Lakesider: Above and Below

Lakesider: Above and Below is a fantasy visual novel that follows Knox, a working-class protagonist whose life takes a surreal turn after being saved from drowning by a mysterious fish girl. This encounter reveals a hidden underwater town beneath a lake, blending reality with fantastical elements. As Knox navigates this new world, he must grapple with the consequences of his discovery, which could lead to either a magical romance or a darker, more sinister outcome lurking beneath the surface.

Lakesider: Above and Below: A Haunting Dive into the Uncanny

Introduction: The Allure of the Unknown

Lakesider: Above and Below is a game that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. Released in April 2024 by indie developer Edith Reece, this visual novel defies easy categorization, blending slice-of-life intimacy with creeping survival horror. At its core, it’s a story about Knox, a working-class “weeb” whose life is upended when a mysterious fish girl rescues him from drowning, pulling him into a hidden underwater town. What begins as a whimsical fantasy quickly spirals into something far darker, forcing players to confront uncomfortable truths about mental health, isolation, and the thin veil between reality and delusion.

This review will dissect Lakesider’s narrative ambition, its mechanical execution, and its place in the broader landscape of indie horror and visual novels. Is it a masterpiece of psychological unease, or does it stumble under the weight of its own themes? Let’s dive in.

---

Development History & Context: A Labor of Love

The Studio Behind the Surface

Edith Reece is a one-person studio, a fact that makes Lakesider’s polish and depth all the more impressive. Reece’s portfolio includes quirky, experimental titles like Doge Simulator and Shadowless, but Lakesider represents a significant leap in narrative sophistication. The game was built using Ren’Py, a popular engine for visual novels, which allowed Reece to focus on writing and art without reinventing the wheel.

The Vision: A Tale of Two Worlds

Reece’s inspiration for Lakesider appears to stem from a fascination with liminal spaces—the eerie, in-between places that feel both familiar and alien. The underwater town isn’t just a setting; it’s a metaphor for Knox’s fractured psyche. The game’s Steam description hints at this duality: “An at times (un)comfortable slice of life turned survival horror you won’t want to miss!” This tonal whiplash is intentional, mirroring the unpredictability of mental health struggles.

Technological Constraints and Creative Workarounds

Given its indie roots, Lakesider doesn’t push technical boundaries, but it doesn’t need to. The fixed/flip-screen perspective and 2D artwork create a claustrophobic atmosphere, while the minimalist UI ensures the focus remains on the story. The game’s modest system requirements (a mere 1MB of RAM!) make it accessible to virtually any PC, a refreshing contrast to the bloated specs of modern AAA titles.

The Gaming Landscape in 2024

Lakesider arrived during a renaissance for indie horror and narrative-driven games. Titles like Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! and Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo had already proven that visual novels could deliver chilling, emotionally resonant experiences. Reece’s game stands out by blending these influences with a distinctly working-class perspective, a rarity in a genre often dominated by high school dramas or gothic fantasies.

---

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: The Weight of the Water

Plot Overview: A Descent into the Unknown

The story begins with Knox, a disaffected young man drowning his sorrows (literally) in a lake. His suicide attempt is interrupted by a fish girl named Luna, who drags him into a sunken town populated by other aquatic humanoids. At first, the town seems like a quirky escape from Knox’s mundane life, but cracks soon appear. The townsfolk’s behavior grows increasingly erratic, and Knox’s grip on reality begins to slip.

The narrative unfolds through multiple endings, each hinging on Knox’s choices. Will he embrace the fantasy, or will he confront the darker truths lurking beneath the surface? The game’s tagline—“What has been seen can never be un-seen”—hints at the irreversible nature of his journey.

Characters: More Than Meets the Eye

• Knox: The protagonist is a deeply flawed but relatable figure. His “weeb” persona isn’t just a joke; it’s a coping mechanism for his depression and alienation. His internal monologue oscillates between self-deprecating humor and raw vulnerability.
• Luna: The fish girl who saves Knox is both enigmatic and unsettling. Is she a guardian angel, a hallucination, or something more sinister? Her design—cute yet slightly off—embodies the game’s tonal duality.
• The Townsfolk: Each resident of the sunken town represents a different facet of Knox’s psyche. Some are welcoming, others hostile, but all feel like pieces of a larger puzzle.

Themes: Drowning in Metaphor

1. Mental Health and Escapism: Knox’s underwater odyssey mirrors the experience of depression. The town is a seductive fantasy, but it’s also a trap. The game doesn’t shy away from depicting self-harm and substance abuse, though it handles these topics with nuance rather than exploitation.
2. The Uncanny Valley: The fish people are deliberately designed to be almost human, creating a sense of unease. This visual discomfort reinforces the theme of things being “off” just enough to unsettle.
3. Class and Isolation: Knox’s working-class background is central to his character. His financial struggles and lack of social mobility make the underwater town’s promises of belonging all the more tempting—and dangerous.

Dialogue and Writing: Sharp and Unsettling

The script is Lakesider’s strongest asset. Knox’s voice is authentic, blending dark humor with genuine pathos. The dialogue avoids the pitfalls of many visual novels (e.g., overly verbose monologues) by keeping exchanges tight and purposeful. Even the humor feels earned, like Knox’s sarcastic quips about his situation: “Great, I’ve been saved by a fish girl. My life is officially a bad anime.”

---

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: Choice and Consequence

Core Gameplay Loop: A Visual Novel with Bite

Lakesider is, at its heart, a choice-driven visual novel. Players navigate Knox’s story by making decisions that alter the narrative’s trajectory. The game’s structure is linear in the sense that it funnels toward one of several endings, but the journey is anything but straightforward.

