Screenshots
Watch trailer on Steam ↗Call of the Lake
StarryFrame Games · Published by StarryFrame Games
Content notice: This game contains mild psychological horror elements, a tense atmosphere, and occasional frightening imagery.
8 user reviews — 50% positive (8 reviews) · 11 achievements
Last updated 28 Sept 2026
Call of the Lake is an atmospheric visual novel in the psychological horror genre. Would you dare to look into your own past if it turns out to be more terrifying than any nightmare? 💀
£2.99
Lowest price we've ever recorded
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Price history
Adventure, Indie, RPG, Casual · 2026 · More under £5 games
Delve into Call of the Lake, an atmospheric adventure where you confront the shadows of your own history. Experience a chilling narrative that blurs the line between reality and nightmare.
About this game
Call of the Lake focuses on atmosphere, sound design, and storytelling rather than frequent jumpscares.
This is a short story-driven experience that takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.
The game also features atmospheric video sequences created специально for the project — the same ones you can see below on the Steam page.
They are seamlessly integrated into the narrative and enhance the overall immersion.
Call of the Lake is an atmospheric psychological horror visual novel inspired by Soviet aesthetics, childhood memories, and real historical events of the Soviet era.
You play as Janis, a boy sent to a pioneer camp by a remote lake. At first, the summer feels familiar: pine trees, evening walks, new friends, camp routines, and warm air filled with distant voices.
But something is wrong.
Small details begin to feel unsettling. Rumors spread through the camp. The forest grows too quiet. The lake feels alive in a way it shouldn’t.
What starts as a seemingly ordinary summer slowly turns into a story about fear, memory, buried truth, and the things people chose not to talk about.
Your decisions shape how Janis experiences the camp — and which ending you reach.
This is a story about childhood that never lets go.
About a truth hidden beneath a calm surface.
And about trying to understand what really happened — and why the past still calls.
Will you dare to look into the past… if it’s calling you from the depths?
🕯 FEATURES
🌲 Atmosphere of a Soviet pioneer camp
A nostalgic summer setting filled with warmth, friendship, and a growing sense of unease beneath the surface.
🧠 Psychological horror grounded in reality
A slow-burn experience focused on tension, dread, and the harsh truths hidden behind ordinary life.
🎧 Immersive sound design
Realistic ambient sounds, wind, whispers, and original music designed for a fully immersive experience.
Recommended to play with headphones.
🎞 Cinematic video sequences and visual inserts
Atmospheric video scenes and VHS-inspired fragments enhance storytelling, blending gameplay with a disturbing, archival-like presentation.
🕯 Dark visual style in deep blue tones
A distinctive visual presentation built around desaturated colors, darkness, and shades of blue, creating a constant feeling of tension and observation.
📖 Branching choices and multiple endings
Your decisions influence how the story unfolds — and determine which ending you reach.
🔍 Interactive story scenes with exploration elements
Explore environments, inspect details, and uncover hidden information throughout the camp.
🌫 Atmospheric visual and audio effects
Experience fog, darkness, grain, subtle distortions, and layered ambient effects that enhance immersion and tension.
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS *: Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / 11 (64-bit)
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Additional Notes: Recommended to play with headphones 🎧
Recommended
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
- Processor: Intel i3 or AMD equivalent
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics or better
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Additional Notes: Optimized for 1920×1080 Full HD
Supported Languages
Latest news
Patch NotesOfficial
Achievements Update is Live
Hello everyone!A small update for Call of the Lake is now live.✅ Steam achievements are now fully implemented and working correctly in-game. Players can now unlock achievements while progressing through the story, discovering secrets, and reaching different endings.Thank you for playing and supporting the game. More updates and improvements will come later.Good luck at the camp. 🌑Read full article on Community Announcements (andrej2018brodiaga)AnnouncementsOfficial
The Game Is Out Now
The game is out.Honestly… I still can’t fully believe this moment has come.This is my first game, and I made it completely on my own.No experience, no team — just learning everything step by step along the way: coding, scenes, sound, builds, Steam… everything.There were many moments when I wanted to quit.When it felt like nothing was working.But I kept going.And now… you can finally play it.Thank you to everyone who:— added the game to their wishlist— followed the development— supported me— or simply stayed along the wayIt truly means a lot to me.If you decide to play:If you encounter any bugs or issues, please let me know in the Steam discussions or via email.I’ll do my best to respond and fix things as quickly as possible.I really hope you feel the atmosphere I tried to create.The lake is waiting.Read full article on Community Announcements (andrej2018brodiaga)AnnouncementsOfficial
German Language Added — 3 Languages at Launch
At launch on May 6, the game will be available in:EnglishRussianGermanI plan to continue improving localization and adding more languages after release.Thank you to everyone supporting the project and adding it to your wishlist.Get ready — the camp departure is coming soon.Read full article on Community Announcements (andrej2018brodiaga)AnnouncementsOfficial
Release in 7 Days — Everything Is Ready
Hey everyone 👋Release is in just 7 days… and I still can’t believe it.Everything is approved and ready.No more delays are expected.The game will cost $2.99,and there will be a launch discount on release day.🎧 Original Soundtrack — $0.99💿 Bundle (Game + OST) — includes an extra discountHuge thank you to everyone who followed the developmentand added the game to their wishlist.It truly means a lot.I believe this game will stay with you after you finish it.Tomorrow I’m back to my regular job,so… good luck to everyone out there.We’re not saying goodbye.We’re just getting started.See you very soon.Read full article on Community Announcements (andrej2018brodiaga)AnnouncementsOfficial
Release Delay — Build Under Review
We want to be fully transparent with you.Unfortunately, we have to delay the release of Call of the Lake. During the final checks, we encountered a critical issue with the build that prevents the game from launching correctly.We have already made important changes, including updating the engine and rebuilding the project, and we are continuing to refine and test the game to ensure everything works as intended.The latest build has been submitted for review, and we are currently waiting for the process to be completed.We expect this to take around 1–2 weeks, depending on the review time and any additional adjustments that may be required.We truly believed we would be able to release on time, which is why this announcement comes later than it should have. For that, we are especially sorry.Our goal is simple: to make sure you can play the game comfortably, without technical issues.Thank you for your patience, support, and for adding the game to your wishlist — it means a lot to us.We will release the game as soon as everything is ready.We sincerely apologize for not meeting the planned release date.— StarryFrame GamesRead full article on Community Announcements (andrej2018brodiaga)
