Elden Ring is no doubt the biggest game in the Soulslike genre but Lies of P’s success was a surprise. Especially since it wasn’t made to compete.

Lies of P was a surprise entry to the Soulslike genre but it had a unique take on it. Neowiz Games and Round8 Studio brought us the classic Pinocchio tale mixed with steampunk aesthetics with intense action and it was a game that felt fresh and fun. However, according to the game’s devs, the plan was never to challenge Elden Ring.

The game worked because it was different. | Image Credit: NEOWIZ

Punishing difficulty is the identity of many Soulslikes games, including FromSoftware’s Elden Ring. But Lies of P opted for a more accessible experience with the idea that difficulty isn’t the defining factor of the genre. And we have to say, it worked. The game was a success, and now we’re all ready for the DLC and a potential sequel.

Lies of P was a success because it was different from Elden Ring

The game wasn’t designed to be like other Soulslikes. | Image Credit: FromSoftware

When Elden Ring launched in 2022, it was a big deal because it changed the Soulslike formula by taking it to an open-world format. While many of us gamers were skeptical about this at the time, it was a critical and financial success. The game has sold over 28 million copies as of September 2024 and it’s only going to sell more.

Namco Bandai confirmed Elden Ring has sold over 28.6 million copies worldwide as of September 2024.

In June 2024, they last reported 25 million units sold, so this is a 3.6 million unit increase over a 3 months period. pic.twitter.com/NIn4ihw1u3

— Stealth (@Stealth40k) December 15, 2024

Naturally, any Soulslike that followed would be compared to it, but Lies of P never aimed to compete directly with Elden Ring. Instead, it embraced its own identity, focusing on a more structured narrative and a refined, yet accessible, combat system. Game director Choi Ji-won talked about the differences between the two games in an interview with DualShockers.

We have really diverse and colorful combat mechanisms; on top of that, there is the lying mechanism which fits the story of Pinocchio and fits the ending.

Lies of P‘s unique lying mechanic is part of what makes it so special. It influenced both gameplay and story outcomes, leading to multiple endings. Ji-won noted that players should “really, really, really” see the story through to the end, hinting at the different endings.

Choi Ji-won made it clear that difficulty alone does not define a Soulslike game. While he firmly believes that games in this genre shouldn’t include difficulty options, he also acknowledged that Lies of P would be easier compared to its peers. Instead of relying on sheer challenge, the game leaned into the design and mechanics of its combat system.

Neowiz is embracing the success with a DLC and potential sequel

And we can’t wait for what’s next. | Image Credit: NEOWIZ

Despite coming into a very competitive genre, Lies of P found remarkable success, surpassing seven million players within its first six months. Neowiz Games isn’t stopping with just one game. A DLC expansion is currently in the works, and a sequel has already been confirmed.

Director Ji-won has stated that the team is committed to improving what worked while making other aspects better. With the first game proving that a Soulslike doesn’t have to be brutally difficult to be successful, the sequel has the opportunity to push the genre even further just like how Elden Ring did it.

So while Lies of P didn’t redefine the genre like Elden Ring, it proved that Soulslikes could offer good experiences without relying solely on difficulty. Neowiz put together the familiarity of Pinocchio’s tale with unique combat and a rich atmosphere and it turned out to be a success. Will they find it again?