Telling Lies

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,231 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • grinding
Telling Lies Game Cover
I won’t tell any lies here, Telling Lies is another excellent piece of narrative game design from Sam Barlow and I sincerely hope there’s more to come
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"Telling Lies" is a narrative-driven video game where players search through footage of intimate conversations to reveal a mystery. As the player, you'll piece together a complex web of lies, secrets, and manipulations through the perspectives of four main characters. The game uses full-motion video technology to create a realistic and immersive experience, allowing players to delve deep into the intricate storyline.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,231 reviews
story627 positive mentions
grinding86 negative mentions
  • Brilliant acting of every character.
  • Interesting and engaging story with multiple character arcs.
  • Innovative gameplay mechanics that encourage exploration and deduction.
  • Tedious video playback mechanics, including slow rewind and inability to start videos from the beginning.
  • Long stretches of silence in one-sided conversations lead to boredom.
  • The story lacks the depth and mystery of its predecessor, Her Story.
  • story2,221 mentions

    The story of "Telling Lies" revolves around the interconnected lives of four characters, presented through a series of video clips that players must piece together. While the narrative is engaging and features strong performances, many reviewers feel it lacks the depth and intrigue of its predecessor, "Her Story," often describing it as more straightforward and less compelling. The gameplay mechanics, which involve searching for keywords to unlock clips, are seen as both innovative and frustrating, with longer video lengths leading to pacing issues that detract from the overall experience.

    • “Gripping story, a great cast of actors and a fair share of twists and turns that made the whole experience memorable.”
    • “As a connoisseur of narrative-driven experiences, 'telling lies' stands out as a masterclass in interactive storytelling.”
    • “The story is masterful and the way it unfolds is beautifully orchestrated.”
    • “Just look up the story on Wikipedia and save yourself the time.”
    • “The problem with this game is the boring story, coupled with the amount of video footage to watch (many many hours).”
    • “The story is unnecessary long as well, after a while I lost interest in watching the videos whole.”
  • gameplay343 mentions

    The gameplay of "Telling Lies" is largely based on the mechanics established in "Her Story," involving searching for keywords to uncover video clips that reveal a narrative. However, many players find the execution tedious due to cumbersome mechanics like manual rewinding of lengthy videos and a lack of intuitive navigation, which detracts from the overall experience. While the innovative storytelling and strong performances are praised, the gameplay's repetitive nature and technical flaws lead to mixed reviews, with some players feeling it fails to evolve from its predecessor.

    • “Developed by Sam Barlow, the creative mind behind the critically acclaimed 'Her Story,' this game takes the genre to new heights with its innovative mechanics and engrossing plot.”
    • “With its innovative gameplay mechanics, stellar performances, and gripping narrative, it offers an experience unlike any other.”
    • “The mechanics of seeing the clips in fairly random order creates a splintered storyline and a rollercoaster of emotions that keeps this player – or the spectator - hooked from the start to the end.”
    • “The user interface has many flaws that make the gameplay tedious.”
    • “Despite sharing the same DNA as 'Her Story', the gameplay feels more primitive and at odds with the story you're trying to uncover.”
    • “I cannot recommend this game by the notion that the primary gameplay loop is tedious, not user-friendly, and you will spend a lot of your time doing nothing.”
  • grinding86 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tedious user interface and cumbersome navigation, particularly when dealing with long video clips and a lack of efficient rewind or fast-forward options. Many players found the gameplay experience to be bogged down by the need to manually scrub through lengthy content, leading to a frustrating and monotonous experience. While some appreciated the narrative and production quality, the overall consensus is that the tedious mechanics significantly detract from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Painfully long clips (7+ minutes) and manual rewind/fast forward buttons make navigating the game's FMV content a slow and tedious exercise.”
    • “It's told in a very tedious format -- videos upwards of eight minutes long, where half the time is often silence -- and it's straightforward all the way through.”
    • “I cannot recommend this game by the notion that the primary gameplay loop is tedious, not user-friendly, and you will spend a lot of your time doing nothing.”
  • optimization80 mentions

    The optimization of the game is highlighted by the exceptional performances of the cast, which are consistently described as stellar and engaging, enhancing the overall narrative experience. While the gameplay mechanics and user interface have seen improvements, the strong acting and well-written dialogue are pivotal in making the story resonate deeply with players. However, some reviews note that despite the impressive performances, the game's narrative struggles to maintain momentum, leading to moments of frustration.

    • “With its innovative gameplay mechanics, stellar performances, and gripping narrative, it offers an experience unlike any other.”
    • “The average level of performance is very high, and the game couldn’t have worked without it.”
    • “On paper, searching a large database of phone-filmed video clips doesn't sound too exciting, but Telling Lies offers an exhilarating few hours of detective work thanks to clever construction, strong performances, and exceptional polish.”
    • “Thankfully, the major roles are all performed excellently, even though many of the minor character performances are gratingly awful.”
    • “This ends up just frustrating you and making you fast forward through the performances because you already know what they'll say.”
    • “Telling Lies improves greatly on its predecessor's user interface (though it's still not great), presentation and performances, as well as on the scale and complexity of narrative.”
  • emotional42 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the strong performances and impactful scenes that evoke genuine feelings, while others criticize the overall story as boring and disconnected, likening it to a poorly executed soap opera. Despite the emotional weight in certain moments, many feel that the narrative structure undermines the intended emotional impact, leaving players feeling disengaged from the characters and their struggles. Overall, while there are standout emotional moments, the game's storytelling and pacing detract from a cohesive emotional experience.

