Prepare to become a test subject for the world’s most advanced (and metrics-obsessed) AI in Lab Rat on Xbox and PC!
Lab Rat, a hand-crafted narrative puzzler masquerading as a machine-generated experiment, launches on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC.
Developed by Chump Squad and published by the renowned Klei Publishing (Don’t Starve), this satirical adventure promises brain-bending puzzles and hilarious commentary on humanity.
In Lab Rat, you haven’t just booted up a game; you’ve been chosen for a special test! Your guide (and tormentor) is a sophisticated AI meticulously trained on “the best interactive entertainment available.”
It will monitor your every move, profile your behaviour, analyse your survey responses, and provide constant, often misguided, feedback as you tackle over one hundred unique spatial puzzles. Expect plenty of heckling along the way.
Genre-Bending Puzzles, AI Overlords
The core gameplay involves manoeuvring objects, diverting lasers, and manipulating electricity to overcome a diverse range of surprisingly complex spatial problems.
While the AI believes it’s generating the perfect game experience based on data, the puzzles themselves are lovingly hand-crafted by human experts.
This creates a fascinating dynamic: you’re solving intricate puzzles while simultaneously dealing with an AI developing a hilariously skewed understanding of humanity based purely on your performance metrics and choices.
The game even features satirical in-game analytics updated in real-time with real player data, adding another layer to the meta-commentary.
Crafted by Industry Veterans
Despite its machine-learning premise, Lab Rat boasts an impressive human development team. It’s directed by Gwen Frey (creator of Kine & co-creator of the outstanding The Flame in the Flood), features environment art by Mike Snight (Lead World Builder on Bioshock Infinite), writing and programming by Ian Bond (Bioshock 1 programmer), and puzzles by beloved experimental designer Lucas Le Slo.
We don’t need to tell you that this kind of pedigree promises a polished and cleverly designed experience beneath the satirical surface.
Key Features
- Narrative Puzzler: Solve 100+ unique spatial puzzles.
- Satirical Adventure: Outwit a metrics-obsessed, heckling AI narrator.
- Unique Premise: A hand-crafted game masquerading as an AI-generated test.
- Real-Time Analytics: See satirical data based on actual player performance.
Report for Testing Tomorrow
Lab Rat offers a unique blend of challenging puzzles, witty satire, and meta-commentary on algorithms and game design. If you’re ready to be monitored, profiled, and maybe even insulted by an AI while solving clever spatial problems, get involved.
You’ll find Lab Rat playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through the Xbox Store, priced at £16.74 / $19.99 USD. It’s also on PC through Steam.
Can you satisfy the algorithm? Stay tuned for our full analysis (review!) soon.
Lab Rat Description
Lab Rat was generated by the world’s most advanced machine learning algorithm – me. I have been meticulously trained on the best interactive entertainment available today and my data indicates you will be completely satisfied with the result. However, your valuable human feedback is required to help me further adjust and develop this experience.
 AI in Lab Rat on Xbox and PC!){kind=link}