Varney Lake
More Pixel Pulps!
Pixel Pulps!
the GameWhat really happened at Varney Lake?
1954. During the long, hot summer, Jimmy, Doug and Christine are spending their fourth vacation together at Varney Lake. Teenage crushes, pranks and card tricks, long days of adventure, a pipe dream of saving the local drive-in from demolition; they’re kids, coming of age.
Until they find the Vampire.
1981. Lou Hill, paranormal investigator, has a lead on a mind-blowing case. Will he be able to convince the now 40-something Christine and Jimmy to tell him the truth about that Summer? Do they even know themselves?
And what really happened to Doug?
Features
Varney Lake, is for anyone who enjoys fine storytelling and engaging puzzles:
- Search for the truth in the nostalgic, branching narrative
- Immerse yourself in the story with its rich, evocative illustrations
- Witness the fate of Varney Lake’s characters in ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ style gameplay
- Solve accessible, brain-tickling puzzles along the way
- Learn more of Lou Hill, the Pixel Pulps’ recurring investigator
The follow-up to Mothmen 1966
Varney Lake is the second of the Pixel Pulps; a new series of interactive adventures created by novelist Nico Saraintaris and artist Fernando Martinez Ruppel. Pixel Pulps tell gripping stories inspired by mid-20th century pulp fiction and illustrated by 80s home computer-inspired graphics. The Pixel Pulps Collection comprises three games: Mothmen 1966, Varney Lake, and Bahnsen Knights.
Game Discussion
Steam User 20
Being in the same world of Mothmen 1966, this one is more focused on the "vibes", with some really strong contrast on the colors for each situation. An incredible writing for the characters, different minigames and even some secrets here and there. It's a very compelling and compressed experience, totally worth your time.
Esp: Estando en el mismo mundo de Mothmen 1966, este se centra más en las atmósfera, con algunos contrastes realmente fuertes en los colores para cada situación. Una escritura increíble para los personajes, diferentes minijuegos e incluso algunos secretos aquí y allá. Es una experiencia muy atrapante y comprimida, que merece totalmente la pena.
Steam User 4
Pretty good, I think I liked it more than Mothmen 1966 (which was decent too!), but that's because I like vampires. It's a short and bittersweet story that takes you back to childhood summers and endless hours of being outside, doing whatever you wanted with no care in the world. There a few mini games too. Good stuff!
Steam User 2
Varney Lake is entertaining enough as a visual novel, but it is sadly the worst of the pixel pulps. There's almost no tension, the characters aren't that interesting, the ending is not really satisfying and the minigames are mostly boring, which is compounded by how janky the controls for some of them are (and you can't skip them if you want to see everything).
That said, I still think you should buy it if you enjoyed Mothmen and Bahnsen Knights. Unlike those two, though, I'd say Varney Lake is only worth it if you get it on sale.
Steam User 1
Excellent short visual novel that's part coming of age story and part horror. Really love the style this series are going for, in presentation and the writing,
Steam User 0
Good visuals, nice atmosphere, okay-ish story, even worse card game than the one in MOTHMEN 1966. Seriously, please stop it with those card games.
Steam User 0
I wasn't sure the Stand By Me meets vampires thing would work but this was another great tale and tied in nicely with the previous story.
Steam User 0
a nice summer movie vibe on this pixel pulp a fun story about a summer afternoon with 3 kids meeting a vampire and the story that unfolds there is quite intruiging