Little Red Lie

About

"Little Red Lie" is a sobering adventure game that explores the themes of debt, family, and honesty through the lives of two contrasting characters: Sarah Stone and Arthur Fox. The game takes place in Scarborough, Toronto, and invites players to navigate a series of deceptions and half-truths within the harsh realities of modern life. With its distinctive narrative structure and focus on realistic storytelling, "Little Red Lie" challenges players to confront the gap between their aspirations and their circumstances.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 123 reviews

story24 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The writing is exceptionally well-crafted, providing a brutally honest and thought-provoking narrative that resonates deeply with players.
The game tackles relevant themes such as debt, mental health, and societal expectations, making it a poignant reflection of contemporary issues.
The dual perspectives of the protagonists create a compelling contrast that enhances the storytelling and engages players emotionally.

The gameplay is minimal, often reducing player interaction to simply clicking through lengthy text, which may frustrate those seeking more traditional gaming mechanics.
The narrative can be overwhelmingly bleak and nihilistic, potentially alienating players who prefer more uplifting or hopeful stories.
Some players may find the characters unlikable or the themes too heavy, making it difficult to connect with the story on a personal level.

story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The game's story is a complex and often bleak exploration of societal issues such as poverty, mental health, and the impact of financial struggles on personal relationships. While some players found the narrative gripping and thought-provoking, others criticized its nihilistic tone and lack of a satisfying resolution. Overall, it presents a deeply engaging, albeit heavy, narrative that challenges players to reflect on the harsh realities of modern life.
- “Although it is a rather long game, you're tempted to play through in the first run, as the story remains gripping and leaves you wondering what is even real in our post-truth, consumerist world.”
- “It's a fantastic little gem if you can appreciate a rich, human story with twists and turns.”
- “The storytelling and characters are so brilliant, so real, and hit so close to home.”
- “The ending disgusted me and left me wondering what the point of the story was, unless that was exactly the point of the story, that 'there is no point to anything.' It was a slog and I'm glad it's over.”
- “This story feels like a long-winded Reddit rant about how horrible life is.”
- “The story is nihilistic and depressing for people who like that sort of thing.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The gameplay is minimal and primarily revolves around walking, interacting with objects, and reading extensive dialogue, which some players find tedious. While the mechanics focus on deception and storytelling, the experience is more akin to an interactive narrative than a traditional game, offering a dark and emotional journey rather than complex gameplay. Overall, the game is praised for its unique approach to storytelling, despite its lack of traditional gameplay elements.
- “The game's simple mechanics are very effective at conveying a sense of lack of control, and conveying the dark disparity between the internal and external dialogues.”
- “The actual mechanic, in which lies are shown in red and satirical subtitles are shown for interactions, is terrific.”
- “The core mechanic of Little Red Lie is a brilliant bit of conceptual framing; every interaction that you can perform in the game is some kind of lie, and most of the lies encountered in the game are mundane but deeply relatable untruths that the characters tell themselves in order to keep going.”
- “First off, there's not a whole lot of actual gameplay here.”
- “There's no gameplay here in any sense of the word, essentially just screens of inane rambling by a writer who thinks themselves far more important than they are.”
- “Good story-based 'game', although most of the gameplay boils down to pressing a button to continue the story.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply impactful, tackling heavy themes such as debt, abuse, and mental health with a blend of humor and poignancy. Players report feeling emotionally drained yet resonant after experiencing the narrative, which features life-like characters and a complex plot that challenges their personal reflections on serious societal issues. While the gameplay may be slow and dialogues lengthy, the story's depth and emotional weight create a unique and memorable experience.
- “I have never felt so emotionally drained after a game in my life.”
- “I would imagine that creating the game was a very vulnerable experience, just as playing it will undoubtedly be an emotional and resonant experience for many players.”
- “Little Red Lie will drag you through an emotional wringer and leave you asking questions about your own personal resolve to combat the darkest evils of capitalism.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
34%
22%
The game's graphics are characterized by a mix of stunning artwork and simplistic 2D backgrounds, creating a unique visual experience that enhances its narrative. While the visual presentation shifts between different styles, which can be disorienting, the overall aesthetic is praised for its beauty and ability to connect players to the game's atmosphere. Despite its minimalistic approach, the graphics effectively complement the thought-provoking and intense storytelling.
- “The artwork is sparing but gorgeous.”
- “The art style is amazing as well!”
- “An adventure game which is predominantly a visual novel, Little Red Lie offers phenomenal writing and artwork and gets a very strong recommendation to narrative game fans for both its small cost and short, but adequate length.”
- “Graphically, there's not a lot to say about this game.”
- “The visual presentation of the game rotates between three different graphical styles, which can be a little disorienting.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised for its fantastic quality and fitting ambiance, enhancing the overall experience and immersion. While some users noted the absence of voiced dialogues, the soundtrack effectively complements the gameplay, creating a relaxing and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that elevates the game's emotional impact.
- “The music is also very fitting to the game.”
- “Speaking about sound design, dialogues and monologues aren't voiced, but the music is fantastic.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “I like that the game is short, but I think it could have been much longer, and would then justify more art, music, and writing and really move beyond actual sunlight in terms of scale, scope, and value.”
- “The ambience of the music, accompanied by the rhythmic pauses of the written dialogue, pulled me into each encounter like no page with words ever could.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is described as a blend of wit and tragedy, effectively addressing serious themes like depression and suicide while still eliciting laughter. Players find themselves oscillating between moments of genuine hilarity and deep emotional reflection, making for a uniquely impactful experience that balances lightheartedness with heavy subject matter.
- “Despite the dark subject matter, the writing of the game was humorous, touching, and witty, putting a very human face on the very serious problem of depression and suicide.”
- “It's often super depressing (although Arthur's excesses can be very humorous, like I said), so heavy that I was taking 'breaks' although it only takes about 4 hours to finish.”
- “It is this reflection, like being interrogated under spotlights, that had me laughing out loud one minute, to choking back tears the next, to just simply putting the controller down and staring at the basement floor for a while.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is likened to an immersive reading experience, enhanced by visuals, sound, and character movement, which collectively foster a deep connection to the game's setting and world. Reviewers emphasize the game's ability to create a rich and engaging environment that draws players in.
- “The whole atmosphere of this game is captivating.”
- “It's more like reading a book, but you get the benefit of visuals, sound, and moving the main characters, which all help to provide a connection to the setting, atmosphere, and world that the game is portraying.”
- “The whole atmosphere of this game is lacking.”

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Little Red Lie

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Little Red Lie

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