Lake Reviews
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.
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's placid design philosophy cuts both ways: no flaw too egregious and no positive too remarkable.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 can be an entertaining game, but only if you’re looking to burn some free time and don’t mind being railroaded.
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
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 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.
Buried beneath Lake's innumerable mundane tasks are some really cool characters and stories. It’s just a shame you have to dig deep to really reach them.
Overall, Lake tells a beautiful story, has nuanced and interesting characters, and has an environment that feels comforting and inviting. What detracts from the experience is, unfortunately, the game's tedious tasks and slow pace. This combination makes it hard to leave the experience with a clear opinion about the time spent in Providence Oaks, but what is clear is that Lake will absolutely satisfy players who feel like they need to escape and spend some time taking it slow and easy.
Lake is the perfect pallet cleanser after a heavier title. It's refreshing to not have to worry about an end of the world prophecy, or an out of control god hell-bent on destruction. However, it's also that simplistic nature that holds it back from a first-class stamp.
This peaceful circuit is perfect for the kind of person who tries to observe traffic laws when playing Grand Theft Auto
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 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
While the concept of Lake is simple and sweet, the repetitive gameplay can take away from the story and its interesting characters, making the daily delivery tasks more of a chore than something more.