It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve been obsessed with Lies of P since I first played it at launch back in September 2023. This action-Soulslike was my personal favorite game of that year (despite extraordinarily strong competition). So, when the Nintendo Switch 2 arrived last summer, I was desperately hoping Lies of P would head over to the hybrid console ASAP.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait very long. Just over 12 months after the Switch 2’s launch, and nearly three years after its initial release, Lies of P: Complete Edition comes to Nintendo’s platform this week (on Thursday, August 6). I’ve had the chance to check it out early, and it’s pretty much exactly what I hoped: The same great Lies of P game, now on Switch 2.
Its release timing feels particularly appropriate, as Lies of P launches on Switch 2 just a few weeks ahead of the hotly anticipated Elden Ring: Tarnish Edition. So, if you need a game to hold you over until revisiting FromSoftware’s behemoth, this excellent Soulslike is the perfect title for the occasion. It remains a must-play for fans of challenging action-RPGs.
Lies of P is still one of my favorite Soulslike games
In short, Lies of P takes clear clues from the Dark Souls series, created by FromSoftware, the developer of Elden Ring. It’s a demanding action-RPG that emphasizes challenging combat encounters, build-crafting, and memorable boss battles that might take you dozens of attempts.
Loosely based on Carlo Collodi’s “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” you play a living puppet, referred to as P, who must venture through the gothic city of Krat in the aftermath of an event known as the “Puppet Frenzy,” in which the once servient puppets turned on their human masters.
It’s an intriguing setup, and Lies of P does a great job offering players small snippets of story, rewarding curiosity and a willingness to piece together the overarching narrative via optional collectibles. But as much as I enjoy the rich lore of Lies of P, it’s the punishing combat that shines brightest.
Lies of P might be part of the “Soulslike” genre (named for the aforementioned Dark Souls), but its closest comparison is actually FromSoftware’s 2015 PS4 exclusive Bloodborne. Combat encounters are fast and fluid, with the best strategy revolving around relentless pressure and, if you can nail the timing, making use of parries to stun enemies.
The game also packs some of the most well-designed boss encounters of any Soulslike. You’ll square off against all manner of towering foes, from an electrified police robot to a mutated Archbishop spewing blue goo. I don’t want to veer into spoilers, but several of Lies of P’s best bosses rival even the works of genre originator FromSoftware. And the final boss is a doozy.
Even if wholly new ideas are thin on the ground — though the game's weapon combining system is unique — Lies of P mixes the best elements of its Souls inspirations to deliver a consistently satisfying action experience. Each victory is hard-earned, and levels beg to be explored.
The game also has several built-in guardrails to help you pick your level of challenge. There are multiple difficulty settings (originally added post-launch, but available on Switch 2 from day one), and the majority of bosses allow you to summon a helpful NPC companion, which makes things considerably easier. Lies of P doesn't have to be brutally tough, if you wish.
Even if a high degree of difficulty sounds off-putting to you, Lies of P is one of the more approachable games in the Soulslike genre for newcomers.
Lies of P feels at home on Switch 2
Almost three years post-release, and after a bunch of GOTY nominations, Lies of P is mostly a known quantity at this point. So, turning attention specifically to how this new version plays on the Switch 2. I’ve been largely impressed with the experience on Nintendo’s excellent hybrid console.
As you would expect, Lies of P on Switch 2 isn’t the premier version. It looks and runs better on PS5, Xbox Series X, or a powerful gaming PC, but the Switch 2 edition is no slouch. Its biggest drawback is that objects in the distance can appear low quality. This is particularly noticeable with blurry background character models, and the framerate takes a hit in handheld mode — though a day-one patch will add a 60 fps mode.
Perhaps the biggest downgrade I’ve found comes in loading times, which are a little longer than I’d like. 15 or so seconds doesn’t sound like much, but in a Soulslike, when death can come fast and frequent, this could be a minor pain point for new players when learning the ropes. But veterans, armed with previous knowledge, will likely endure few loading screens.
As noted up top, this is the “Complete Edition” and comes packaged with the high-quality Overture expansion, alongside all previously released DLC, including the overpowered Azure Dragon Crescent Glaive weapon, released as part of a collaboration with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. It’s unlocked from the start and makes the early game a breeze. In fact, it’s so powerful, I’d suggest new players avoid it, as it breaks the difficulty curve.
Overall, this is a strong port of an excellent game; whether you’ve experienced Lies of P before or are stepping into Krat for the first time, the game feels at home on Switch 2. And because of its largely linear level design and manageable scope, it’s a great game to pick up to fill the time until Elden Ring arrives later this month and eats up your gaming time.
The Soulslike genre has exploded in popularity in recent years, with numerous developers attempting to recapture the very particular alchemy that saw FromSoftware rapidly rise to one of the industry’s most respected (and beloved) studios. Many have tried, but few imitators have got as remarkably close to matching the quality of a true Souls game as Lies of P.
All of this is to say, Lies of P: Complete Edition is a must-play on Nintendo Switch 2. This was the Switch 2 port I was desperately awaiting since launch, and now that it’s here, it’s no disappointment. Playing Lies of P once again on Nintendo Switch 2 has only deepened my obsession.
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