BrokenLore: DON'T LIE is another episode in the horror anthology series BrokenLore. Like its predecessors, the title is a first-person narrative adventure that puts players in the shoes of a new protagonist as she navigates the bizarre events happening around her. While connected to an overarching plot, with deeper ties to BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH, DON'T LIE can serve as an entry point for new players while providing returning fans with fresh insight into the broader mystery.
That being said, it is one of the stronger entries in the series, though its brief runtime will leave players wanting more. Thankfully, those jumping in for the first time have plenty of past titles to explore, while long-time fans will once again be left waiting after the credits roll. Of course, that is far from a bad thing; the fact that players keep coming back is a testament to how captivating the series truly is. Even its weaker entries are intriguing enough to keep audiences engaged, and with each new release, you never quite know what to expect. This sense of the unknown makes every title compelling, leaving you to wonder what could possibly come next—not that anyone could ever accurately predict it.
Ahead of its release, I had the opportunity to try out BrokenLore: DON'T LIE, and as with the rest of the series, I went in with an open mind. What I did not expect, however, was to play through the entire game twice after accidentally deleting my save file. I had intended to use the Chapter Select feature to collect a few missing items, but accidentally reset my progress to the beginning. Interestingly, that second playthrough helped me grasp the story much better, which I personally appreciated. As with previous entries, the narrative cannot be taken at face value; even after connecting a few dots, plenty remains to be discovered—likely in future installments. Although a single playthrough takes roughly two hours, I walked away after putting nearly six hours into it. While it does not surpass my personal favorite in the series, UNFOLLOW, I genuinely enjoyed every minute.
The Story of a Compulsive Liar:
BrokenLore: DON'T LIE follows the story of Junko, a hikikomori who also happens to be a compulsive liar. The story begins with her playing her favorite side-scrolling video game—which players get to control—before a ringing doorbell interrupts her. After putting the game down, Junko makes her way to the front door of her apartment and peeks through the peephole, only to find a strange man in a bunny mask on the other side. As he speaks cryptically, Junko refuses to open the door and waits for him to walk away. This will not be her last encounter with the stranger, but following his visit, she decides to call an old "friend" from a mental health clinic where she was previously admitted. His name is Hideo, and upon speaking to him, it becomes quite clear that he wants nothing to do with Junko—though she fails to see it.
After hanging up the phone, Junko panics as her body begins to itch, sending her running to the bathroom to take her medication. Her episode calms after taking a couple of pills, but this is only the beginning of her "adventure." When her front door suddenly flies open, Junko ventures into the hallway of her apartment complex and comes face-to-face with a bizarre sight: a massive room filled with multiple pools, with the voices of her parents echoing through her mind. From here, Junko explores twisted manifestations of her past that can only be described as a fever dream. Along the way, players learn more about Junko while being left to question the meaning behind these wondrous sights. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, one cannot help but wonder: what was real, and what did Junko actually do?
The Gameplay:
Similar to previous entries, DON'T LIE is best described as a "walking simulator." The core gameplay mechanics involve exploring Junko's apartment, interacting with a handful of objects, and walking through the multiple areas of her twisted reality. There is no stealth in this entry, nor are there any true puzzles to solve, but simplified combat mechanics are added when Junko gains possession of the sword from her video game. This is also when monsters begin popping up in real life, blending a realistic graphical style with uncanny, cartoon-styled enemies. As you stab them, they bleed, leaving you to question what Junko is "really" attacking, while their unsettling movements are unlike anything the series has seen before. Although there are a few jump scares along the way, none of them are particularly intense, making DON'T LIE a somewhat more relaxing journey through this twisted world. The thematic subject matter and the implications of Junko's actions provide the true elements of horror this time, along with a "reverse" chase sequence where you take on the role of the pursuer. It is a fun twist compared to what is typically seen in similar horror titles, and something I would love to see expanded on in future entries.
Outside of standard exploration, players can find a handful of hidden treasure chests containing extra documents. Opening these chests requires keys, and some are extremely easy to miss if you are not careful. The two that caught me off guard were a small key hiding in the shadows behind a pillar and another tucked away in the corner of a room filled with balloons. I walked past both dozens of times without realizing it, feeling a bit foolish once I finally spotted them. While there are technically fewer collectibles to find this time around, this key system effectively doubles the number of items you need to track down, and the true ending is locked behind these discoveries. Thankfully, a Chapter Select feature makes returning for missed items simple—just make sure you actually use Chapter Select instead of selecting "New Game," which also opens a chapter menu and can reset your progress if you are not careful.
Although DON'T LIE's gameplay is fairly basic overall, exploring the world remains engaging, and I appreciated the wide range of environments on display. While I wished some areas were larger or made fuller use of their concepts, discovering something new around nearly every turn was a treat. The video game Junko plays was also fun, though you can only advance so far into each stage before the doorbell rings and brings Junko face-to-face with the mysterious stranger once more. I wouldn't mind seeing more of it in the future as well. Perhaps as a full mini game accessed from the main menu?
Should you play it?
BrokenLore: DON'T LIE is a title I had a lot of fun with. Though I wish I could've spent more time with Junko, or had more eerie moments in her apartment, I ultimately did like the story it had to tell. Rather than directly spelling everything out, the true plot is hidden within the subtle details found throughout the world, and some of the mysteries do tie back into the overall series. That being said, not everything is answered here, and even with prior knowledge from the previous titles, there seems to be one major mystery that continues to go unanswered. Each title hints at what this is, but we've yet to fully uncover the full extent of what it all means. This is one reason those invested in the series keep coming back, however, as each new episode drip-feeds us bits of information to help piece things together. Of course, even once the big reveal happens, it most likely won't be that simple, so it is hard to tell where the story will diverge from there.
Putting the plot aside, it is nice to see DON'T LIE not fully relying on the staples horror games tend to fall back on. There are no slow stealth sections, and the few moments where you are "chased" actually have a unique mechanic which makes these parts a lot easier. On one hand, it does remove a bit of the tension, but the heart-pounding music still does a great job of putting you on edge, and these parts are less annoying because of how "easy" it is to avoid your pursuer. Not saying stealth in horror can't be fun, but sometimes it gets a bit old—especially when playing episodes or chapters within the same series that constantly fall back on the same mechanic. Thankfully, BrokenLore doesn't do this, as each entry handles it very differently, and sometimes even the rules themselves are completely flipped.
Overall, BrokenLore: DON'T LIE is another entertaining episode in the BrokenLore series. With an interesting premise that begs you to question what is real and what is a delusion, alongside a unique mixture of twisted realities to explore, it remains captivating from beginning to end. This is only one small piece of the puzzle, but it is worth experiencing.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PlayStation 5
Review Copy was Provided
Available On: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
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