Lies of P stands out as a soulslike action RPG that reimagines the Pinocchio tale in a dark, steampunk world. Released in 2023, this single-player adventure casts you as a puppet named P, navigating the crumbling city of Krat amid chaos from a puppet frenzy and a deadly disease. With its blend of intense combat, exploration, and choice-driven narrative, the game draws heavily from FromSoftware influences while adding unique twists like a lying mechanic that shapes your path and multiple endings.
Gameplay
In Lies of P, combat forms the core loop, emphasizing precise timing for attacks, parries, and dodges against twisted puppets and mutated foes. You wield customizable weapons by combining blades and handles, unlocking special Fable Arts abilities for varied strategies. Legion Arms provide additional tools, such as a grappling hook for pulling enemies or launching projectiles, adding depth to encounters. Progression relies on collecting Ergo, which doubles as experience points and currency to level up attributes like vitality and vigor through a skill tree enhanced by Quartz items. Exploration rewards careful navigation, with Stargazers acting as checkpoints for fast travel and respawns, though death risks losing Ergo unless recovered. The morality system introduces choices between truth and lies in dialogues, influencing subplots and outcomes without overwhelming the action focus.
Boss fights demand adaptation, often featuring two phases and the option to summon a spectre ally buffed by Wishstones for temporary advantages. Weapon durability adds tension, repairable via grindstones that also grant power-ups. Side quests and collectibles, like Cryptic Vessels and Trinity Keys from riddles, encourage thorough searching in Krat's districts, blending combat with puzzle-like elements.
Game Modes
Lies of P is strictly a single-player experience, with no multiplayer components or open-world freedom. The main campaign guides you through linear yet interconnected areas of Krat, from blood-soaked streets to elite enclaves. After completing the story, New Game Plus unlocks, allowing you to replay with carried-over gear, upgrades, and increased difficulty for fresh challenges.
The 2025 Overture DLC expands this with a prequel story set in Krat's past, introducing new areas like the Rose Estate and Krat Zoo, along with additional side quests, enemies, and bosses. It maintains the single-player format but adds accessibility options and new difficulties to suit different playstyles.
Story and Setting
Set in the Belle Epoque-inspired city of Krat, once prosperous from its puppet industry, the world now reels from Puppet Frenzy and Petrification Disease turning humans into Carcasses. As P, created by Geppetto, you're guided by a mysterious voice to uncover secrets involving factions like the Alchemists, who experiment with Ergo for evolution, and Stalkers divided into groups such as the corrupt Bastards and selfless Sweepers. The narrative weaves in elements from the Pinocchio fairy tale, reinterpreted grimly, with hidden symbols and phone riddles revealing lore.
Interactions with NPCs, including the Black Rabbit Brotherhood and sentient puppets like the serial killer Arlecchino in the DLC, build a web of alliances and betrayals. The lying mechanic lets you comfort or deceive, carving paths that lead to different endings based on your humanity level.
Is It Worth Playing?
With over 4 million units sold by March 2026 and favorable reviews highlighting its combat and atmosphere, Lies of P holds strong appeal for soulslike enthusiasts seeking challenging action RPGs. Critics on OpenCritic gave the base game an 88% recommendation rate, praising the weapon combinations, boss designs, and steampunk visuals, though some noted inconsistencies in difficulty and narrative depth. The Overture DLC earned a perfect 100% recommendation, lauded for its compelling prequel story and refined bosses.
The game remains supported with a 2024 update adding crossover content and a sequel in development featuring a new protagonist. If you enjoy methodical combat, exploration in dark settings, and choice-based storytelling without multiplayer distractions, it's a solid pick, especially on PC where performance shines. For casual players, the steep difficulty might deter, but dedicated fans will find replay value in New Game Plus and the expansion.
