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TL;DR:

Lake is a game that many might not enjoy, but for players with niche tastes and an appreciation for subtle details like me, it offers a satisfying experience. Reading the negative reviews on Steam saddened me because I believe people tend to overlook that Lake is a low-budget indie title and focus only on its shortcomings. If you’re someone who enjoys emotional and delicate narratives, and you keep your expectations modest, you might find yourself enjoying this beautiful game. The playtime ranges between 6–8 hours.
I’ll share my thoughts about the game under a few subheadings, focusing on what the game conveys and my personal feelings.
Themes & Philosophy:
Our protagonist, Meredith, is a computer programmer working on a program called Addit. However, the hustle and bustle of the big city, the monotony of her job, and her responsibilities have left her burnt out. To escape, she takes a two-week leave and returns to her hometown, Providence Oaks, to work as a mail carrier during her break. This is where our journey begins.
Personally, I felt a strong connection to Meredith, probably more so than the average player, because I, too, work as a software developer. I share the same thoughts and emotions as her. If I lived under more favorable conditions, I would definitely do something similar.

Gameplay:
The gameplay primarily revolves around two mechanics: vehicle driving and delivering mail. Although there are additional elements, everything is built around these two core aspects. At first glance, this might seem dull because making a game enjoyable with such a narrow focus is a real challenge. However, Lake manages to reduce this monotony with a simple yet charming and heartfelt story, diverse characters, and engaging dialogues—and it does so successfully.
Some of the letters and packages we deliver each day belong to people we know and care about in the game. As a result, we encounter various interactions and dialogues throughout the day.
However, one aspect didn’t quite meet my expectations: the driving mechanics As someone who enjoys driving and appreciates the sluggishness and sounds of commercial vehicles, the driving mechanics didn’t make me happy. That said, I didn’t set my expectations too high, so I could overlook this shortcoming. Still, I must say the vehicle doesn’t quite match the cozy, relaxing vibe of the town. Neither its model nor its design felt appropriate. At the very least, the van could have had a design representing the town or the post office, with brighter colors. It could also have been enriched with 3D decorations.
Dialogues & Voice Acting:
This was hands-down my favorite part of the game. The dialogues don’t feel artificial or simplistic; it’s clear that effort went into them. Some characters’ lines fit their personalities so well, and the voice actors did an excellent job of bringing them to life. Nothing felt out of place—it was just as it should be.

Characters:
I can confidently say I loved every character in this game. For a game like this, the diversity and depth of the characters exceeded my expectations, pulling me away from the monotony of gameplay. The game even manages to spark curiosity or make you laugh with some characters’ unique stories, even if you can’t fully interact with them.
You’re allowed to pursue romance with certain characters, which can influence the main story. Love is a very special emotion for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the game. What’s more, you can choose between a homosexual or heterosexual relationship path.
Musics:
I simply loved them!
Knowing these aspects in advance may help you enjoy the game more.
Additional Notes:

Slightly increasing traffic density could enhance the atmosphere.
I would have liked a waypoint system on the minimap.
Instead of showing target locations as icons on the minimap, coloring the 2D house visuals or marking them with 3D elements would have been better. I occasionally got confused in narrow streets and areas with dense vegetation.
Subtitles were hard to read in certain scenes. A black or blurred background for subtitles would have helped.
At times, I wished to revert to an earlier savegame due to making a wrong choice, but I couldn’t. The game only relies on manual saves, and I occasionally forgot to save at the end of the day. I believe the game should have automatic daily saves. That said, choices don’t seem to result in drastic consequences, so it’s not a major issue.
Some players suggested adding more gameplay challenges, but I think that would contradict the game’s atmosphere and philosophy.


And the end.
Stay with love, and I hope none of you end up as unhappy as I am.
Loving Caliber - I Wish You Were Mine