Telling Lies, developed by Half Mermaid, places the player before a stolen video archive to reconstruct a shocking incident. The core activity asks you to probe hundreds of recorded conversations on a simulated laptop, follow threads of speech and piece together timelines from fragmentary clips. It pairs non-linear investigation with live-action video performances and an OS-like interface, plus an integrated note system to record discoveries. Players who like methodical mysteries and character-driven drama benefit most from the game's patient pace.

What kind of game is it?

The game is an investigative thriller and a spiritual successor to Her Story, created by Sam Barlow. Its source material is an anonymous NSA database composed of over one hundred and seventy short videos spanning roughly two years, focused on four interconnected people and a single, unsettling incident. The player's task is reconstructive: locate dispersed moments of conversation and decide how those fragments fit together into a plausible account.

How does the investigation actually work?

Navigation relies on targeted queries into the archive and attentive listening to short clips. The interface shows search results as individual recordings; each clip often contains overlapping lines that point to new keywords. Typical investigative steps include:

• enter a search term,
• watch returned clips for leads,
• use discovered words to find further clips.

Choice of queries determines which narrative threads appear, so the unfolding account depends on where you look.

What does the game look and sound like?

The standout feature is the calibre of the performances, with Logan Marshall-Green, Alexandra Shipp, Kerry Bishé and Angela Sarafyan giving cinematic, close-up scenes that carry emotional weight. Audio emphasizes intimate, conversational recording rather than broad effects, reinforcing a voyeuristic tone. The Nintendo Switch release runs in handheld or docked modes; on-console video playback and controller-based navigation influence how smoothly you can follow overlapping dialogue and references.

Is it easy to get going and replay?

Expect a compact single run of around four to five hours for a typical playthrough. The design gives minimal explicit direction, so players must infer links from fragments rather than follow clear objectives. That open-ended approach rewards curiosity but raises the bar for newcomers who prefer guided onboarding. Several users mention video scrubbing and rewind controls feel awkward at times, introducing mechanical friction during repeated backtracking.

An attentive, patient pick for players who enjoy piecing together stories

The game suits players who enjoy careful interpretation of character-driven material and the slow work of assembling a narrative from fragments. Players who prefer immediate objectives or fast action may find the investigative pace and control quirks limiting. For those willing to listen closely, it offers concentrated emotional and narrative payoff; for others the experience can feel compact and deliberate rather than broadly directed.