Gwen Frey isn’t new to ambitious projects or grand-scale games. She’s worked on big names like BioShock Infinite and The Flame in the Flood, and now she’s back with something fresh: Lab Rat, a satirical sci-fi puzzle game that’s just hit the Xbox. This game puts players face-to-face with a zealously self-assured AI named S.A.R.A., marking another dive into her creative genius.
Lab Rat is packed with more than 100 meticulously crafted puzzles, featuring clever writing and an unexpected dose of charm. It combines logic puzzles with an underlying theme of observation, an intriguing mix that keeps players engaged. I had the chance to catch up with Gwen, and we dove into topics like puzzle design, the dynamics of working solo yet together, and the challenges of voicing almost the entire cast of the game yourself.
S.A.R.A. is a key player in Lab Rat, embodying a hyper-intelligent, analytics-focused AI that scrutinizes every player’s move. Gwen drew inspiration for S.A.R.A from her experience of working alone during the pandemic, creating a character filled with humor, a bit of tension, and the unnerving feeling of being perpetually watched. I asked Gwen whether S.A.R.A.’s concept influenced the gameplay or if the puzzles guided the development process.
Gwen shared that S.A.R.A. naturally emerged alongside the game’s main mechanics. Early design stages saw her and her puzzle designer feeling a bit like lab rats themselves—trapped inside and somewhat isolated. This realization seeped into all aspects: puzzles that evoke the sense of being confined, jittery animations, and even blocks that zap you if misused, mimicking a botched science experiment. Visually, the setup of working exclusively through screens during lockdown inspired S.A.R.A.’s character—a probing algorithm keeping a digital eye on you. Once Gwen embraced this vision, everything fell into place.
When it came to designing Lab Rat to be both thought-provoking and funny, Gwen noted that humor was the tougher challenge. While players approach puzzle games ready to think and solve, having a comedic element is unexpected and tricky to nail. Different humor appeals to different people, making comedy the more formidable design aspect.
Pacing the difficulty curve in puzzle games was another intriguing subject. Gwen explained her twofold strategy: discovery and mastery. Introducing new concepts regularly helps maintain interest, while ensuring solutions are attainable yet challenging gives players a rewarding sense of accomplishment. Lab Rat allows players to undo moves and experiment without fear, enhancing accessibility without sacrificing satisfaction.
In our conversation, I was curious which roles in game development felt most natural and which were surprising for her. Having worked extensively in programming, art, and animation within the Unreal engine, these aspects were second nature to her. However, Gwen found herself venturing into the uncharted territory of voice acting—a skill set she hadn’t anticipated developing.
I couldn’t help but chuckle when asking Gwen about the number of characters she voiced. Her programmer humorously listed her name a hundred times in the credits. While the jury’s out on whether this will change by launch, the fact remains: Gwen voiced nearly every character in Lab Rat. With only a minor exception where her husband lent his voice, she primarily relied on herself to create distinct character profiles using sound effects creatively.
Finally, I asked Gwen if there was a particular moment she’d love to witness players reach in Lab Rat. Her goal was to ensure every half-hour felt more captivating and surprising than the last, and she seemed eager to see if this expectation was met.
To wrap up, I expressed my gratitude to Gwen for the enlightening chat about Lab Rat, indie game development, and the unique experience of recording dialogues with herself!
Lab Rat is currently available on Xbox One, optimized for Xbox Series X|S, offering players the chance to dive into this quirky, data-driven puzzle adventure. If you get the opportunity, experience it for yourself and see how this combination of humor, story, and mind-bending puzzles comes together under Gwen’s visionary direction.
