Lake Reviews
We are conditioned to expect a gruesome crime or having to deal with some kind of a supernatural event when we are experiencing a small town story but Lake is a relaxing small adventure full of colorful characters that happens to take place in small town that is a welcome change of pace from stories with similar setting.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Lake is certainly not for everyone. It’s a very specific experience that tries as hard as possible to take as much ‘game’ out of the game and leave you only with the relaxing story element. And on balance, I’d say I enjoyed my time with Lake; I breezed around that leafy town not knowing if what I was doing mattered or if I really cared about that or not. It’s like having a day off work without any plans – the world is your oyster and there’s absolutely no pressure.
What Lake was for me was not a peaceful, slow-paced reflection on what matters most in life. Instead, it was an anxious and difficult exercise in letting go of things that don’t bring me joy, even if they might hold other values. And it was a reflection on queer experience and the radicalness of choosing what’s genuinely best for yourself despite others’ expectations. However, while some moments of my time playing was difficult, it was because of how I saw my own ongoing experience through Merrideth’s eyes. And if a game can make me do that through expertly crafted gameplay, a perfect soundtrack, and captivating characters and relationships alone, you can certainly color me impressed.
Lake can be an entertaining game, but only if you’re looking to burn some free time and don’t mind being railroaded.
Lake is an extremely charming story-driven title where you can accidentally be so nice to everyone that you end up forgetting to live for yourself. For the right kind of person, that in and of itself can be a much-needed wake up call; for everyone else, it’s in the very least a soothing little mail-carrying simulator that allows you to set the pace. If you’re looking for some slice-of-life goodness that provides some chill and calming ambiance, taking it easy with Lake is a no-brainer.
Does Lake push the boundaries and redefine the genre of a narrative adventure? I wouldn’t say so, but I would contend that it’s a welcome addition. The game is a great exploration of the impact one can have on others’ lives with simple interactions in a peaceful manner. There are quality-of-life issues, and the impact may not be as great as you would hope. In fact, there’s nothing grandiose about the game, but that works in its favor–it’s a calming presence in a world of chaos.
Lake feels almost intentionally designed to be boring and mundane, and it did get on my nerves at times. But unlike other similarly-themed art games out there, its premise is so humble and sweet, being so devoid of pretentiousness and arrogance, that it actually manages to deliver its message of making a fresh start and having a better life far away from the chaos of civilization.
Lake is a narrative-driven postal simulator quite unlike any other. With a rich story, wonderful characters a beautiful town to explore, if you’re looking for something to ease your mind, you can’t go wrong.
I had a very hard time getting anywhere near the end of this game. It was so slow; it would have been better off as a real visual novel instead of making the player do long, boring hours of forced labour. Delivering real mail would be a lot more interesting. The delivery mini-game padding in this game makes it less likely that visual novel fans will love this game, and the repetitive nature of Lake will ensure that adventure game lovers will also not really dig this title. I’m not entirely sure who the target audience for this game is, but I feel like it misses the mark completely.
Although the final decision felt flat, the residents of Providence Oaks and the interactions and relationships you form are wholesome and reinforce that sense of community and feeling like you belong. Sometimes in life, it's about the journey, not the destination, and I think the same about Lake.
Concept games like Lake are great for what they are and for how long they last you. You shouldn’t come to them expecting to be blown away, but for what they aim to present. Lake is especially good at delivering a satisfyingly light and encapsulated experience, but not much else.
Lake sells itself well on its peaceful atmosphere, which makes it easy to pick up and play, although several design decisions prevent the game from shining.
Unconventional and even slower paced than most games we see out there, Lake is a great choice for those who feel anguished about the decisions they made for their own lives and who are looking for reflections that can somehow appease indecisions. It is also suitable for anyone who likes to enjoy a beautiful view along the road and casual conversations with different people.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
This is a fine game for people who want a basic story, and no pressure while playing, which this does well. You have no timer on your day, and missions will not expire. The game itself is good to sink a few hours into. But that’s all it is, there’s nothing to keep the player coming back for more. While having potential, it falls short in my opinion. This is why Lake will be getting the Thumb Culture Silver Award from me. There’s not enough content here to keep the player interested long-term. While there are story elements to it, they’re pretty shallow and the only impact they have is on the outcome of the main story. I will leave you with the game trailer as always.
Delivering mail and driving around familiar streets helped set that relaxing tone. The unique interactions between Meredith and the other characters in Providence Oaks gave me the right motivation to play through and invest me in her tale. Lake isn't just a game about delivering mail; Lake is about reconnecting, and it was quite enjoyable to guide Meredith to a life she will enjoy.
Lake allows us to spend a pleasant time driving along its quiet roads and meeting the neighbors of Providence Oaks. A story about the return to the past and the dichotomy between the quiet life of the countryside and the hustle and bustle of the big city. A return to the roots that, however, does not quite take off and is somewhat weak, along with a system of decisions whose endings are quite predictable. Lake enjoys a nice cartoon style that gives great beauty to its landscapes that, however, overshadowed by the poor technical workmanship.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Moving into the country, away from the hustle and bustle of life in the big city, is a formula seen in many games. In the postal worker simulation game Lake, the small town of Providence Oaks needs a temporary postwoman and you’re just the right person for the job! Find out whether Providence Oaks is a dream destination or life in the slow lane in this Rapid Review.
I decided to stay in Providence Oaks because it was a relaxing trip. Delivering the mail has been a nice job in this game. A lot of technical issues overshadow the potentially good experience, however. Lake could have needed a lot more time to be really good.
Review in German | Read full review
Lake is careful not to waste your time even as it insists you take all the time you need.
Lake is exactly what it promises to be: A relaxing routine for you to step away from your fast life. Every single aspect of Lake is there to simplify the experience, to make it easier to get through. But it becomes boring so soon, and there is no replay value.