    • “When you eventually do piece the conversations together, figure out the chronological order and unravel the lies, you're left with a very satisfying, emotional story that's very much worth experiencing.”
    • “There are some parts in this that will genuinely stick with you... in particular, I thought the scene where our 'hero' is talking to his daughter while his wife talks to a doctor in the background was a very cleverly done scene evoking a complex emotional situation.”
    • “The story reels you in when you start to get into it and the actors help you feel emotionally invested in their characters' lives.”
    • “Bad and boring story, more like watching a soap opera rather than feeling like you're solving a mystery.”
    • “The problem with this game is the boring story, coupled with the amount of video footage to watch (many, many hours).”
    • “Predictable and quite frankly boring story.”
  • music38 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth, with a well-composed soundtrack that complements the narrative without being intrusive. While some users noted instances of repetitive or discordant music, many appreciated the shifts in tone that matched the emotional weight of the scenes. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant contributor to the game's immersive experience, despite some mixed opinions on its execution.

    • “The soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, enhancing the tension and drama without ever feeling intrusive.”
    • “The background music was atmospheric and helped to amplify the emotions when we're watching the scenes.”
    • “The shifts in music establish atmosphere that seem to match the emotional tone of the videos.”
    • “The same old music drones on and on in various scenes and almost appears to be random and have no proper story-driven trigger.”
    • “The music once played over the top of the music contained in the footage, which was a very interesting casserole of discord in my ears.”
    • “Soundtrack 5/10: creepy-ish soundtrack, kinda got a spooking feeling going on and sometimes it goes in a dramatic route.”
  • atmosphere17 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by a well-complementing soundtrack that elevates tension and emotional depth. However, some players feel that the narrative's pacing and the discovery of plot points can detract from the overall tension. While the game captures a compelling atmosphere, it is noted that it may not reach the same heights as its predecessor, "Her Story."

    • “The soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, enhancing the tension and drama without ever feeling intrusive.”
    • “An atmospheric, brilliantly written and acted detective thriller that tells a compelling story in a unique way.”
    • “Often, you will discover large plot points before you understand what you're looking at as you piece together the narrative, which takes away from the tension and atmosphere of the story as well.”
    • “In both its atmosphere and its concept, telling lies captures this feeling perfectly.”
    • “The shifts in music establish atmosphere that seem to match the emotional tone of the videos.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many players noting that the three epilogues and endings do not significantly alter the experience, leading to a linear narrative. While some find the story compelling enough to consider a second playthrough, the consensus is that there is minimal incentive to replay, making it feel more like a one-time experience. Comparisons to other titles highlight a lack of depth in replay value.

    • “I liked it quite a lot and felt there was replay value.”
    • “Even after you seem done, it's open for interpretation and replayability.”
    • “"Man of Medan" (though not pure FMV) was also really great by comparison and has better replay value.”
    • “The way the three epilogues work is weird and while they give closure to the characters, they are really not interesting enough to make the game replayable.”
    • “The three 'endings' don't really change anything, so unlike other FMV titles, it kind of makes the story linear and kills replay value if you uncover most of the video sequences (and even if you don't, you aren't missing much).”
    • “Zero replayability.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics in "Telling Lies" feature a minimalist aesthetic that emphasizes the video clips, which some reviewers describe as a significant achievement in cinematographic art, despite the game's non-traditional format. The visuals are noted for their raunchy and borderline pornographic elements, contributing to the overall experience.

    • “I would say that even though it's a game, not a movie, it's still the greatest piece of cinematographic art we've had in years!”
    • “Visually, 'Telling Lies' opts for a minimalist aesthetic, with the focus squarely on the video clips themselves.”
    • “Graphics: n/a.”
    • “Graphics.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game's stability is inconsistent, with many users reporting significant bugs, particularly related to achievements and gameplay mechanics. While some players experienced smooth performance, the overall consensus highlights a troubling level of instability for a game of its simplicity.

    • “Not buggy (at least, it wasn't for me. Ran smoothly).”
    • “Not buggy (at least, it wasn't for me. Ran smoothly).”
    • “Also, for such a simple game, it's very buggy.”
    • “Achievements are extremely buggy if you are planning to get them.”
    • “Game is a buggy mess, and there's no reason something so basic should be.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some moments being unintentionally hilarious due to poor acting from notable Hollywood actors, which detracts from the overall experience. While there are elements of campiness and humor, the flawed game design and emotional manipulation leave players feeling conflicted rather than entertained. Overall, the comedic aspects are hit-or-miss, leading to a mixed reception.

    • “FMV falls into three categories: campy, unintentionally hilarious, and serious with solid execution.”
    • “It's really funny to see people fast-forwarded, but the game design is a little flawed; overall, a good experience.”
    • “As a result, it ruins the overall experience because instead of focusing on the story, you can’t stop laughing at the actors’ poor performances.”
    • “Fix solitaire, it is not funny to play with people's emotions like that.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Overall, the character development in the game received positive feedback, with many players appreciating the depth and quality of the characters. However, some felt that the game could have benefited from more critical moments showcasing character growth, despite the conclusive ending being a highlight. The acting was also praised, contributing to the overall positive reception of character development.

    • “The character development was great, and the length of the game was just right for me.”
    • “The acting was great, the character development was great, and overall I had a positive experience.”
    • “The character development was great, and the length of the game was just right for me.”
    • “I like that this game has a more conclusive ending than 'Her Story', but I do think that it was a little short on videos that show some critical character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy Telling Lies

Play time

6hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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