Clean Start

Clean Start is a puzzle game in which the player takes the role of Lena, an immigrant maid working in a country whose language she only partly understands. She cleans and organises the homes of her clients, and the game is inspired by real experiences of immigrant life, including its worries and hopes. There is no time pressure and no game over state.

Each level is a room or apartment presented as a small diorama containing hundreds of items to clean and dozens of interactive elements. Dialogue provides some context, but the main story of each level is told through the objects the player discovers. Players can piece these together to understand the clients’ circumstances and to help them with more than a dirty home. The game allows for multiple solutions and outcomes.

What the player finds in each level affects the conversations with employers and the gifts they give. Items found while cleaning can be used to decorate Lena’s own space in a rented apartment. The game has controls described as intuitive and accessible, and it is designed around a relaxed, cosy and positive atmosphere.