Lake (NSP, XCI) ROM

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 that 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 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 on 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 mailbag 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 returned to her hometown of Providence Oaks after 20 years and stayed at her parent’s residence while they were 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 lead 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.