Combat and Survival Elements

While not a traditional survival horror game, Lakesider incorporates light survival mechanics:
– Sanity Meter: Knox’s mental state deteriorates as he spends more time in the town. Certain choices can stabilize or worsen his condition.
– Resource Management: Players must balance Knox’s need for food, rest, and social interaction. Neglecting these can lead to hallucinations or even death.
– Stealth Sections: In later chapters, Knox must avoid detection by hostile townsfolk, adding a layer of tension to the otherwise dialogue-heavy experience.

Character Progression: The Illusion of Control

Knox doesn’t level up in the traditional sense, but his relationships with other characters evolve based on player choices. These relationships unlock new dialogue options and, in some cases, entirely new scenes. The game’s multiple endings (reportedly 8 in total) encourage replayability, though some paths are significantly darker than others.

UI and Accessibility

The interface is minimalist, with a clean menu system that doesn’t distract from the narrative. However, the lack of a “skip seen text” option in the initial release was a notable oversight, though patches have since addressed this. The game’s Steam Achievements are tied to exploring different narrative branches, adding incentive for completionists.

Innovations and Flaws

• Strengths:
  • The sanity system is a clever way to integrate survival mechanics into a visual novel.
  • The multiple endings feel meaningfully different, not just superficial variations.
  • The sound design (discussed later) enhances the horror elements without relying on jump scares.
• Weaknesses:
  • Some players may find the pace uneven, with long stretches of dialogue followed by abrupt tonal shifts.
  • The stealth sections feel underdeveloped compared to the narrative depth.
  • The lack of voice acting (outside of sound effects) might disappoint those accustomed to fully voiced visual novels.

---

World-Building, Art & Sound: A Sinking Sensation

Setting: The Town Beneath the Lake

The sunken town is a masterclass in environmental storytelling. Its architecture is a mix of rustic cottages and eerie, coral-encrusted structures, suggesting a place frozen in time. The way light filters through the water creates a dreamlike haze, blurring the line between beauty and horror.

Visual Direction: The Beauty of the Uncanny

• Character Design: The fish people are deliberately almost human, with exaggerated eyes and slightly distorted proportions. This design choice amplifies the uncanny valley effect.
• Backgrounds: The game uses a mix of original artwork and photographs from Unsplash, creating a collage-like aesthetic that feels both grounded and surreal.
• Color Palette: The underwater scenes are dominated by blues and greens, but Reece occasionally punctuates these with jarring splashes of red (e.g., during moments of violence or psychological breakdown).

Sound Design: The Silence Beneath

Sound is where Lakesider truly shines. The game’s audio is sparse but deliberate:
– Ambient Noise: The constant drip of water and distant, muffled voices create an oppressive atmosphere.
– Music: The soundtrack, sourced from Epidemic Sound, leans into eerie, synth-heavy tracks that evoke both wonder and dread.
– Silence: Some of the most effective horror moments come from sudden absences of sound, leaving players with nothing but Knox’s ragged breathing.

Atmosphere: A Slow Burn

Lakesider doesn’t rely on cheap scares. Instead, it builds tension through dread and ambiguity. The town feels alive in a way that’s unsettling—doors creak open on their own, shadows move just out of sight, and the fish people’s smiles never quite reach their eyes.

---

Reception & Legacy: Ripples in the Indie Pond

Critical Reception: A Hidden Gem

As of this writing, Lakesider has flown under the radar of major gaming outlets, with no critic reviews on Metacritic or OpenCritic. However, the lone Steam user review (as of January 2026) is overwhelmingly positive, praising the game’s narrative ambition and atmospheric horror.

Commercial Performance: A Niche Success

With a modest price tag of $7.99, Lakesider hasn’t set sales records, but it’s found a dedicated audience among fans of psychological horror and unconventional visual novels. Its Steambase Player Score of 100/100 (albeit from a small sample size) suggests it resonates deeply with those who discover it.

Influence and Legacy

While it’s too early to gauge Lakesider’s long-term impact, it stands as a testament to what solo developers can achieve with limited resources. Its blend of slice-of-life realism and Lovecraftian horror could inspire future indie titles to explore similar themes. Games like Doki Doki Literature Club and Paranormasight have already proven the market for narrative-driven horror, and Lakesider carves out its own niche within that space.

---

Conclusion: A Game That Stays With You

Lakesider: Above and Below is not a perfect game, but it’s a bold, unforgettable one. Its strengths lie in its writing, its atmosphere, and its willingness to tackle difficult subjects without flinching. The survival elements, while not groundbreaking, add a layer of tension that keeps players engaged. Its flaws—uneven pacing, underdeveloped stealth sections—are outweighed by its ambition.

Final Verdict: 8.5/10 – A Haunting Masterpiece of Indie Horror

For fans of psychological narratives and visual novels that dare to unsettle, Lakesider is a must-play. It’s a game that doesn’t just tell a story—it immerses you in one, leaving you to question what’s real long after you’ve resurfaced.

Where It Stands in History: While it may not achieve the mainstream recognition of titles like Doki Doki Literature Club, Lakesider: Above and Below deserves a place in the pantheon of indie horror games that push boundaries. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling in games and a reminder that sometimes, the most terrifying monsters are the ones we carry within us.

---

Final Thought: If you’re looking for a game that will linger in your mind like a half-remembered dream (or nightmare), dive into Lakesider. Just be prepared for what you might find beneath the surface.