You're standing in front of a weeping woman at a window in Krat. She’s mourning her lost baby, but you just found the "baby"—and it’s a cold, mechanical puppet. You have two choices. You can tell her the heartbreaking truth, or you can look her in the eye and lie, telling her the baby is beautiful. This is the core tension of the game. If you're wondering should you lie in Lies of P, the answer isn't a simple yes or no, but it's heavily weighted toward the "Lie" button if you want the best gear, the deepest story, and the most "human" ending.
Neowiz and Round8 Studio didn't just make another Soulslike. They made a morality simulator where the stakes are your very soul. Or, well, P’s soul. In the world of Krat, puppets are bound by the Grand Covenant, a set of rules that physically prevents them from lying. You? You’re different. You’re Geppetto’s special boy, and your ability to deceive is actually your greatest strength.
The Humanity System Explained
Most people think of lying in games as a "bad" thing. Think Infamous or Mass Effect where being a jerk makes you look like a monster. Lies of P flips that. Here, lying is the most human thing you can do. Every time you tell a "white lie" to comfort someone or choose a deceptive path, your "Humanity" increases.
You’ll see a prompt on the screen: "Your springs are reacting" or "The Ergo is whispering." These aren't just flavor text. They are progress bars for your soul. As you lie more, P starts to change. His animations become less stiff. He starts to grunt when he rolls. Eventually, you might even hear him panting after a long sprint. It's a slow, beautiful transformation from a machine into a person.
If you stick strictly to the truth, you stay a puppet. You remain cold, rigid, and ultimately, you miss out on the game’s emotional core. Honestly, playing a "Truth-only" run on your first playthrough is kind of a bummer. You'll miss the best weapon in the game and get the most depressing ending possible.
Why Lying is Usually the Right Move
Let's talk about the Golden Lie. This is a secret weapon, a staff made of gold and humanity, and it’s arguably one of the coolest things in the game. You can't get it if you're a truth-teller. It literally grows out of a painting in Hotel Krat as you lie. If you reach the end of the game and you've been a "Good Boy" who always tells the truth, that painting will just stay a painting. No legendary weapon for you.
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The Rewards of Deception
It's not just about the weapon. It's about the Records. In Lies of P, listening to music is how you stabilize your humanity. Many of these Records are locked behind side quests where lying is the trigger. For example, the quest with Julian the Gentleman. He asks if his puppet wife loved him. If you tell him the truth—that puppets can't love—the quest ends abruptly. If you lie and say she loved him, you get a wedding ring and a deeper connection to the world's lore.
Then there’s the ending. There are three main endings in Lies of P:
- Real Boy: They All Lived Happily Ever After (Don't let the name fool you, it’s dark).
- Free from the Puppet String.
- Rise of P.
To get "Rise of P," which is widely considered the "True" or "Best" ending, you have to lie. A lot. You need high humanity to make a specific choice regarding Sophia near the end of the game. Without that humanity, your heart literally isn't warm enough to trigger the final sequence.
When Should You Actually Tell the Truth?
Is there ever a reason to be honest? Sorta.
There are a few instances where telling the truth earns you a reward or progresses a quest differently. For instance, with the Riddler (Arlecchino), your answers to his phone calls determine what kind of keys you get. But even then, he’s a psychopath. He respects the "nature" of the choice more than the morality of it.
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There is also a niche "Truth Run" for trophy hunters. If you want the Platinum trophy, you’ll eventually have to do a playthrough where you tell nothing but the truth to see the "Free from the Puppet String" ending. But for a first-time player? Stick to the lies. It makes the world feel more alive. It makes P feel more like a protagonist and less like a Roomba with a sword.
The Nuance of the "Feel"
You have to pay attention to the feedback.
- "Your springs are reacting": You're just starting to feel.
- "The Ergo is whispering": You're becoming more human.
- "You feel warmth": You're almost there.
- "Your heart is pounding": You've achieved peak humanity.
If you don't see these messages changing, you aren't lying enough. Go back and talk to the NPCs. Check the side alleys of Venigni Works or the heights of St. Frangelico Cathedral. There are people everywhere looking for a reason to keep going, and usually, that reason is a lie you provide.
What Really Happens if You Lie to Alidoro?
Alidoro is a "hound" you meet who trades boss Ergo for powerful weapons. When you first meet him, he asks for a safe place to go. You can send him to Hotel Krat (the truth) or the Venigni Works (a lie).
If you lie to him, he ends up in a dangerous spot and gets annoyed. Does it ruin your game? No. In fact, lying to him is just another way to pump those humanity points. Eventually, he makes it to the Hotel anyway because he's a resourceful jerk. You don't lose access to the boss weapons, so don't sweat it. The game is very forgiving with its lies; it wants you to experiment with being "human" even when it feels counterintuitive.
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Misconceptions About the Ending
A lot of players think that if they tell one truth, they've "ruined" their Lie run. That’s not how it works. Humanity is a cumulative score. You don't need a 100% lie rate to get the best ending, but you do need a very high percentage. You can slip up once or twice if a truth feels more "right" to you in the moment.
The most critical moment isn't even a dialogue choice. It’s a choice involving Sophia at the Arche Abbey. If your humanity is high enough—indicated by your hair turning white—you're on the right track for the Rise of P ending. If your hair stays dark, you haven't lied enough. It’s a very visual, "show don't tell" way of tracking your progress.
Actionable Strategy for Your Playthrough
To get the most out of your time in Krat, follow this logic:
- Prioritize Kindness Over Facts: If a character is dying or miserable, lie to them. Tell them their loved ones are safe. Tell them they look beautiful. In Lies of P, compassion is synonymous with lying because puppets aren't supposed to feel empathy.
- Listen to Every Record: Whenever you get a new vinyl record, go back to Hotel Krat and play it from start to finish. You have to stay in the hotel for the humanity to tick up. You can tell it’s working because a small icon appears next to the record player.
- Interact with the Cat: There is a cat named Spring in the hotel. At the start of the game, he hates you. He hisses. As you lie and gain humanity, he’ll eventually let you pet him. When you can finally pick him up and cuddle him, you know your humanity is high enough for the secret ending.
- Solve the Riddles: Arlecchino’s riddles are a great way to test your morality. Don't worry about being "perfect," just focus on the humanity gain.
- The Sophia Choice: When the time comes to give Sophia "peace," do it. This is the ultimate act of humanity, but it requires you to have built up your soul through lying throughout the entire game.
Basically, if you want the full experience, the legendary weapons, and the emotional payoff, you should absolutely lie. Being a puppet is easy; being a human is complicated, messy, and requires a few "creative truths."
Stop worrying about being a "bad person." In the crumbling, blood-soaked streets of Krat, a lie is often the only mercy left. Go talk to the painting of the boy in Geppetto’s room frequently, watch that nose grow, and embrace the deception. It’s the only way to truly wake up.