The Latest Addition to the Rusty Lake Series

Imagine a game that combines the eerie atmosphere of Twin Peaks with the puzzle-adventure elements of a classic point-and-click game. Welcome to Rusty Lake: Twisted tales of familial obligation and tradition unfolding in a backcountry idyll possessed by something better left unseen and unspoken. The latest installment in the series, Servant of the Lake, is now available, and it’s a must-play for fans of the genre.

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Servant of the Lake is a slow-burning game that starts off with a weird but subdued atmosphere. However, once it gains momentum, the Vanderboom family at the center of the tale does not hold back. The game’s audio is noteworthy, with great voice work that feels more connected to humanity than previous games in the series. The soundtrack is also pleasant, particularly as the game progresses.

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Even so, weird is the Rusty Lake playbook, and Servant of the Lake is no exception. Ostensibly about signing on for a three-day gig as a servant in support of a big family reunion, the work involved is not your everyday household drudgery. I fed a man porridge infested with houseflies, then cut off a chunk of his ear while shaving him, both of which he seemed oddly okay with—and this was on my first morning.

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Later on, I tried to kill a guy, and then watched a lady swallow a soul. What a weekend! Puzzles in Servant of the Lake are fairly lightweight, and if you do get hung up (as I did, once) there’s plenty of help to be had from the community and the developers themselves, who have posted a full walkthrough. It’s also very linear: There are moments where it seems like you have a choice in matters, but your fate is predetermined so you don’t need to agonize over, say, the soup. (You’ll figure it out.)

Like other Rusty Lake games, what Servant of the Lake offers in place of freedom is secrets: The game is filled with them, and while they’re not essential to the experience, they do add to the ambiance, sometimes with references to previous games in the series. There’s a lot to dig into, and fortunately all chapters are replayable in any order once the game is finished, so it’s easy to go back and dig for what you missed.

According to Robin Ras, co-founder of Rusty Lake, the game’s launch has been a great success.