If you are familiar with the unsettling, surreal charm of the 'Rusty Lake' point-and-click adventure series, you will be pleased to know that a new demo is now available on Steam. This time, you are tasked with stepping into the shoes of a servant within the infamous Vanderboom family manor to unearth the grim, alchemical secrets lurking beneath the surface.

Rusty Lake has dropped a demo for their latest project, 'Servant of the Lake', as part of Steam Next Fest. The game transports us back to the Vanderboom estate, where you act as a loyal servant to the alchemist brothers, Aldous and William, doing your best to help them achieve their ambitious alchemical dreams.

Chronologically speaking, this title serves as a prequel, set a decade before the events of 'Rusty Lake: Roots', which launched back in October 2016. For those who need a refresher, 'Rusty Lake: Roots' chronicled the multi-generational drama of the Vanderboom lineage from James onwards.

Aldous and William, the stars of this new entry, are the ancestors of James and are infamous for brewing the elixir of immortality—the very catalyst for the chaos that defines this series. Given their central role, expect some long-held secrets regarding the series' overarching obsession with alchemy to finally bubble to the surface.

As a servant to the brothers, you will be juggling mundane chores—straightening portraits, doing the laundry, assisting with experiments, and greeting guests. It is in these trivial tasks that you will find the signature puzzle-solving gameplay that fans of the franchise have come to expect.

The demo, which has been live on Steam since the 13th, offers a brief 15 to 30-minute slice of the experience. It sets the stage by having you prepare for the arrival of one of Aldous's guests. The developers have stated that this is a taste of what is to come, and they are actively collecting user feedback to polish the final product.

Servant of the Lake is slated for release next year and will officially support Korean subtitles.