APP STORE AWARDS

Mac Game of the Year

Lies of P

Deception Shatters Innocence

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This dark spin on a classic children’s tale is more than a beautiful, challenging RPG. It’s also an insightful examination of what it means to be human.

– App Store editors

No doubt about it: Lies of P is exceptionally difficult. But it’s that very difficulty – and the satisfaction you feel when you overcome its wildly imaginative challenges – that makes this action RPG one of the most thrilling we’ve ever played.

Although the game is inspired by the 19th-century tale of Pinocchio, there’s no wooden boy here. The hero is an android-like puppet named P, one of thousands wandering the ruined city of Krat (the others went haywire long ago). So, sword in hand, they venture into the chaos to find their maker, Geppetto – and perhaps some answers.

The gorgeous, dilapidated world holds all sorts of secrets – and plenty of deadly foes.

And what a journey it is. The beautifully rendered Belle Epoque cityscapes are a study in contrasts: opulence versus barbarism, humanity versus automata.

They’re an apt setting for the gritty combat, where mechanised jesters leap from the shadows as you try to harpoon the pitchfork-wielding baddies who prowl the rooftops. This is a game of precision – a perfectly timed block might be all that stands between you and victory over a towering, tentacled swamp monster.

Like the classic story on which it’s based, Lies of P asks you to examine the sometimes murky ethics of lying. At one point, you offer a puppet of a baby to a grieving mother. Do you tell her it’s her lost daughter or dismiss it as a toy? Lies of P suggests that, at times, nothing is as human – or humane – as a well-intentioned falsehood.

Though its world may be bleak, Lies of P springs to vibrant life on Mac with Apple silicon. A suite of visual customisation options – such as MetalFX upscaling and volumetric fog effects – lets you style the ruined splendor of Krat to your liking.

Lies of P is both a watershed moment and a glimpse into the future of Mac gaming – and that’s no lie.

Quick tip

When you’re asked to choose a combat style at the start of the game, we recommend picking the Path of the Bastard. You’ll get a hefty amount of stamina for dodging and blocking, and your swift, stabby attacks will make quick work of most enemies.

Fun fact

Keep your eyes peeled for a cat hanging out in the lobby of Hotel Krat. It’s named after the game director’s own kitty (Spring), and, yes, you can pet the frisky little devil – if you can figure out how!

Meet the creator

Lies of P is the first major AAA single-player game from developers Neowiz Games and Round8 Studio. Headquartered in South Korea, the studios are known for the MMORPGs Bless Online and Bless Unleashed, respectively.