# Rusty Lake

> video game development studio

**Wikidata**: [Q50922586](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50922586)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rusty-lake

## Summary  
Rusty Lake is a Dutch video‑game development studio (officially Rusty Lake B.V.) founded on 25 April 2015 in Amsterdam. The studio creates surreal puzzle‑adventure games such as the *Cube Escape* series, *The White Door*, *The Past Within* (2022) and *Samsara Room* (2020). It has earned multiple Dutch Game Award nominations and won Best Commercial Achievement in 2021.

## Key Facts  
- **Founded:** 25 April 2015 (press release) – in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  
- **Legal form:** Besloten vennootschap (private limited company) – registered as Rusty Lake B.V. (KVK 67664040).  
- **Industry:** Video‑game industry; classified as both a video‑game developer and publisher.  
- **Headquarters:** Amsterdam, Netherlands.  
- **Notable titles:** *Cube Escape: Paradox* (2018), *Samsara Room* (2020), *The Past Within* (2022).  
- **Awards:** Won Dutch Game Award – Best Commercial Achievement (2021) for *The White Door*; nominated for Best Game, Best Game Design (2021) and Best Game Design, Best Innovation (2023).  
- **Founders:** Two individuals (Wikidata IDs Q138566231 and Q138566234).  
- **Online presence:** Official website <http://www.rustylake.com>; Twitter @rustylakecom; Facebook rustylakecom; Instagram rustylakecom; YouTube channel UCe1LNXl3yYWPNWeJT_AsP1w (≈ 300 k subscribers in 2024).  
- **Identifiers:** Steam Curator 33593611, Mobygames 31071, Google Play 5341261648359321555, Crunchbase rusty‑lake.

## FAQs  
### Q: What does Rusty Lake do?  
A: Rusty Lake designs, develops, and publishes indie video games, best known for atmospheric puzzle‑adventure titles like the *Cube Escape* series and *The White Door*.

### Q: Where is Rusty Lake based?  
A: The studio is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and was incorporated there in 2015.

### Q: Which games has Rusty Lake released?  
A: Major releases include *Cube Escape: Paradox* (2018), *Samsara Room* (2020), *The Past Within* (2022), and the award‑winning *The White Door* (2021).

### Q: Has Rusty Lake received any awards?  
A: Yes. It won the Dutch Game Award for Best Commercial Achievement in 2021 and has been nominated for several other categories, including Best Game and Best Innovation.

### Q: How can I follow Rusty Lake online?  
A: Visit their website at <http://www.rustylake.com> and follow them on Twitter (@rustylakecom), Facebook (rustylakecom), Instagram (rustylakecom), or YouTube (channel UCe1LNXl3yYWPNWeJT_AsP1w).

## Why It Matters  
Rusty Lake has become a defining voice in the indie puzzle‑adventure niche, blending minimalist art, eerie storytelling, and innovative mechanics that challenge conventional game design. Its titles consistently receive critical acclaim and commercial success, evident in multiple Dutch Game Award nominations and a win for Best Commercial Achievement. By delivering tightly crafted, narrative‑driven experiences across PC, mobile, and console platforms, Rusty Lake expands the audience for cerebral games and demonstrates how small studios can compete with larger developers. The studio’s commitment to atmospheric world‑building and cross‑media storytelling (e.g., collaborations with the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision) also enriches cultural preservation of digital art forms. For players seeking immersive, thought‑provoking gameplay, Rusty Lake offers a unique portfolio that has helped shape modern indie gaming trends.

## Notable For  
- **Award‑winning titles:** *The White Door* won Dutch Game Award – Best Commercial Achievement (2021).  
- **Innovative puzzle design:** Recognized for Best Game Design and Best Innovation nominations (2021, 2023).  
- **Distinct visual style:** Surreal, low‑poly aesthetics that set its games apart in the indie market.  
- **Cross‑platform reach:** Releases span PC, mobile (App Store, Google Play), and console ecosystems.  
- **Cultural collaborations:** Works archived by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, highlighting its artistic relevance.

## Body  

### Overview  
Rusty Lake B.V. is a private Dutch video‑game development studio operating in the video‑game industry. It functions both as a developer and a publisher, creating original intellectual property and distributing it worldwide.

### History  
- **Inception (2015):** The company was incorporated on 25 April 2015 in Amsterdam (press release).  
- **Early releases:** The *Cube Escape* series, beginning with *Cube Escape: Paradox* (2018), established the studio’s reputation for compact, narrative‑driven puzzles.  
- **Expansion (2020‑2022):** *Samsara Room* (2020) and *The Past Within* (2022) broadened the portfolio, introducing multiplayer elements and deeper lore.

### Products  
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Notable Features |
|------|-------|-------------|------------------|
| 2018 | *Cube Escape: Paradox* | PC, mobile | First major title in the Cube Escape series |
| 2020 | *Samsara Room* | PC, mobile | Atmospheric escape‑room experience |
| 2021 | *The White Door* | PC, mobile | Award‑winning narrative puzzle |
| 2022 | *The Past Within* | PC, mobile | Co‑op puzzle adventure; nominated for Best Game Design & Best Innovation |

### Awards & Recognition  
- **Dutch Game Award – Best Commercial Achievement (2021)** – *The White Door*.  
- **Nominations:** Best Game, Best Game Design (2021); Best Game Design, Best Innovation (2023) for *The Past Within*.  

### Corporate Details  
- **Legal name:** Rusty Lake B.V. (KVK 67664040).  
- **Founders:** Two individuals (Wikidata IDs Q138566231, Q138566234).  
- **Identifiers:** Steam Curator 33593611, Mobygames 31071, Crunchbase rusty‑lake, Google Knowledge Graph /g/11hc_2hjr3.  

### Online Presence & Community  
- **Website:** <http://www.rustylake.com> (English).  
- **Social media:** Twitter @rustylakecom (≈ 45 k followers in 2023), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube (≈ 300 k subscribers in 2024).  
- **Blog:** <http://blog.rustylake.com/> (English).  

### Industry Impact  
Rusty Lake’s games are frequently cited for their minimalist design, atmospheric storytelling, and innovative puzzle mechanics. Their success demonstrates the viability of small‑team studios in delivering high‑quality, globally resonant experiences without the resources of major publishers.

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## References

1. [Source](https://dutchgameawards.nl/nominees-2021/)
2. Cube Escape: Birthday. game-catalogus Beeld & Geluid. 2016
3. [Source](http://www.rustylake.com/press/)
4. MusicBrainz
5. [Source](https://dutchgameawards.nl/nominees-2023/)
6. [Source](https://www.kvk.nl/bestellen/#/67664040000036183954/)
7. YouTube API
8. VideoGameGeek
9. MobyGames