Lake

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,823 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Lake Game Cover
A game about delivering mail around a sleepy American town? Sounds sort of dull. Perhaps it is, but that’s what makes Lake so special.
Starting at $5.29Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store Get on Epic Games Store

"Lake" is a single-player, open world drama game with a 1986 small-town setting, offering a rich plot, stunning graphics, and atmospheric music. As Meredith, you deliver mail, interact with characters, and explore activities, eventually deciding between city life and small-town charm. The game is emotional, humorous, and immersive, despite occasional bugs.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,823 reviews
story747 positive mentions
stability185 negative mentions
  • The story is well-written and engaging, with multiple endings and choice interactions that enhance replayability.
  • The game has a relaxing atmosphere, beautiful visuals, and a charming soundtrack that creates a cozy experience.
  • The characters are relatable and the voice acting is good, making the interactions enjoyable.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive, as the main task of delivering mail lacks variety and excitement.
  • There are several bugs and technical issues, including audio cutting out and character animations being stiff.
  • The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content and depth in the story.
  • story2,070 mentions

    The story of *Lake* is characterized as a charming and heartwarming narrative centered around Meredith, who returns to her hometown to take over her father's mail delivery job. While many players appreciate the cozy atmosphere and character interactions, some find the story too short, linear, or lacking depth, with a desire for more meaningful choices and side quests. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a relaxing, story-driven experience, though expectations should be tempered regarding its complexity and length.

    • “The story line is amazing and well written.”
    • “I highly recommend this game for the story and the visuals.”
    • “The story is lovely, and the options for exploration make it even better.”
    • “The story was a bit too simple and cliché, but they managed to make the final choice pretty difficult to make.”
    • “The dialog and characters are cringey, the gameplay uninteresting and uninspired, the story is pretty boring and doesn't actually seem to go anywhere, at least in the first several hours of the game, which is more than I could stand.”
    • “The story is boring and the driving around gets repetitive.”
  • music657 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as calming and fitting for the atmosphere, with many players enjoying the soundtrack's nostalgic and cozy vibes. However, a significant number of reviews highlight the limited selection of songs, often noting that the same few tracks play on repeat, which can become tedious over time. While some players appreciate the music's charm and have even added it to their personal playlists, others express frustration with the lack of variety, suggesting that a broader range of tracks would enhance the overall experience.

    • “I really love the soundtrack of this game, and have often been listening to the iconic tracks during the day :) some beautiful, uplifting, contemplative, energizing, and awesome tunes!”
    • “The music and the scenery was beautiful!”
    • “The music subtly shifts to match the time of day and the emotions of the characters, creating a cohesive and immersive audio experience.”
    • “The gameplay itself is entirely a chore, and while driving around you’re stuck with an incredibly limited radio station that plays the same seemingly 3 songs over and over and over again.”
    • “The only downside is the music.”
    • “The radio has a desperately short playlist and, while the songs are quite fitting for the atmosphere, they grate after a while.”
  • gameplay511 mentions

    The gameplay in "Lake" is characterized by its slow-paced, repetitive mechanics centered around mail delivery, which some players find relaxing while others deem it tedious and uninspired. While the game offers a charming atmosphere and engaging narrative, many reviews highlight the lack of depth in gameplay, with limited interactions and clunky driving mechanics detracting from the overall experience. Overall, it appeals to those seeking a cozy, narrative-driven experience, but may disappoint players looking for more dynamic gameplay elements.

    • “The gameplay is relaxing.”
    • “It's a beautiful, cozy retreat that offers a pleasant gameplay experience.”
    • “The simple game mechanics are complemented by the deep stories that unravel within your little adventure.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty poor; delivering is very boring, and they even added a mod to autodrive, which is like half the game, it's almost confessing the bad design.”
    • “The gameplay itself is entirely a chore, and while driving around you’re stuck with an incredibly limited radio station that plays the same seemingly 3 songs over and over again.”
    • “The overall gameplay loop gets repetitive after 2-3 hours.”
  • graphics504 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful and stylized visuals that create a charming atmosphere, reminiscent of titles like "Life is Strange" and "Firewatch." However, several players report issues such as graphical glitches, low render distances, and inconsistent texture quality, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game's aesthetic appeal and scenic beauty are frequently highlighted as standout features.

