Der Ruf des Sees

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.