Spilled!
A cozy game about cleaning polluted waterways.
Spilled! is a 2025 cozy game from Dutch developer Lente Cuenen, available on macOS, Windows, and Nintendo Switch. Players pilot a small solar-powered boat through polluted waterways, gathering trash to clean the environment.
In the game, the boat collects waste like oil slicks, floating bottles with a boom, and submerged oil drums via magnet fishing. A hose on the boat can put out fires on riverbanks, wash oil from land, and create snow in certain areas. Cleaning earns money for boat upgrades. The game has eight levels that grow in size and complexity, each containing two lost animals to rescue. A full playthrough takes about an hour.
Cuenen, who grew up on a boat, left school in late 2022 and used her savings to buy her own vessel, Zusje V—meaning "Sister Five," referencing four previous family boats. She renovated it with her mother, adding an electric motor, solar panels, and a Starlink receiver for internet. Development began during this renovation. Cuenen aimed to raise awareness about marine pollution, inspired by the waste she saw as a child.
The project was funded by a Kickstarter campaign in early 2024, surpassing its €10,000 goal in 12 hours and ultimately raising €31,621. A free demo was released on Steam. A Nintendo Switch version was announced in June 2025 during the Women-Led Games Summer Game Fest broadcast.
The game received positive reviews. Vice gave it a "highly recommended" rating, praising its environmental message and relaxing feel, noting its "beauty is more than skin deep." Kotaku liked the simple premise, boat controls, and increasing complexity. GamesRadar+ compared it favorably to PowerWash Simulator. Forbes listed it as a standout indie title for 2024, and its release review called it "pretty much impossible to find any complaints with it," except that players want it to last longer. The game sold 50,000 copies in its first month, driven by viral word of mouth.
- developer
- Lente Cuenen
- platforms
- macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch
- genre
- Cozy game
- release_year
- 2025
- funding
- €31,621 via Kickstarter
- first_month_sales
- 50,000 copies
Lore & Background
Spilled! was the first Steam release by Dutch developer Lente Cuenen, who grew up on a boat. She left school in late 2022, and used her savings to purchase her own boat, Zusje V. The name translates to 'Sister Five' in English and refers to the other four boats that had been owned by the family over the course of her childhood. She renovated the boat with her mother, adding an electric motor, solar panels, and a Starlink receiver to enable internet access. The development began during this renovation period aboard Zusje V. Cuenen set out to raise awareness of marine pollution, inspired by the significant amount of waste she observed in the water during her childhood.
The project was funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign in early 2024, which passed its €10,000 goal in 12 hours. It ultimately went on to raise €31,621. A free demo was also made available on Steam. A Nintendo Switch version was announced in June 2025, as part of the Women-Led Games Summer Game Fest broadcast.
Reader's Guide
Spilled! is notable as a commercially successful indie title that combines environmental messaging with relaxing gameplay. The game was received positively by outlets including Vice, Kotaku, GamesRadar+, and Forbes, with Vice giving it a 'highly recommended' rating and praising its environmental messaging and relaxing nature. Kotaku praised the simple premise, boat controls, and manner in which complexity was added with later levels. GamesRadar+ compared the game favorably to PowerWash Simulator. Forbes listed the game as one of the best looking indie titles to watch out for in 2024, and their review on release reported that 'it's pretty much impossible to find any complaints with it — except, of course, that you probably want it to go on for longer, and/or forever.' The game sold 50,000 copies in the first month, largely driven by viral online word of mouth. Its development story—created by a solo developer living on a boat she renovated—adds to its unique place in the indie game landscape.
Did You Know?
- The game's developer, Lente Cuenen, grew up on a boat and renovated her own boat, Zusje V, during development.
- The Kickstarter campaign for Spilled! passed its €10,000 goal in 12 hours and ultimately raised €31,621.
- The game can be completed in approximately an hour.
- A Nintendo Switch version was announced in June 2025 as part of the Women-Led Games Summer Game Fest broadcast.
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