One Thousand Lies

About

"One Thousand Lies" is a romantic comedy adventure game where Ciaran Endyein follows mysterious emails to a park, leading to a profound psychological journey. As Ciaran deciphers clues and encounters unexpected twists, players will delve into a story filled with humor, intrigue, and self-discovery. Can Ciaran find the elusive 'her' and uncover the truth behind the enigmatic Harry H?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 535 reviews

story168 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The story is engaging and thought-provoking, with well-developed characters and unexpected plot twists.
The humor is well-placed and often hilarious, making for an enjoyable reading experience.
The artwork and soundtrack are beautiful, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.

The pacing can be slow at times, with some sections feeling overly drawn out or repetitive.
There are no choices or branching paths, which may disappoint players looking for interactivity.
Some philosophical elements may come off as pretentious or confusing, potentially alienating some readers.

story
546 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The story of the visual novel "One Thousand Lies" is a complex and layered narrative that explores themes of truth, deception, and personal growth through the experiences of its protagonist, Ciaran, and his friends. While some players found the plot engaging and filled with unexpected twists, others criticized it for being overly long, convoluted, or lacking in meaningful choices, leading to mixed feelings about its pacing and clarity. Overall, the writing is praised for its depth and emotional resonance, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre, despite its potential to confuse or bore some players.
- “The story is heartwarming and compelling as you hear the narration of this 18-year-old high school senior whose life takes a few unexpected turns after trying to buy a limited-edition figurine off the internet.”
- “The music, characters, story, and writing are touching not only due to the fact they feel alive and real, but the impact each one has on the main character and the player.”
- “One thousand lies is an extremely well-written, thought-provoking, but most importantly, beautiful story.”
- “The story is a mess.”
- “The whole story could be compressed to half of what it is, also made easier to read and follow (as I was getting lost all the time).”
- “The story was okay.”
music
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional impact, enhancing the overall experience of the story and characters. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's variety and fittingness to the scenes, with some even considering it a standout feature that elevates the narrative. While a few found the music repetitive or less memorable, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “The music in this game is what makes it great.”
- “Every single piece of music in this game feels handcrafted for specifically the scenes that they are used for.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and has become one of my favorite songs of all time.”
- “The music is shitty at times, and the sprites don't change much, but really on point with the story.. 9/10.”
- “The soundtrack is quite forgettable, but for a free visual novel, I wouldn't expect anything amazing.”
- “I also had to turn off the music as it disturbed my reading.”
humor
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and ability to evoke genuine laughter, with many players highlighting the witty dialogue, absurd scenarios, and engaging character interactions. While some moments may feel hit-or-miss, the overall comedic tone, filled with pop culture references and sarcasm, keeps players entertained throughout the experience. Many reviewers found the humor to be a standout feature, making the game enjoyable and memorable.
- “One thousand lies is the most ridiculous piece of nonsense I’ve had the pleasure of reading, yet it is hilarious with many jokes set up and knocked down rapidly, alongside in-genre nods and satire.”
- “The humor relies on sarcasm, lack of seriousness and sincerity, and so many references (to the outside world and to itself), that you'd think Deadpool hijacked the script.”
- “The banter between the characters is both hilarious and extremely realistic, and when they decide to become serious it can get very, very deep.”
graphics
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
36%
6%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful character designs and charming artwork, with many reviewers highlighting the appealing art style and well-done illustrations. While some noted a lack of variety in character sprites and animations, the overall visual presentation, including backgrounds and character aesthetics, contributes positively to the storytelling experience. Despite some critiques regarding repetitiveness and the absence of dynamic cutscenes, the graphics are considered a strong aspect of the game, enhancing its narrative and emotional impact.
- “The more realistic approach to the character design helps to sell the realism of the story, as well as their almost hand-drawn aesthetic that gives the story more of a personal and artistic feeling.”
- “The visuals are breathtaking, even if they're photographs with what seems to be a filter added to them.”
- “The artwork is lovely, music is relaxing.”
- “What this game lacks in graphically superior cutscenes, it excels in almost every other aspect.”
- “The visuals - honestly if I judge with the backgrounds alone then this should be in the pros list but there should be a lot more character sprites with different poses to connect more with the scenes, so monotone appearances throughout bothered me a lot.”
- “Not especially good music, no good graphics (not even animation as such), not a great script.”
emotional
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game elicits a strong emotional response from players, often leading to tears and heartfelt connections with its characters and story. While the beginning may feel slow, the narrative builds to a captivating and emotionally charged conclusion that resonates deeply, making it a memorable experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor, romance, and philosophical themes, which contribute to a thought-provoking and heartwarming journey.
