Lake (video Game)

''Lake'' is a 2021 graphic adventure game developed by Gamious and published by Whitethorn Games. Set in 1986, the story follows Meredith Weiss, a software developer who spends two weeks in her hometown of Providence Oaks, Oregon, where she temporarily assumes the role of the town's mail carrier. The player interacts with residents while delivering mail to them. The game presents dialogue options which influence the events of the story and its ending.

The four-year development began in 2017 after director Dylan Nagel pitched the concept to Gamious. The setting was chosen for its aesthetics, while the time period was selected as it offered a nostalgic and relatable feeling. The world and characters were inspired by several American sitcoms and actors, and research was conducted into narrative-focused adventure games. The development team performed extensive research of Oregon for the game's setting.

''Lake'' was first showcased in 2018. It was released for Windows, the Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in September 2021, for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in April 2022, and for Stadia in June 2022; it is scheduled to release for Nintendo Switch in February 2024. It received mixed reviews, with praise for its world, characters, and performances; critics were divided on the repetitive gameplay and soundtrack. A downloadable content prequel following Meredith's father at Christmas was released in November 2023.

Gameplay

''Lake'' is a graphic adventure game played from a third-person perspective. The player controls Meredith Weiss, who returns to her hometown of Providence Oaks, Oregon, to work as a mail delivery driver. The player traverses the world by foot or by driving the mail van. Each day begins at the post office, and the player may freely explore locations in Providence Oaks while completing a predetermined number of deliveries, including packages and letters of correspondence, before returning to the post office. A mini-map is used for navigation.

Letters are stored in Meredith's mail bag and delivered to a house's mailbox, while packages are stored in the van's tailgate and delivered to a house's front door, which may prompt a conversation with its non-player character occupants. In these interactions, the player can choose to complete additional tasks throughout the town and organize after-work or weekend activities with other townspeople, including romantic relationships. Alternatively, the player can choose to complete additional work for Meredith's employer in the evenings or relax by reading or watching television or a movie. Branching dialogue choices are occasionally presented during conversations, which may influence the nature and tone of Meredith's relationships and ultimately impact the ending.

Plot

On September 1, 1986, software developer Meredith Weiss returns to her hometown of Providence Oaks after 20 years and stays at her parents' residence while they are away on a holiday trip, intending to take a short break from her hectic career at an American software company. To pass the time, she fills in for her father Thomas, the local mail carrier, for two weeks. Meredith may interact with the town's residents during her time in Providence Oaks, including her father's colleague Frank Coleman, the local postmaster; her estranged childhood best friend Kay Evans; Kay's aunt Maureen Hennessy, the proprietor of the local diner; the elderly Mildred Jenkins, who keeps many cats; and Lori Young, the local mechanic's daughter. Meredith may establish a romantic relationship with one of two love interests: Angie Eastman, the owner of a VHS rental shop; and Robert Harris, a lumberjack and environmental activist.

By the game's end, the player must decide whether Meredith will stay in Providence Oaks and take over her father's position permanently, or accept a partnership offer from her boss Steve Mitchell in the software company and return to her life in the big city. Each of these main endings has several versions, depending on the player's choices, including Meredith's romantic relationship. A third main ending becomes available if the player's choices led to Meredith owning an RV: if Meredith is in a relationship with Angie, the couple can depart from Providence Oaks and commit to an itinerant lifestyle.

Development

''Lake'' was developed by Dutch company Gamious. In 2017, studio founders Pim and Jos Bouman invited freelance game developer Dylan Nagel to pitch game ideas to the team. After two unsuccessful concepts—a dungeon-set puzzle game and a space game with branching narratives—Nagel pitched ''Lake'' with a picture of a car driving around a lake. The idea resonated with the team, and they found using a mail truck justified the gameplay concept of driving around and meeting people. They crafted a game design document shortly thereafter, outlining the concept and potential gameplay ideas. Research was conducted into adventure games focusing on narrative, such as '' Alan Wake'', '' Firewatch'', and '' Gone Home''.

A small team was formed to flesh out the concept in November 2017, and artists, animators, programmers, and a producer were added over time. The team aimed to complete the game within 18 months, though development ultimately took almost four years. Several titles were considered; ''Lake'' received no objections due to its "simple and carefree vibe". Most important creative choices had been decided before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, allowing the team to shift to remote work with few difficulties. They found the pandemic increased demand for a relaxing experience.

Game development management software Articy Draft was used to create the narrative with its branching options. The writers crafted a simple story to allow the player to enjoy their time in the world. They wanted the player to feel in control of the story as opposed to simply witnessing it, allowing them to opt in to tasks without feeling stressed, partly achieved by isolating characters to individual stories. Lead writer Jos Bouman sought each action to feel significant regardless of their results due to the quietness and immersion of the world, and wanted the dilemmas to feel complex without correct answers. He felt most players could resonate with Meredith and Kay's relationship as "most people have grown apart from friends they knew back in the day".

Several characters were physically based on blends of famous actors, such as George Carlin, Bill Murray, Hailee Steinfeld