Lake Reviews
Lake drops players in a quiet Oregon town and tries enticing them to uproot their life for something new, but I couldn't wait to leave Providence Oaks behind.
An interesting idea marred by a subpar execution, [i]Lake[i] is more tedious than it is relaxing and immersive. The atmosphere is neat, and the whole process of taking it easy and just enjoying the simple act of delivering the mail is surprisingly cathartic, but it's not enough to keep you here for more than an hour. There is some talking to be done with a number of characters as well, but this is sadly the least exciting thing here. The townsfolk are so boring that driving the empty roads and simply delivering the mail is more preferable.
Lake is a lovely, slow-paced indie game to play in your downtime. Rich in personality and character, well worth replaying.
Lake offers a relaxing, slow-paced experience that is not for everybody, but if you need a break from all the fast-paced action packed routine of these days and not looking to spend more than 20 bucks, then Lake can be a good choice for you.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Lake's curious proposal is surprisingly entertaining, although it ends up becoming repetitive. The worst thing is the numerous bugs that affect the experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In the end, Lake delivers on producing a "slice of life" experience but with some issues that keep it from being excellent. The characters are interesting to talk to, even if only a few of them break out from being one-dimensional. The vocal performances are good, but the stiff facial and body animations and rushed story don't give it a chance to connect with players. If you can forgive these shortcomings and don't find the mail delivery mechanic to be tedious, Lake is relaxing and different enough from other offerings to warrant a glance.
Lake is a short and enjoyable story-driven game with interesting mail delivery gameplay that drives you to get to know the townsfolk. The story and interactions provide much lighthearted fun so if you can get past the graphical issues and bugs, there's plenty to make you play Lake over and over so you can see how your decisions influence the people of Providence Oaks.
Lake is an incredibly soothing play with well-written characters, dialogue, and even better dubbing. The characters do occasionally open their mouths and miss the dub, but along with the not-so-widespread repertoire of local radio, this can be considered a minor detail that doesn't explicitly interfere with the experience of the play. The small town of Providence Oaks is just the perfect setting for an interesting story with three endings. The job of a postman suddenly seems like a dream job, though then again not for everyone.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Lake is not a bad videogame. On an artistic level it is a very enjoyable product and capable of moving you. However, the simplicity of its story and gameplay, as well as its message, should suit you.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With a lackluster narrative, and gameplay mechanics that are basic and largely unenjoyable, Lake ends up being a monotonous experience that is really not worth the time investment.
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.
Lake is careful not to waste your time even as it insists you take all the time you need.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.