- “The music, characters, story, and writing are touching not only due to the fact they feel alive and real, but the impact each one has on the main character and the player.”
- “The story is heartwarming and compelling as you hear the narration of this 18-year-old high school senior whose life takes a few unexpected turns after trying to buy a limited-edition figurine off the internet.”
- “On the plus side: the backstory is brilliantly crafted, the characters have moments of genuine humanity and funniness, as well as a surprisingly emotional conclusion.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some users appreciate the depth and realism of the characters, others criticize it for being overly drawn out and repetitive. The character designs are generally praised for their aesthetic appeal, contributing to the overall narrative, but some feel they lack relevance to the story's setting. Overall, many reviewers highlight the strong character development as a standout feature, complemented by engaging dialogue and humor.
- “The more realistic approach to the character design helps to sell the realism of the story, as well as their almost hand-drawn aesthetic that gives the story more of a personal and artistic feeling.”
- “On the bright side, the novel has some great character development.”
- “The characters are lovable, the soundtrack is fantastic, but the character development in the novel is just extraordinary.”
- “I've never read a visual novel that dragged on so much; the plot was abandoned for hours of pointless filler character development.”
- “Considering how much time was spent on the character development, it doesn't stop every character from falling victim to samey syndrome.”
- “The backgrounds are lackluster, the character designs fail to convey a sense of place (a female lead is even described as 'dressed like an RPG character'. Given that this is a modern school, why is she so dressed?), and, although the prologue and initial scene are somewhat foreboding, everything else I saw seemed rather puerile, and, as mentioned, completely failed to hint at the ultimate point of the story and characters.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
67%
25%
The gameplay aspect of this visual novel is virtually nonexistent, as it consists solely of reading poorly written dialogue with no interactive elements or choices. Players can expect a linear experience with no branching paths, making it more of a story than a game. Overall, the lack of gameplay mechanics has led to widespread disappointment among users.
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “There is no gameplay in this 'game'.”
- “Keep in mind that there is no actual gameplay; it's basically a story that unfolds with no branching paths.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
86%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of visual novels can be tedious, as players often find themselves clicking through lengthy text that could be more concise. While some moments of humor and philosophical depth provide intrigue, the overall experience can feel laborious and drawn out, leading to frustration rather than engagement.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I can understand if the devs are trying to make it philosophically deep, but at times, it gets pretty tedious to read.”
- “For the most part, said content can be sorted into two categories: anecdotes/fan service side stories that are meant to be funny or help readers connect with the characters but almost always end up being too tedious and dramatic; and condescending, holier-than-thou philosophical rants about how humans lie, why humans lie, and the paradoxical consequences of lying.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging music, intriguing characters, and immersive mystery, which collectively create a captivating experience that keeps players hooked for its lengthy runtime. While some language may be complex, it does not detract from the overall ambiance, though players express a desire for original music to enhance the calm atmosphere further.
- “Over the course of its nearly 20-hour runtime, I found myself unable to put down my mouse as I clicked through this tale of excellent atmosphere, music, characters, and mystery.”
- “I kind of wish this had its own original music though, preferably along the lines of Joe Reynolds' stuff that's in here; it's great to listen to and makes for such a calm atmosphere.”
- “While it does use big words and some confusing language at times, I don't think it ruins the atmosphere of the game.”
- “I kind of wish this had its own original music though, preferably along the lines of Joe Reynolds' stuff that's in here. It's great to listen to and creates a calm atmosphere.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Players find the game's replayability to be surprisingly high, as revisiting earlier sections reveals new connections and insights that enhance the overall experience. This depth encourages players to return and explore the narrative from different perspectives.
- “Therefore, contrary to what you might think, the replayability of this game is also great.”
- “Actually, I feel that this gives it some form of replay value, since you can go back to where it all started and the things you never thought much of before are suddenly making connections, and it all somehow makes sense.”
- “Actually, I feel that gives it some form of replay value, since you can go back to where it all started and the things you never thought much of before are suddenly making connections and it all somehow makes sense.”
- “The game lacks significant changes in each playthrough, making it feel repetitive and dull after the first run.”
- “Once you complete the main storyline, there’s little incentive to replay, as the side quests don’t offer anything new or engaging.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received a mixed response, with some users noting satisfactory performance while others report issues that hinder gameplay. Overall, it appears that while the game runs adequately on certain systems, there are still areas that require improvement for a smoother experience.