Winter Mail Delivery – Lake: Season’s Greetings Review

Grab your snow boots, this winter we’re heading back to 1985 for Lake’s holiday-themed prequel to find out what Providence Oaks was like before Meredith arrived.

Prequel to the first game, Lake: Seasons Greetings transports us back to the mid-80s to take on the role of loveable mailman, Thomas Weiss. Set just one year before the events of Lake, this DLC is set to scratch the itch for more cosy mail delivery and neighbourhood chatting I know you’ve been craving ever since we first arrived in Small Town, USA.

The Base Game

When Lake first launched in September 2021, I instantly fell in love with the incredible world design, cosy atmosphere, and art style. It is almost too easy to lose yourself in the simplicity of delivering mail in this rural yet stunningly beautiful town. The gameplay is accompanied by loveable characters and a story where nothing really goes wrong, making Lake one of the best games out there when you need to unwind.

There’s no big surprise moment, no crazy driving chases, or a mail bomb that goes off if you drive under 60, but that’s a good thing! What makes Lake so good is the simplicity of its gameplay and narrative. Lake is about heading back to your hometown to cover your vacationing father’s mail route, and that is what you do.

In the base game, our main character, Meredith, was in dire need of a break from the corporate life that she built herself in the Big City, and that is exactly what Lake is about. Throughout the game, you’ll make small decisions like watching TV, going out, or doing some work for your boss back in the city. Ultimately, after gently examining some of Meredith’s life choices, rekindling old friendships, and helping a crazy cat lady a few times, Lake ends with a decision. Do you stay in Providence Oaks and become the new postie, accept a partnership offer from your big city boss and return to life in the city, or head out on an RV road trip with your girlfriend?

A choice like that might seem a little scary, but it is one of the reasons I fell in love with the game. Lake’s underlying message is there are no wrong decisions in life. If you want to do something, it is never too late, and you don’t have to stay somewhere that isn’t right for you. Meredith was in her 40s when she returned to Providence Oaks. Lake doesn’t shy away from choices and slice-of-life themes. Like life in general, there are no right or wrong answers, no bad or good endings. There’s just an ending.

Season’s Greetings

Just like that, it’s winter! Providence Oaks has been covered in a blanket of snow, and this time, we’re taking on the mail route as Meredith’s father. Lake: Season’s Greetings transports us back to 1985, a whole year before the events of the original game.

Just like in the base game, you start each day with a list of letters and packages to deliver to the townsfolk of Providence Oaks. Your route and where you stop to admire the view along the way is up to you; just hop in your loveable mail truck, “The Goose”, and set off. Some of the best fun I’ve had in Lake has been wandering off up a hill to admire the view or stopping by Mo’s diner to play Ghost Blasters.

Lake: Season’s Greetings Sound & Art Design

Lake: Season’s Greetings takes full advantage of the stellar soundtrack the base game introduced, fitting perfectly with the comfy and cosy world. While we’re on the topic of Lake’s sound design, I have a message for Gamious the developers: Please, please, please create a physical soundtrack CD or vinyl. I genuinely have not been able to stop humming Yara Meyers and Nathalie Hedin’s Lower Me Down the Bridge for a week! If you’re physically unable to move on in life without listening to this soundtrack daily, don’t panic! It is on Spotify.

Season’s Greetings winter setting adds a new level of awe to the game’s world design. Not only are folks wrapped up warm for the weather, but the Christmas lights hung around Providence Oaks will make you never want to leave.

Seriously, no game has ever made me want to run away from the big city and become a small-town postie till now, but well… sorry, Overclockers UK, I’m out.

Beyond Lake’s world design is an art style worth falling for. Every house, character, street, and even the posters around town have clearly all been made with explicit attention to detail. The entire game just screams cosy. In fact, my favourite place to deliver to in both the base game and DLC quickly became Angie’s movie rental store thanks to this level of design. Proudly proclaiming stock of both VHS and Betamax, The Flick Shack plays a pivotal role in the first game, with Meredith and Angie becoming romantic partners or friends depending on your decisions. The best part about this shop, though, is the movies and posters. Avoiding copyright has never looked this good.

Impressive Accessibility Features

I always see it as a good sign when a games press release comes with a whole section highlighting the accessibility features the developers have included. The majority of gamers might never need subtitles, voice narration, or hands-free delivery, removing the need to drive the mail truck. But by including even some basic accessibility options, a game can be opened up to everyone.

The accessibility options in Lake are by no means basic, though. All the usual options are here, with the choice to have subtitles, fully re-mappable controls, gamepad support, and more. However, the inclusion of an autopilot for our reliable mail truck, “The Goose”, and a list of other features really opens Lake up for all gamers.

TLDR

Lake: Season’s Greetings is packed with everything that made me fall in love with the original game and more. You’ll get to explore a winter wonderland, listen to an incredible soundtrack, and fall in love with Providence Oaks all over again. If cosy games are your jam too, then you won’t want to miss out on this one!

Lake: Season’s Greetings PC Requirements

OS	Windows 10 (64 bit)
Processor	Intel Core i5-4570 / AMD FX-8350
Memory	8 GB RAM
DirectX	Version 11
Storage	2 GB available space

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Ready To Head Back To Providence Oaks?

Lake: Season’s Greetings really lived up to the first game. If you’ve got any cosy game recommendations for me this winter, please let me know in the comments.