game whose "game" half doesn't work as well as it should, but it still deserves a fair shot. With the debate around the Earth's health being polarised as it is, it is important that there exist works that aren't afraid to show audiences what a lack of sustainable development does to the place we all live in.