    • “The graphics are really beautiful.”
    • “The graphics are 10/10, the city where it's set is gorgeous, the soundtrack is also 10/10, and matches with the game a lot.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely stunning which have made me pull over from my daily mail route to just look around.”
    • “Reading the negative reviews because the game wouldn't even load the first time I opened it and then kept having weird graphical glitches in the title screen.”
    • “There is nothing positive about the graphics, and the rendering distance is so low that you cannot enjoy the views of the far-off mountains.”
    • “The graphics are more of a weakness, regarding many glitches, blurry textures, pop-ins, pixelated shadows, missing shading (especially at the lake's shore) and even a bad water surface on the lake - the one lake that gave the game its name.”
  • atmosphere202 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the nostalgic vibe of a small American town in the 1980s. Players appreciate the charming visuals, soothing soundtrack, and the overall tranquil experience, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks certain sound effects that could enhance immersion. Despite minor criticisms, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, providing a cozy and therapeutic escape for players.

    • “The atmosphere of the game perfectly captures the vibe of the 80s in an American tiny town - awkward small talks with neighbors you once knew, reuniting with a childhood friend, even a couple of romance lines.”
    • “Lake's enchanting atmosphere is further elevated by its captivating soundtrack.”
    • “The atmosphere and chill vibes from this game make it a really relaxing and enjoyable playthrough.”
    • “The radio has a desperately short playlist and, while the songs are quite fitting for the atmosphere, they grate after a while.”
    • “The game has a bunch of defects and a bunch of story elements that just feel half-assed and pushed off till later, which is a real shame because there are some great things in this game, like the style of it, the atmosphere, the overall vibe and the music; I really liked how the game looked and felt.”
    • “Despite hitting the nail on the head in terms of atmosphere, I would never put this game in the 'choices matter' tag since literally none of your dialogue options really matter.”
  • stability187 mentions

    The game is reported to be quite buggy, with numerous minor glitches affecting dialogue, animations, and visual elements, though most players found these issues did not significantly detract from their overall enjoyment. Some users experienced game-breaking bugs, such as freezing or being unable to load, while others noted that the game runs smoothly on platforms like the Steam Deck. Overall, while the stability issues are prevalent, many players appreciated the game's charm and narrative enough to overlook the technical shortcomings.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Reading the negative reviews because the game wouldn't even load the first time I opened it and then kept having weird graphical glitches in the title screen.”
    • “The game was buggy (I at one point randomly spawned in Robert's yard without my truck, cars were appearing flying in the air or got stuck in the road so traffic backed up through the entire town, I hit random invisible walls, people vanished mid-cutscene, etc.) and ultimately just felt so super unfinished.”
    • “The other main piece of the game is the social interactions, and they were so buggy that it seemed to skip chunks of dialog or not bother to play the sound for them at all.”
  • emotional172 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Lake" is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming narrative, which resonates with players seeking a relaxing and nostalgic experience. While many appreciate the charming characters and the emotional depth of the story, some feel that the emotional connections between characters could be stronger, leading to mixed feelings about the overall impact. Overall, it is celebrated as a cozy game that evokes feelings of nostalgia and comfort, though it may not fully satisfy those looking for more intense emotional engagement.

    • “I’m grateful to the creators for crafting such a heartfelt experience.”
    • “The beautiful world kept me playing and it didn't even take one in-game day before I was completely invested - this game is not only visually stunning, but it really is an emotional journey.”
    • “While it may not cater to everyone's preferences, those seeking a slower-paced adventure with a focus on human connection and nostalgia will find Lake to be a serene and heartfelt experience that stays with them long after the journey ends.”
  • grinding101 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious, particularly as players progress, with repetitive mail deliveries and slow-paced driving contributing to a sense of monotony. While some players find enjoyment in the initial gameplay and character interactions, many express that the experience becomes increasingly boring and lacks challenge over time. Overall, the game is seen as a peaceful experience, but the grinding elements can detract from its charm, especially during replay sessions.

