LCB Game Studio and publisher Chorus Worldwide have released Varney Lake, the second visual novel in their ongoing Pixel Pulps Anthology series, for PC via Steam, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Inspired by mid-20th century pulp fiction and ’80s home computer graphics, the game follows paranormal investigator Lou Hill as he delves into a supposed vampire encounter from 1954. The Pixel Pulps Anthology, with its distinct written and visual style, is the brainchild of novelist Nico Saraintaris and artist Fernando Martinez Ruppel.
In Varney Lake, players join Lou Hill as he investigates the mysterious story of Jimmy and Christine, who have hazy memories of a childhood vacation where they claim to have met a vampire. Their friend Doug, who accompanied them, has since disappeared. The game features choice-based gameplay, branching interactive fiction, and accessible puzzles, as players unravel the truth behind Doug’s fate and the paranormal investigator’s veiled past.
Upon completion of Varney Lake, players can access an exclusive demo for Bahnsen Knights, set for release in Q4 2023 on the same platforms as Varney Lake. The upcoming title features undercover agent Boulder investigating a doomsday cult performing ‘route exorcisms’ amid biblical storms across the country. The demo also sheds light on how Lou Hill became entangled with the cult.
Shintaro Kanaoya, founder and CEO of Chorus Worldwide, praised the unique horror look of the games, highlighting how Mothmen 1966 stored its terror in the dark unknown, while Varney Lake brings horror to light with intrigue.
Nico Saraintaris, writer and co-founder of LCB Game Studio, explained that the Pixel Pulps Anthology allows them to explore multiple influences and tastes in horror, with each title telling its own story while sharing connective threads.
Varney Lake is now available for $9.99 / €8.99 / £8.49, with support for English, Spanish, German, French, and Japanese languages.