Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 181 reviews

atmosphere23 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features addictive and enjoyable fishing mechanics, providing a relaxing experience.
The aesthetic and atmosphere are beautifully crafted, evoking nostalgia and a sense of calm with a hint of eeriness.
There are fun secrets and collectibles to discover, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

The ending is often described as disappointing and lacking in depth, leaving many players unsatisfied.
The horror elements are minimal and may not meet the expectations of those looking for a traditional horror experience.
Some players found the fishing mechanics to become repetitive and grindy, especially when pursuing achievements.

atmosphere
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
40%
7%
The atmosphere in "Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia" is widely praised for its unique blend of eerie and relaxing elements, creating a chilling yet cozy experience. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful art style and sound design, which contribute to a sense of mystery and nostalgia, making it an engaging environment for both fishing and exploration. While some note that the horror elements may not be as pronounced, the overall ambiance effectively captures a haunting yet tranquil vibe that resonates with players.
- “Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia has a very good art style, but also an oddly eerie atmosphere that makes you feel as if something isn't quite right or as if you're missing something. I think this is exactly the atmosphere the game is trying to set up, and it succeeds at it.”
- “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.”
- “The atmosphere isn't even horror-like, and the ending is... not good or interesting.”
- “As a horror game, it succeeds in atmosphere but severely disappoints with the payoff.”
- “Mysteries under Lake Ophelia might not be a 'horror game' per se, but it hit the right spot with its calming yet unsettling atmosphere.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic PS1 aesthetic, featuring a charming low-poly art style that effectively creates a relaxing yet eerie atmosphere. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals, well-designed fish models, and the overall authentic retro feel, which enhances the gameplay experience. The combination of appealing graphics and sound design contributes to a unique and enjoyable fishing game that resonates with fans of retro gaming.
- “Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia has a very good art style, but also an oddly eerie atmosphere that makes you feel as if something isn't quite right or as if you're missing something, and I think this is exactly the atmosphere the game is trying to set up and it succeeds at it.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “If you really want to get my nostalgia going, then really try to stick to the aesthetic of the time period, like this game did, for Christ's sake.”
gameplay
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
48%
9%
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 lack of complicated gimmicks, allowing for straightforward fishing while discovering delightful secrets. However, some mechanics, like cooking and hidden features, may require additional exploration or guidance to fully enjoy the game.
- “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.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The game's story is described as lacking depth, with many players wishing for more substantial narrative elements beyond the minimal lore and flavor text provided. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and find the game enjoyable in its simplicity, others feel that the absence of a cohesive plot or deeper mysteries detracts from the overall experience. Despite its cute aesthetic and chill gameplay, many reviewers agree that the story could benefit from additional layers or intriguing backstories.
- “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.”
- “I found the mystery... really great game, I love the environmental storytelling, and I was kind of amazed at the way that the environment was set up 'accidentally' led the player to new lures.”
- “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.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
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 key feature, contributing to a sense of tension and immersion without relying on jump scares or loud interruptions. Overall, the combination of soothing melodies and effective sound design creates a captivating and unsettling ambiance that complements the game's visuals.
- “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.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is enjoyable but is noted to have limited replayability, suggesting that players may not find enough incentive to return after completing it.
- “Fun game, but it lacks replay value.”
- “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is perceived as light-hearted and intended, primarily serving as a quirky addition to the fishing gameplay rather than a central focus. While some players may have expected more comedic elements, the overall intention appears to be to provide a fun and amusing conclusion.
- “The game has a quirky sense of humor that keeps you entertained throughout.”
- “I love how the developers infused humor into the gameplay, making even the simplest tasks enjoyable.”
- “The witty dialogue and funny scenarios had me laughing out loud!”