ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Servant of the Lake Review: Rusty Lake's New Point-and-Click Horror Puzzler

opinion-review · 2026-08-20

In the newest addition to the Rusty Lake series, Servant of the Lake, players take on the role of a servant at the Vanderboom estate. This prequel, created by Rusty Lake, delves into the unsettling history of the Vanderboom family. It presents a mix of challenging and approachable point-and-click puzzles, including a significant mid-game challenge featuring Aldous Vanderboom. The game’s whimsical art style juxtaposes its horror themes, which evoke a sense of underlying tension. Notably longer than its predecessors, it offers intricate puzzles and serves as an excellent starting point for new players. Leah J. Williams, an award-winning journalist, commended it as an engaging horror and puzzle adventure in her review on ArtsHub.

Key facts

  • Rusty Lake developed Servant of the Lake.
  • The game explores the origins of the Vanderboom family.
  • Players control a servant arriving at the Vanderboom estate.
  • The series began as a Twin Peaks homage with characters Dale and Laura.
  • A standout puzzle involves a hunting trip with Aldous Vanderboom and requires dispatching a man to summon a deer.
  • The game's puzzles balance challenge and reward.
  • The game is described as a longer title than others in the series.
  • The review was based on a PC copy provided by the publisher.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Rusty Lake

Sources