Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia
- December 22, 2021
- Bryce Bucher
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia" is a fishing game that lets you catch over 30 different fish in the unusual Lake Ophelia, where fish from around the world reside. You can cook your catches and collect various fishing rods and lures. The game features full controller support and a vintage vibe with its VHS conversion.
Reviews
- Charming and relaxing fishing mechanics that provide a satisfying experience.
- Beautiful low-poly art style and atmospheric sound design create a nostalgic vibe.
- Engaging gameplay with hidden secrets and collectibles that encourage exploration.
- The ending is abrupt and leaves many players feeling unsatisfied with the lack of resolution.
- Some mechanics, like cooking and certain achievements, are not well explained, leading to confusion.
- The horror elements are minimal and may disappoint those expecting a more traditional horror experience.
- atmosphere40 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia" is widely praised for its unique blend of eerie and relaxing elements, creating a sense of unease that enhances the gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful art style and sound design, which contribute to a nostalgic yet unsettling ambiance, making it an engaging choice for those seeking a chill fishing game with a hint of spookiness. Overall, the atmosphere is described as remarkable, balancing comfort with an underlying tension that keeps players intrigued.
“Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia might not be a 'horror game' per se, but it hit the right spot with its calming yet unsettling atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere of this game is remarkable: it's entirely peaceful, a beautiful PSX-style lake view with charming fish and a nice companion.”
“This game is so perfectly atmospheric and chill to play, with just enough of a hint of spookiness that doesn't overwhelm the main experience and only really adds to it.”
“I recommend if you want a chill fishing game with a slight creepy atmosphere, play it... just don't dip down the glowing thing because the ending scared the crap out of me.”
“Without spoiling too much, I'll just say that the most scary thing in this game is its atmosphere.”
“As a horror game it succeeds in atmosphere but severely disappoints with the payoff.”
- graphics35 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia" are widely praised for their nostalgic PS1 aesthetic, featuring charming low-poly art and beautifully rendered fish models that enhance the game's eerie yet relaxing atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the authentic retro visuals and the effective use of sound design, which together create a unique blend of calmness and subtle unease. Overall, the game's art style is considered a significant draw, appealing to those who enjoy retro gaming aesthetics.
“The graphics and designs are beautiful, and the map, while being pretty small, has very different locations to explore.”
“The atmosphere and art style are on point.”
“A really great little game with extremely appealing visuals and a pleasant, atmospheric soundtrack (and good sound design overall).”
“The graphics are authentic as hell, the UI looks like it came from a PS1 game and the sound design is crunchy.”
“There's also a steady day and night cycle, and being up close and personal with these maritime creatures in the dark, combined with the retro graphics, and subtle use of ambient unsettling music, creates an overall unsettling feeling.”
“When a lot of other games try to emulate the aesthetic of old hardware, they usually mess it up a bit and there's just something there that tells you you're playing a newer game.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around solid and satisfying fishing mechanics that are simple yet engaging, providing a relaxing experience in a charming, retro-styled environment. Players appreciate the straightforward controls and the delightful discovery of secrets, although some find the cooking mechanics a bit confusing. Overall, the game offers a cozy atmosphere with enjoyable fishing, making it a great choice for fans of fishing minigames.
“The fishing mechanics are incredibly satisfying, the artwork is beautiful (especially the very well made 3D renders of the fish), and the relaxing atmosphere is so calming and cozy that I want to revisit this game often in the future.”
“Fantastic fishing mechanics, enjoyable secrets, and cool fish.”
“The winning combination of simple but effective fishing mechanics with the immense charm of its styling and attitude make this little game a gem hiding out in Steam’s new releases.”
“There is really only one detail I find confusing in this game, and that is the mechanic of meals and cooking.”
“Last thing: the game has certain mechanics and extra details that, while not 100% necessary to use, are needed to get all the achievements and the full experience.”
“There's no tutorial indicating how these work, so you might need to do some thinking outside the box or watch a gameplay video to understand them.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as lacking depth, with many players wishing for more narrative elements beyond the minimal lore provided. While there are hints and a few intriguing moments, such as encounters with cryptids, the overall consensus is that the game feels more like a simple, aesthetic experience rather than a rich storytelling adventure. Despite its narrative shortcomings, players still find enjoyment in the game's chill atmosphere and unique mechanics.
“Going through the game, there are a lot of little hints that seem more like flavor text than storytelling, but I believe paying attention to these lines can help us understand the ending.”
“A lovely little lo-fi ghost story.”
“The story comes from the creeper dude who sells you lures and buys your fish.”
“Maybe it is a spoiler, but the game has no lore, no secrets, and no story.”
“At least a few story bits here and there would make this game a 10/10 for what it is.”
“A backstory of the salesman or some other mysteries besides 'all kinds of fish appear here, weird', like a murder mystery or a few forest spirits for example.”
- music11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, blending calm and slightly creepy elements that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the ambient soundtrack as a standout feature, effectively contributing to the game's tension and atmosphere without relying on jump scares or loud interruptions. Overall, the combination of soothing melodies and sound design creates a captivating and immersive environment.
“Bryce is a master of atmosphere by now, the soundtrack is calm and sometimes creepy at the same time.”
“I love the ambient music and the way the day and night slowly ebb and flow.”
“There's also a steady day and night cycle, and being up close and personal with these maritime creatures in the dark, combined with the retro graphics and subtle use of ambient unsettling music, creates an overall unsettling feeling.”
“An image and some spooky music, after that a cute little claymation sequence but nothing more than that.”
“The music and sounds were quite honestly one of the best parts and added to the tension when nothing was even happening.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable at first, particularly with fishing, but it becomes repetitive over time. The large lake size and the need to return to the campsite to reset fish can make travel feel tedious and contribute to the grind.
“It's initially pretty fun, but the fishing gets a little repetitive and grindy.”
“A critique I would make is that traveling around the lake can be a bit tedious due to how large it is, and resetting fish being tied to resting at the campsite at night can sometimes mean running back for a pretty long while to do so.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game is enjoyable, many users feel it lacks sufficient replay value, suggesting that once completed, there is little incentive to play again.
“Fun game, but it lacks replay value.”
“Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The story is engaging, but after finishing it once, there's not much left to explore.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as light-hearted and whimsical, primarily serving as a humorous twist at the end rather than being a central focus. While some players may have expected more comedic elements, they appreciate the game's intention to provide a fun fishing experience.
“The game has a delightful sense of humor that keeps you entertained throughout.”
“I love how the quirky characters and witty dialogue add a lighthearted touch to the gameplay.”
“The unexpected comedic moments made me laugh out loud and really enhanced my experience.”
