The cozy, relaxing Lake received a trailer at the Future Games Show at E3 2021. The game is centered around delivering mail in a small, quiet town in the year 1986. The game is set to release for multiple platforms, but will first release to Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Lake is the latest game from Dutch developer Gamious. Their previous titles include Turmoil, Team Racing League, and Briquid. Lake was revealed in 2020 and will be published by Whitethorn Digital. Despite still being in the playtesting phase, it was named an official selection at the LudoNarraCon 2021 Showcase in April.
Lake is planned to launch on September 1st, according to the new trailer that premiered at E3 (via Game Trailers). That's also the date the main character Meredith Weiss returns to her hometown Providence Oaks. Previously a career woman in the city, she returns home to deliver mail over the course of two weeks. While back home, the player controls Meredith and decides her actions for the day, including how she'll interact with the townsfolk.
The game boasts a semi-realistic art style mixed with cel-shaded graphics. There also appears to be full voice acting, at least for all major interactions. The narrative features branching paths, with no good or bad ending - just the natural results of the player's choices. Meredith also has the option of potentially romancing some of Providence Oak's residents, if the player so desires. The main duty, however, is to deliver mail. This can be accomplished either manually or using the game's autopilot system.
The latest trailer focuses on one of the after-work activities Meredith can partake in. She and her friend Angie from the video store can opt to go to the movies, with era-appropriate titles playing. In the trailer, Meredith chooses Disney's The Great Mouse Detective, but other options are present and presumably influence the story in some way. There are other activities available, naturally, but they were not highlighted in the video.
Life can be incredibly hectic, even in a small town. Lake seeks to find the idyllic peacefulness that eludes so many in modern living. By moving the focus to the past, it allows for historical elements and simple gameplay to shine through. The voice acting brings Meredith and the people of Providence Oaks to life, and the simple but charming graphics add to the immersion. It's a simple, quiet game about escaping the more chaotic nature of the larger working world. Perhaps that's exactly what is needed after an incredibly busy year.
Lake launches on September 1st for PC, Mac, Xbox Series X|S, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, and Linux.
Source: Game Trailers/YouTube