Varney Lake

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 78 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Varney Lake Game Cover
Varney Lake is a wonderful experience that combines visual novels with puzzles, heartwarming nostalgia with chilling terror, all in a classic pixel style.
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Varney Lake is a narrative-driven adventure game set in a creepy and mysterious English seaside town. As the new caretaker of the local amusement park, you'll explore the park and town, uncovering dark secrets and supernatural events. Your choices will affect the outcome of the story, leading to multiple endings. Get ready to face your fears and solve the mysteries of Varney Lake.

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

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 78 reviews
story19 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous pixel art and a nostalgic aesthetic that captures the essence of retro gaming.
  • Engaging and well-written narrative that evokes a bittersweet feeling of childhood and mystery.
  • Good replayability with multiple dialogue options and secrets to uncover, making it a worthwhile experience.
  • The game is quite short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and character development.
  • Minigames can feel clunky and disconnected from the main plot, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The latter part of the story feels rushed, leaving some plot points unresolved and characters underdeveloped.
  • story50 mentions

    The story of Varney Lake is a bittersweet coming-of-age tale that captures the essence of childhood nostalgia while intertwining supernatural elements, drawing comparisons to classic horror and pulpy narratives. Reviewers praise its engaging writing and character perspectives, which enhance replayability and exploration of different dialogues, although some note a lack of depth in character development and plot progression. Overall, it is seen as a visually appealing and atmospheric experience that resonates with fans of the genre, particularly those familiar with its predecessor, Mothmen 1966.

    • “Great writing that captures that feeling of an endless summer that seems to pass too quickly, and is generous in its storytelling.”
    • “A bittersweet story about halcyon childhood days and being long past them.”
    • “With art and audio that would be at home on your childhood console or late 80s PC of choice, and a story that deftly weaves the mundane and supernatural, it's a perfect way to spend an evening.”
    • “Also the gameplay is mostly mini games that are not related to the main plot progression and its structure.”
    • “[Mini game mechanics aren't explained well enough and are clunky, story doesn't really go anywhere, character development is lacking, the world of Varney Lake doesn't provide enough magic]”
    • “Yet Varney Lake's story of childhood interrupted by a chance encounter with a vampire is a more captivating one.”
  • graphics25 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous artwork and charming retro aesthetic, particularly appealing to fans of pixel art and visual novels. While some users noted that certain art styles can be inconsistent, the overall visual presentation is considered stylish and engaging, complementing the narrative effectively. The combination of unique visuals and a pulpy, darkly humorous story creates a memorable experience, despite some critiques regarding specific elements of the art.

    • “The artwork in this is absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “A visual novel game with an incredible art style, and a pulpy, darkly humorous story that reminds me of the old *Tales from the Crypt* comics.”
    • “With charming graphics and a well-written narrative, this one stands out as a classy visual novel with a heavy retro vibe.”
    • “The art style in the daylight is horrendous to look at.”
    • “If you’re into game and audio design, or love the pixel art style, you may be able to forgive this, but if you’re looking for a narrative that will have you clicking your mouse for more, best look elsewhere.”
    • “Another short pixel pulp visual novel with stylish visuals and decent, if a bit rushed, writing.”
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with a score of 2/5, highlighting a distinct style that may appeal to fans of the developer's previous titles. It combines visual novel elements with dialogue choices and various minigames, though many of these minigames feel disconnected from the main plot and lack clear explanations, leading to a clunky experience. Additionally, players noted insufficient character development and a lack of engaging world-building.

    • “They’re developing a distinct style/gameplay mechanic (their next game – 'Bahnsen Knights' – looks very much within that framework), making it easier to say: 'if you liked one of their games, you’ll most likely enjoy this one', with the opposite being equally true.”
    • “The gameplay consists mostly of mini games that are not related to the main plot progression and its structure.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly mini games that are not related to the main plot progression and its structure.”
    • “Mini game mechanics aren't explained well enough and are clunky; the story doesn't really go anywhere, character development is lacking, and the world of Varney Lake doesn't provide enough magic.”
    • “Gameplay merges visual novel elements with dialogue choices and a few minigames that range from simple clicking to more involved tasks based on math and counting.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game is praised for its solid replayability, featuring numerous minigames and secrets that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the extra content and the ability to uncover different story elements, although some have noted challenges in accessing certain secret scenes. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile follow-up to its predecessor, Mothmen 1966, with significant replay value.

    • “This game is not only an excellent follow-up for Mothmen 1966, it also has lots of replayability!”
    • “Good replayability value with the different secrets and extra content.”
    • “It's a good experience with replayability, although I'm having trouble getting some of the secret scenes.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music and sound effects received a mixed but generally positive reception, with users expressing enjoyment and rating it a 3 out of 5.

    • “I even enjoyed the music and sound effects this time around!”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in this visual novel is characterized by a pulpy, darkly comedic narrative reminiscent of *Tales from the Crypt* comics, complemented by retro sounds and cute graphics. Players appreciate the incorporation of mini-games and humorous achievements, enhancing the overall experience of this well-crafted game.

    • “A visual novel game with an incredible art style, and a pulpy, darkly humorous story that reminds me of the old *Tales from the Crypt* comics.”
    • “These wonderful retro sounds, cute graphics with special colors for every game of the series, mini-games, and funny achievements... this game is a great example of a well-made visual novel and retro-styled game.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Reviews highlight a dichotomy in the emotional aspect of the game, where the writing showcases skillful and beautiful language but lacks the depth and completeness needed for a fully immersive experience. While some players appreciate the blend of nostalgia and terror, noting that the game's aesthetics and emotional resonance keep them engaged, others feel that the narrative's disjointedness detracts from its overall emotional impact.

    • “Varney Lake is a wonderful experience that combines visual novels with puzzles, heartwarming nostalgia with chilling terror, all in a classic pixel style.”
    • “What kept me interested was the way it looked, sounded, and made me feel.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere is praised for its fantastic storytelling, evoking a nostalgic feel reminiscent of "Stand By Me" but with a unique twist akin to Hammer Studios' style. This combination creates a compelling and immersive experience for players.

    • “Fantastic atmospheric storytelling, like if Stand By Me had been produced by Hammer Studios.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being insufficient, with players noting that the story lacks direction and fails to engage, while the world of Varney Lake does not offer enough enchantment to enhance character growth.

    • “Character development is lacking, and the story doesn't really go anywhere.”
    • “Mini game mechanics aren't explained well enough and feel clunky.”
    • “The world of Varney Lake doesn't provide enough magic.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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