    • “The pace is slow but not tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding!”
    • “Delivering mail in this game was fun at the start, but as it drags on, it becomes more and more boring and tedious towards the end.”
    • “However, towards the end of the game, delivering mail became more and more tedious and just kind of seemed like filler to make the game last longer.”
    • “When I started, the concept seemed cute and fun, but unfortunately as things went further, I found this game to be exceptionally tedious and boring.”
  • humor84 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as charming and quirky, with players enjoying the funny character interactions and well-voiced dialogue that often leads to laughter. Many reviews note the amusing glitches, such as characters' mouths not moving while they talk or vehicles behaving oddly, which add to the overall comedic experience. While the story may be considered weak, the lighthearted and relaxing atmosphere, combined with unique humor, makes it a delightful experience for players.

    • “There’s something oddly funny about it, and it often makes for great conversation starters with friends and coworkers.”
    • “The ending managed to make me burst out laughing several times in a row, mostly because of dialogue choices such as [hug her] and [don't hug her] in relation to random characters you spoke to twice, and Meredith teleporting around like a skinwalker every time there was a change in what was being said.”
    • “The highlight of the game is the dialog, which often made me laugh out loud, and the voice acting was perfect.”
  • replayability76 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players appreciating the different endings and narrative choices that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize the lack of significant changes or collectibles that would enhance replay value. Many find it enjoyable for its atmosphere and character interactions, but some express frustration over the game's short length and repetitive elements, leading to a perception of limited replayability overall.

    • “It has good replay value if you want to see alternative endings or storylines.”
    • “It's not a long game, you can finish it in about 7-8 hours, but it has a high replay value because of the aforementioned decisions you have to make.”
    • “I will come back to the game, though, since not only is there replayability due to the narrative choices and different endings, but for the atmosphere and feel of the game itself.”
    • “My biggest concern with the game is that it's short and not really replayable.”
    • “Aside from the three potential endings to the game, there’s not much that changes throughout the course of the playthrough, so there’s not much on offer in terms of replayability.”
    • “The audio in several of the cut scenes doesn't line up with the characters' mouths and beyond getting all of the ending achievements, there is no replay value.”
  • optimization50 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues such as stuttering, bugs, and high CPU usage, particularly on consoles. While some found the gameplay enjoyable despite these flaws, others felt that the lack of polish and optimization detracted from the overall experience, making it difficult to recommend. Overall, the consensus is that the game could benefit from further optimization to enhance performance and stability.

    • “Performance or gameplay surpasses the passing mark and stands out from the average.”
    • “Pretty well optimized thus far for me.”
    • “For starters, I really think that this game could've been polished and optimized a bit more.”
    • “Badly optimized stutter-fest.”
    • “However, due to the bugs, stuttering, and missing audio for the duration of like half the game, I can't really recommend it.”
    • “In addition, it's poorly optimized and uses about 40% of my CPU when running - I have a high-end system.”
  • character development43 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the depth and charm of the characters and their designs, while others criticize the lack of growth and flatness of many characters. Although there are moments of engaging storytelling and character interactions, several reviewers noted that the development could be improved, particularly in terms of animation and emotional expression. Overall, while the game offers a beautiful world and enjoyable atmosphere, the character development is seen as inconsistent, with some characters feeling underdeveloped or unlikable.

    • “Relaxing, peaceful game with a really great plot line and in-depth character development.”
    • “Quaint, relaxing, the soundtrack was charming and the character development was deep enough to enjoy the nuances they each add to the overall story.”
    • “Enjoyed it, great gameplay, great character development, beautiful world, and as an 80s kid, I loved all the references from the most awesome decade ever.”
    • “Almost every character is flat and completely unlikable, and there is pretty much zero character development in any of them.”
    • “The character development could have been improved; facial expressions aren't a thing in the game, so no matter if a character is happy, mad, etc., they have a blank expression.”
    • “Little to no character development.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization model primarily relies on microtransactions for in-game purchases, which some players appreciate for enhancing the gameplay experience, particularly through interactive elements like a customizable love story.

    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

Buy Lake

Play time

6hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
5-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 56 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News