A unique and intriguing concept lies at the heart of Empty The Lake!, but its execution falls short, leaving players with a mixed bag of emotions.
What it's about: Vide le lac, gagne de l’argent et découvre ce qui se cache au fond ! Pompe des milliers de litres d’eau, améliore tes outils et descends toujours plus profond pour découvrir ce qui se trouve sous la surface.
In-game
« Прикольная игра, говорят что проходится за час, но я затратил 3 с половиной часа, советую к прохождению:) »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 4 h played« a pretty fun short incremental game A couple thing though: I would like an audio slider if possible, aswell as an arrow to the first upgrade just to get you started. Otherwise a decent game :) »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« Not sure why so many negative reviews on this one. Game is short, simple, fun. It delivers on its promise and costs very little. I suggest giving it a go if you got the couple bucks to spare. »👍 anonymous review · Nov 2026 · 4 h played« rough start. but game actually is pretty awesome. worth the buy! »👍 anonymous review · Nov 2026 · 3 h played« I can see why people wouldn't like this game, but I personally find it a relaxing game. »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 4 h played« I had fun playing this, but i do like these sort of games so i can understand why others may find it tedious. »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 3 h played
« If steam got a refund politie of 3 hours this game will be 3 hours »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 2 h played« Very short, not much content, and upgrades don't align well with progression. »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« I just beat it in just over an hour. No achievements, no gameplay other than staring at water and clicking or holding left mouse. I like incrementals and cleaning games, but this isn't a game. »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« This is not a game. Its the skeleton of the concept of a game. I wouldn't recomend it even for free. »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« Idea great. Execution poor. To many things wrong with this game. Left my remarks in discussion. Too Short , Too little to do . Lack of features.. Not even worth the 5 euro Refunded »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« Very cool game, short but is has a loot of potential »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played
In players' words
« Прикольная игра, говорят что проходится за час, но я затратил 3 с половиной часа, советую к прохождению:) »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 4 h played« If steam got a refund politie of 3 hours this game will be 3 hours »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 2 h played« a pretty fun short incremental game A couple thing though: I would like an audio slider if possible, aswell as an arrow to the first upgrade just to get you started. Otherwise a decent game :) »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« Very short, not much content, and upgrades don't align well with progression. »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« Not sure why so many negative reviews on this one. Game is short, simple, fun. It delivers on its promise and costs very little. I suggest giving it a go if you got the couple bucks to spare. »👍 anonymous review · Nov 2026 · 4 h played« I just beat it in just over an hour. No achievements, no gameplay other than staring at water and clicking or holding left mouse. I like incrementals and cleaning games, but this isn't a game. »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« rough start. but game actually is pretty awesome. worth the buy! »👍 anonymous review · Nov 2026 · 3 h played« This is not a game. Its the skeleton of the concept of a game. I wouldn't recomend it even for free. »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« I can see why people wouldn't like this game, but I personally find it a relaxing game. »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 4 h played« Idea great. Execution poor. To many things wrong with this game. Left my remarks in discussion. Too Short , Too little to do . Lack of features.. Not even worth the 5 euro Refunded »👎 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played« I had fun playing this, but i do like these sort of games so i can understand why others may find it tedious. »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 3 h played« Very cool game, short but is has a loot of potential »👍 anonymous review · Oct 2026 · 1 h played
Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.
What players say, by aspect
PositiveMixedNegative
Gameplay
25 % pos · n=53
Content / longevity
6 % pos · n=34
Value for money
18 % pos · n=11
Graphics / art
67 % pos · n=9
Interface / UX
0 % pos · n=8
Audio / music
43 % pos · n=7
Story / writing
20 % pos · n=5
Stability / bugs
33 % pos · n=3
Performance
0 % pos · n=2
Multiplayer
0 % pos · n=1
Detailed data (table)
Aspect
Mentions
Positive
Mixed
Negative
Gameplay
53
13
3
37
Content / longevity
34
2
2
30
Value for money
11
2
0
9
Graphics / art
9
6
1
2
Interface / UX
8
0
0
8
Audio / music
7
3
0
4
Story / writing
5
1
0
4
Stability / bugs
3
1
0
2
Performance
2
0
0
2
Multiplayer
1
0
0
1
Positive reviews by playtime
🎮 Players who like it have spent 3.2 h on median; those who dislike it: 1.2 h.
🪤 67 % of negative reviews come from players who left in under 2h — the game often disappoints right away.
<2h
19 % (n=57)
2-10h
48 % (n=44)
100% completion difficulty ("platinum")
20 %Accessible
of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 14 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 42,1 % of players.
Despite its flaws, Empty The Lake! may appeal to players seeking a quick, unconventional gaming experience. Its short duration and unique concept offer a refreshing change.
Is Empty The Lake! worth it in 2026?
Hard to recommend as it stands: 32% of 101 Steam reviews are positive (player score 25/100). Most-praised strength: The game's concept is a standout feature. Current price: 5,19€.
Verdict
While the reception is mixed, with a mostly negative score, Empty The Lake!'s concept and short playtime could attract a niche audience. However, addressing gameplay and UI issues is crucial for long-term success.
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