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WEB EXCLUSIVE: Servant of the Lake is a thrilling addition to the mysterious Rusty Lake universe

COVER BY RUSTY LAKE Servant of the Lake was released on August 13. The game, which has a consistent 2D art style and mysterious mood, is set during the Vanderboom family's annual reunion. During the reunion, players take on the role of a servant of the Vanderboom estate.

Nov. 3, 2026

By Caitlin Correia
Managing Editor

Rusty Lake’s latest game in its series adds more mystery to the Rusty Lake universe. Released on Aug. 13, Servant of the Lake is an interesting prequel to Rusty Lake: Roots. With familiar point-and-click puzzles, players can take a deeper look into the Vanderboom family’s background.

The Rusty Lake universe is mainly inspired by the surreal mystery TV series Twin Peaks. Dutch indie developers and co-founders Maarten Looise and Robin Ras created an eerie series of complex puzzle games that blend a surreal, unsettling world with strange characters and mysteries that never end.

During a three-day weekend, players serve as a temporary servant at the Vanderboom estate as the siblings gather for their annual family reunion. They serve the siblings Aldous, William, Alexandra and her baby James alongside the estate’s other servant, Kate. The players take on complex tasks that pull them deeper into the household’s secrets. Each answer raises more questions as they try to uncover the family’s truth.

While serving the siblings, players discover what drives each character. Ongoing plot twists make them question everyone’s intentions. Kate cautions players about the unusual events surrounding the family and urges them not to get drawn deeper into their lives.

While most of the game has a mysterious tone, subtle horror elements also add to the plot. The few small jump scares and strange occurrences increase the players’ unease.

Average gameplay takes about four hours, but completing the over 40 achievements and bonus content alongside the main storyline takes about five hours. If players fail to complete all the achievements during their playthrough, they can return to the task from their notebook, where the achievement is located, without restarting the game.

While serving the siblings, players discover what drives each character. Ongoing plot twists make them question everyone’s intentions.

Like previous games in the Rusty Lake series, players use point-and-click exploration by tapping and dragging to move between rooms in the Vanderboom estate. They can also take a closer look at several sections of the estate, pick up inventory and inspect clues. The latest feature is the in-game notebook tracking system, which not only helps monitor tasks but also lets players add notes and trace over information.

The 2D art style remains consistent throughout. The background landscape and portraits around the estate were designed by the Dutch painter Johan Scherft, who has worked on the background paintings for several previous games. The landscape features a layered watercolor style that adds 3D depth, contrasting with the signature style. The three Vanderboom siblings’ portraits in the estate are oil paintings that took over a year and a half to complete.

Although it is a prequel to Rusty Lake: Roots, players do not need to play any additional games to understand the plot. Servant of the Lake is best played in one sitting, which isn’t a problem, as most players get so immersed in the storyline that pausing isn’t necessary.

Players who haven’t played other Rusty Lake games may find some puzzles difficult. Therefore, a walk-through is available on the Rusty Lake YouTube channel to guide them. Other characters may also have additional dialogue that can assist players with certain tasks. In one of the first tasks, Aldous tells the player that “something is missing” from his breakfast porridge, hinting that they need to find berries to add on top. Another task occurs during Alexandra’s lullaby poem, where each line links to an item the player must touch to progress.

For those who enjoy complex puzzles, an intriguing storyline and the genres of mystery or surreal horror, Servant of the Lake is the perfect fit. The game is available for purchase on Steam for $7.99 and on mobile for $4.99. The Rusty Lake universe is well worth exploring, but if you only play one game in the series, make it this one.

The player arrives at the Vanderboom estate.
The player documents their tasks and achievements in the servant's notebook.
The player assists Aldous, the oldest brother, with his morning exercises.
William, the second-oldest brother, arrives at the reunion.
The player taps objects based on the youngest sister Alexandra's lullaby to sooth the baby.
The player checks the halls of the estate for anything out of order.
The player peers through the bathroom keyhole to find a masked figure holding baby James.
The player enters Aldous' alchemy laboratory.
For one of William's tasks, the player explores the cellar and finds the cave entrance.
The player explores the secret cave and unlocks a door by placing the siblings' timepieces on the statues.
The player serves the siblings during the final reunion dinner.

SCREENSHOTS BY CAITLIN CORREIA