Releasing on Xbox One and Series X|S, PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4 and PlayStation 5, Varney Lake is the second visual novel in the Pixel Pulp trilogy, following on from Mothmen 1966, from developer LCB Game Studio and publisher Chorus Worldwide.
Set across two time periods, Varney Lake has a rich narrative and ‘choose your own adventure’ gameplay.
We start off the story during the long, hot summer of 1954, when three teenagers: Jimmy, Doug and Christine are holidaying together at Varney Lake. What starts off as hazy days of adventure, teenage pranks and a pipe dream of saving the local drive through from demolition, things take a rather strange and sinister turn when they come across the Vampire.
Fast-forward to 1981 and Lou Hill, the Pixel Pulp’s recurring paranormal investigator, has a lead on a mind-blowing case but needs the now 40-something Christine and Jimmy to help him by revealing what really happened that summer. Will they tell all? Do they really know what happened? And what happened to Doug?
Not much is given away in this short teaser trailer, other than a taster of the 2D pixel art and retro 8-bit music you’ll get to enjoy more of in the game.
Coming in at around 2 hours of gameplay, Varney Lake is an immersive experience with its nostalgic, branching narrative and rich, evocative illustrations. You’ll search for the truth of what really happened that summer by solving brain-tickling puzzles and witnessing the fate of the three teenagers in a nostalgic, coming of age adventure. With nods to classic TV and movies like Stranger Things and Stephen King’s IT, Varney Lake is perfect for fans of mid-20th century pulp fiction and ‘80s home computer graphics.
“Nico and Fer really nailed a new look for horror here,” said Shintaro Kanaoya, founder and CEO of Chorus Worldwide. “Mothmen 1966 stores a lot of its terror in the dark unknown, but with Varney Lake they’ve made horror bright with intrigue, and they truly nail what feels like the end of the world in Bahnsen Knights. We can’t wait for you to see the surprises they have in store.”
“The Pixel Pulps Anthology allows us to explore our many influences and taste in horror,” said Nico Saraintaris, writer and co-founder of LCB Game Studio. “Mothmen 1966, Varney Lake, and Bahnsen Knights all tell their own stories, but share multiple threads of connective tissue.”
Varney Lake is out now and you can buy and download it from all the usual stores, including the Xbox Store for £8.49.
Our review is coming soon.
DLC Description:
What 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? 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.
