The Mirror Lied

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 367 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • atmosphere
The Mirror Lied Game Cover
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The Mirror Lied is the second game in the Freebird Games franchise. The player controls a little girl named 'Leah' as she explores a house with no one else in it and no visible means of escape.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 367 reviews
story23 positive mentions
gameplay4 negative mentions
  • It's free and can be completed in about 30 minutes, making it a low-risk experience.
  • The atmosphere and music are compelling, creating a unique and eerie experience.
  • The game encourages interpretation and discussion, leaving players with intriguing questions and theories.
  • The story is confusing and lacks a clear narrative, leaving many players baffled.
  • Gameplay can feel clunky and simplistic, with minimal interaction and basic puzzles.
  • Some players found the experience frustrating due to its vagueness and lack of direction.
  • story128 mentions

    The story of "The Mirror Lied" is described as vague, confusing, and open to interpretation, often leaving players puzzled about its meaning. While some find the cryptic narrative intriguing and thought-provoking, others feel it lacks coherence and clarity, requiring external guides to piece together its elements. Overall, the game offers a unique, experimental experience that invites players to explore its mysterious themes, albeit with a significant degree of ambiguity.

    • “The story has left me with some stuff to mull over since it's very mysterious and thus has room for interpretation.”
    • “The mirror lied is a short thriller with a strange story that will most likely not make any sense when you play it, but with the atmosphere and how bizarre and slightly unsettling it is, I think it's at least worth checking out.”
    • “As to all other freebird games, the mirror lied is a very emotional and captivating story; it is a story well done, very well written, and good job with the RPG Maker engine.”
    • “The story does not make any sense.”
    • “It's impossible to understand the story of this game, so check this story analysis.”
    • “The story is very vague and confusing, and it's up to your own interpretation.”
  • music44 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional impact of the experience. While some noted that the soundtrack can be sparse or limited to a few tracks, others highlighted specific pieces as memorable and integral to the game's overall feel. Overall, the music is often described as excellent, atmospheric, and a standout feature, even in games that are otherwise experimental or short.

    • “The music is absolutely amazing and the game is free, so a yes.”
    • “The atmosphere it created, music, and art style is awesome.”
    • “Although the story continues to baffle me, the game is short, well-made, the music is incredible, and it's free.”
    • “The music is pretty sparse but it does have one creepy little jingle which will play during certain moments; otherwise, the game is silent except for the endless ticking of a grandfather clock, which is quite unsettling by itself. However, another song can be played whenever you want and has to be manually activated from a music box.”
    • “I can't control the music volume.”
    • “The gameplay feels rough, although the music is fine.”
  • atmosphere34 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its surreal, eerie, and unsettling qualities, often described as haunting and cryptic. Reviewers note that despite the nonsensical narrative, the intentionality behind the atmosphere enhances the overall experience, making it feel thoughtfully crafted. The combination of music, art style, and disorienting elements contributes to a chilling ambiance that captivates players, even if the gameplay itself is simple or brief.

    • “Despite the short playtime, The Mirror Lied is able to create an unsettling atmosphere with only the mystery it creates, backed up with the sound of a clock ticking.”
    • “Despite its seemingly nonsensical imagery, there is a greater sense of intentionality than in many similar games of the time. Even though I was largely baffled, the atmosphere and themes of the game were strong enough to make me feel that I had experienced something with more thought put into it than your average surreal horror game.”
    • “The game has a thick atmosphere of surreal nightmare, with a screenplay consisting of strange metaphors and dark images.”
    • “Despite the short playtime, The Mirror Lied is able to create an unsettling atmosphere with only the mystery it creates, backed up by the sound of a clock ticking.”
  • gameplay33 mentions

    The gameplay is largely criticized for being minimalistic and lacking depth, often described as a basic walking simulator with point-and-click mechanics and no puzzles. Many reviewers found it dry and frustrating, with cumbersome navigation and a repetitive loop that detracted from the overall experience. While some appreciated the narrative and ambiance, the consensus is that the gameplay feels more like a demo than a fully realized game.

    • “The subtleties of the gameplay, the art style, the music, it made the experience so immersive.”
    • “It is a very short but powerful game that will keep you thinking about what happened, and you'll spend your next two days learning about things and replaying it to see what you missed in your first gameplay.”
    • “From a mechanical point of view, it's a pretty traditional 'search the area for hidden items to get access to other items' sort of game, but the narrative gives the whole experience a truly bizarre vibe.”
    • “The gameplay is dry and boring; just walk around and interact with objects hoping the story will advance enough for you to be able to water a plant another 10 times.”
    • “The gameplay is limited to point-and-click elements and doesn't have any real depth.”
    • “Reads more as a demo or something than an actual game, and has a really self-entitled wannabe artsy ending, with similar dialogue, and a horrible back-and-forth gameplay loop.”
  • graphics14 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their attractive 16-bit pixel art style, reminiscent of classic titles like "Chrono Trigger" and "Star Ocean," with detailed environments and a nostalgic aesthetic. However, some users noted limitations due to the RPG Maker engine, which lacks full HD support and graphics customization options, detracting from the experience for modern gamers. Overall, while the visuals contribute positively to the atmosphere, they may not meet the expectations of those seeking high-quality graphics in contemporary gaming.

    • “The RPG Maker graphics art style is nice with good detail and color; the levels are okay, the houses are quite detailed, but a bit strange with some nice scenery to look at.”
    • “The graphics are very attractive and use 16-bit pixel art that is reminiscent of games near the end of said era such as Chrono Trigger and Star Ocean.”
    • “The atmosphere it created, music, and art style is awesome.”
    • “As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
    • “I didn't like the gameplay, puzzles, or art style; not really interesting as a standalone game.”
    • “The subtleties of the gameplay, the art style, the music, it made the experience so immersive.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it nostalgic and captivating, evoking feelings of tension and nostalgia reminiscent of other titles, others feel it lacks true emotional depth and coherence. Comparisons to Freebird Games highlight a divide, with some praising its storytelling and emotional impact, while others note it doesn't reach the heights of classics like "To the Moon." Overall, the emotional experience varies significantly among players.

    • “This game made me feel very nostalgic and gave me mad father vibes.”
    • “When paired with the lights being off by default around the house, both the music and the ticking clock really made me feel on edge throughout some portions of the game.”
    • “As to all other Freebird games, The Mirror Lied is a very emotional and captivating story. It is a story well done, very well written, and good job with the RPG Maker engine.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report it as a "buggy mess," others find it largely functional with only minor menu-related glitches that do not significantly impact gameplay.

    • “It's a buggy mess.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “There are numerous glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is subtle and develops gradually, with players finding enjoyment in lighthearted moments and memes, such as the "this is okay" fire meme. While it may not deliver immediate laughs, its silliness ultimately contributes to a charming comedic experience.

    • “Nothing will jump at you, but the 'this is okay' fire meme made me laugh; it's worth the time.”
    • “Then, it slowly becomes funny, because 'oh so silly!'”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or even a second life to effectively progress.

    • “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.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
    • “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users express that the game's replayability is a significant positive aspect, contributing to their overall enjoyment and satisfaction.

  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others have experienced significant lag and technical issues. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual system configurations.

  • monetization1 mentions

    The game is positively received for its lack of microtransactions, which enhances its overall appeal, as users generally recommend it unless it features such monetization practices or is of poor quality.

    • “I automatically recommend all such games unless they have microtransactions (which this does not) or are completely horrible (which this is not).”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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