Game: Servant of the Lake
Genre: Adventure, Indie
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer | Publisher: Rusty Lake
Controller Support: Compatible
Price: US $TBC | UK £TBC | EU € TBC
Release Date: August 13th 2026
A review code was provided; many thanks to Game Drive NL.
What is the Rusty Lake Series?
There may be a chance you have never heard about the Rusty Lake series. If that’s the case, I’ll make a quick introduction because you are definitely missing one of the most interesting mystery fiction series of the indie gaming industry. With a total of 18 separate titles and a Steam collection, Rusty Lake tells the dark story of the Vanderboom family surrounded by dark magic, riddles and death.
Each title deepens a little bit in this fascinating story and characters, showing new secrets, lies, and plots in this web of illusions and conspiracy. It may be hard to picture the entire story by playing a single game, and even now there are storylines still not fully known to the players. But every bit of new information is always captivating and intriguing, complemented with smart puzzles and gameplay.
Meet The Vanderboom Family
Servant of the Lake takes us back to the era of the siblings Aldous, William and Alexandra Vanderboom. You play as Aldous’s new servant, tasked with preparing the house for a family meeting. Kate, the other servant, will guide you throughout your daily chores, but you will need to figure out a lot on your own.
The surreal puzzles begin the moment you arrive with the coachman. Standing on the porch, you’ll need to find a way inside—because nothing in Rusty Lake is as simple as knocking. From there, things escalate rapidly, and soon enough, you’ll be tasked with doing the most insane chores in the house.
Alexandra arrives with baby James, William harbors his own devious plan for the reunion, and Aldous is pulling strings in the background. Kate tries to warn you not to mess with this family, but you promptly ignore her. It becomes clear that you are not dealing with a normal family here. Even though you are only staying in the house for three days, it is not unreasonable to think you may not escape.
The Puzzles
The puzzles are cleverly designed, though a few require precise sequences or flawless execution, resetting if you make a mistake. Some can feel frustrating and repetitive due to being time-consuming, but nothing too bad. Also, Rusty Lake still has its own unique way to get you a little bit traumatized when you are playing, like making you put fly eggs on your food to eat.
After talking to Kate for the first time, you’ll receive a task list. You don’t really need to keep checking it, as the game is very linear and you can’t skip ahead. Still, it’s worth glancing at because most scenes contain hidden objectives to track.
There are also a few mysteries to be uncovered in the post-game, but I’ll keep the story spoilers to a minimum. Servant of the Lake is certainly a title that long-time fans should watch closely, and while it’s very engaging and intriguing, it may not be the best starting point for newcomers.
General Impressions
As a huge fan of the Rusty Lake series, I’m probably biased when writing this review. But it’s not an exaggeration to say that Servant of the Lake is another brilliant title. It’s creepy, delightfully disgusting in its own way, and mildly gory as you would expect. The Vanderboom siblings are full of their own schemes and plans, and all you can do as a servant is to obey.
The game manages to shock you from the start—things start to go wrong very early and an eerie feeling is instantly instilled. Presented in chapters like a book or a movie, the story heightens the ominous sensation of being dragged toward an inescapable future. Kate’s various warnings fall on deaf ears as you slowly drown in the Vanderboom family secrets.
The story is undoubtedly the highlight. Fans will recognize plenty of details from previous titles while diving into a new chapter of the Vanderboom saga. Even though the events unfold over just three days, there’s a wealth of new information to digest.
Conclusion
Servant of the Lake in another brilliant title from the Rusty Lake series. It offers a glimpse of the story about the first generation of Vanderboom—Alduos, Willian and Alexandra—and reveals the kind of people they are. The unnerving narrative and events that unfold during their family reunion will keep you engaged and curious.
The puzzles are clever and well-thought-out; even if they are not that hard, it is still rewarding to solve. The full playthrough lasted about five hours—a pretty decent duration. This title will most appeal to long-time fans, but newcomers shouldn’t be discouraged. Even if you miss some narrative details, the gameplay is still well worth your time. I truly think any fan of mystery and point-and-click adventures will enjoy Servant of the Lake.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up
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