My New Job Is Housekeeping for the Creepiest Family in Gaming, and It's Fantastic

The Vanderboom family is hiring, and I was foolish enough to answer the call. Thank God I did.

The moment the iconic Rusty Lake art style and haunting music kicked in, I knew I was home. Servant of the Lake, the next premium adventure from the masters of surreal point-and-click weirdness, has a demo out for Steam Next Fest, and it’s a perfect, bite-sized dose of everything that makes this series great.

Welcome to the Vanderboom Estate

This time, I'm not just a visitor; I'm on the payroll. The demo puts you in the shoes of a new servant at the infamous Vanderboom house, tasked with getting things ready for some mysterious guests.

The atmosphere is, as always, immaculate. Every room is soaked in that signature Rusty Lake blend of the mundane and the deeply unsettling. The art is gorgeous, the soundtrack is wonderfully eerie, and the puzzles are exactly the kind of satisfyingly strange brain-scratchers I've come to crave from this developer.

The Daily Grind Has Never Been Weirder

The demo is short, clocking in at around 15 to 30 minutes, but it’s packed with classic Rusty Lake charm. You’ll be solving surreal puzzles to complete what are, on the surface, normal housekeeping duties. It’s a fantastic taste of the full game, giving you just enough of a story hook to leave you desperate for more.

If you’ve played Rusty Lake Hotel or Roots, you'll feel right at home. If you’re new to the series, just prepare for a world where logic is a bit... different. It’s weird, but in the best possible way.

Oh, and there's one more thing you absolutely need to know. The most important feature of any game is present here.

You can pet the cat.

This is a must-play demo this Next Fest. It's polished, wonderfully strange, and a brilliant teaser for what looks to be another classic from one of the most creative studios out there. Go wishlist it.