Lab Rat

Released

Release Date: April 15, 2025

Puzzle, Science Fiction, Humorous, Indie Games, Experimental/artistic, Singleplayer

Puzzle game stylized on the creation of Artificial Intelligence. In Lab Rat we play the role of a volunteer who, taking part in an unusual experiment, solves increasingly difficult puzzles.

9.7

Steam

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Ratings

 Videos: 2 

Images: 5 

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

Lab Rat is a puzzle game stylized as a work of Artificial Intelligence, developed through machine learning. The game was created by the indie Chump Squad studio and was supervised by such people as Gwen Frey (Kine, The Flame in the Flood), Mike Snight (BioShock Infinite) and Matthew Burns (Eliza).

Plot

In Lab Rat we play the role of one of the volunteers who decides to participate in an unusual experiment. It involves solving more and more complicated puzzles under the guidance of advanced Artificial Intelligence. The AI will be able to shape its opinions about humanity on the basis of the data collected during the solving of the puzzles, as well as on the basis of the opinions of research participants. Although all this sounds very innocent, it soon turns out that this AI has no good intentions.

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Mechanics

In Lab Rat the action was shown from the top-down view. The game includes over eighty puzzles with increasing difficulty. During the game we have to move various objects on the boards and manipulate the laser beams and electricity. After dealing with each puzzle, we get access to an internal analysis prepared by the AI, which allows us to check the statistics of other players, express our opinion on the content of a given stage and read the answers given by other participants of the game.

Technical aspects

Lab Rat has a pleasant graphics maintained in a raw, futuristic style. Among the colors dominate the blue shades, against the background of which the few yellow colored elements, such as laser beams or the main character's outfit, clearly stand out.

Platforms:

PC Windows

Xbox One

Xbox Series X/S

Developer: Chump Squad

Publisher: Klei Entertainment

Age restrictions: none

Similar Games:

The Talos Principle

Portal

The Witness

Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for Lab Rat Video Game:

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Dual Core 2.5 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 460 or better, 400 MB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Lab Rat Video Game.

97%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (310)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Engaging Puzzles: Players found the puzzles to be well-designed, clever, and satisfying to solve, often introducing new mechanics that kept the gameplay fresh and interesting.
Humor and Writing: The game features a humorous narrative with witty dialogue and satire, often compared to the style of "Portal." Many players appreciated the comedic elements and found them to enhance the overall experience.
Visual and Audio Quality: The graphics, animations, and soundtrack received praise for being visually appealing and complementing the game's atmosphere effectively.
Variety in Gameplay: Users noted a good balance of puzzle difficulty, with mechanics evolving throughout the game, preventing any feeling of monotony.
Polished Experience: Many reviews highlighted the game’s smooth performance and overall polish, indicating a well-executed product.

The main cons of the game

Short Length: Several reviews mentioned that the game was relatively short, with completion times averaging around 8-10 hours, leading some players to feel that it was not worth the full price.
Repetitive Narrative Elements: Some users criticized the narrative for being repetitive, particularly in the interactions between the AI and the developer character, which could detract from immersion.
Occasional Difficulty Spikes: While many enjoyed the challenge, some players found certain puzzles to be frustratingly difficult, leading to a desire for a hint system to assist when stuck.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Hint System: A common suggestion was the inclusion of a hint system that could provide guidance without giving away full solutions, especially for more challenging puzzles.
Expanded Lore: Some players expressed a desire for deeper lore and narrative development, feeling that the game could benefit from more story elements akin to those found in "Portal."
Level Editor or Mod Support: Users expressed interest in a level editor or mod support to create and share custom puzzles, which could extend the game's longevity and replayability.

Summary

Overall, "Lab Rat" has been well-received for its engaging puzzles and humor, though it faces criticism regarding its length and narrative depth. Users have suggested enhancements that could further enrich the experience.

Summary generated on: October 29, 2025

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