BrokenLore: DON'T LIE Reviews
With BrokenLore: DON'T LIE, Serafini Productions once again finds its most effective source of horror not in what lurks in the dark, but in what can quietly unravel within the human mind. Junko’s story is shaped by loneliness, repressed memories, deception, and fragile relationships, creating a psychological horror experience that understands the value of restraint. Rather than constantly reaching for immediate shocks, DON'T LIE builds its tension through an atmosphere of persistent unease, allowing discomfort to linger long after the initial scare has passed. Its relatively short runtime does little to diminish its impact. DON'T LIE represents a clear visual step forward for the series, while its use of liminal spaces becomes one of its greatest strengths. Familiar environments are repeatedly stripped of their sense of safety and transformed into spaces that feel increasingly alien, oppressive, and difficult to trust. It is in these moments that the game’s atmosphere is at its most effective. The connection to DON'T WATCH further expands the narrative, adding another piece to the increasingly intricate mythology of the BrokenLore universe without making the experience inaccessible to newcomers. Survival mechanics, dialogue, and player choices also point toward a more interactive approach to storytelling, giving the player a greater sense of involvement in Junko’s journey. Combat, however, remains the weakest part of the experience, lacking the same degree of polish and purpose found elsewhere. DON'T LIE is not a flawless horror experience, but its shortcomings never overshadow what Serafini Productions is gradually building. If anything, they reveal a studio still experimenting, refining its ideas, and becoming increasingly confident in its own creative voice. There is a clear sense that BrokenLore is still taking shape, and DON'T LIE feels like another meaningful step toward defining what that universe can ultimately become.
The story behind the BrokenLore series has been fascinating so far, and it continues to be so in DON’T LIE, with a few ties to some of the other games and new lore to discover. It’s one that will keep you invested in the series as a long-time fan or make you want to see more if you are new to the series. Either way, you are in for one hell of a ride with this one.
BrokenLore: DON’T LIE is a very short psychological horror experience, but one packed with great ideas. The game really shines in the way it blurs the lines of reality—both through Junko, who is an unreliable narrator, and through the world of Fantasy Boy, which eventually comes to life. The visual metaphors and the soundscape work really well. Unfortunately, the frequent back-and-forth between the apartment and the liminal spaces quickly becomes repetitive. With about two hours of gameplay for over $20, the value for money is also hard to justify. If you enjoy strange, psychological narrative experiences, DON’T LIE is still worth checking out.
Review in French | Read full review
Brokenlore Don’t Lie follows in the footsteps of the studio’s previous works and delivers a very short indie game that relies primarily on atmosphere and visuals. With sparse gameplay and a lack of new ideas, anyone interested should give it a try for its story and message—and because what they’ve seen in the trailers has caught their attention. If you’re looking for gameplay that will hook you, you won’t find it here. But if you’re someone who enjoys a great atmosphere and decent horror, you should give Brokenlore Don’t Lie a try.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
BrokenLore: DON’T LIE delivers a creative horror experience that proves the developers’ boldness in trying fresh, distinctive ideas. While it lacks a truly unique artistic direction, it confirms that the BrokenLore series is on the right track and maturing with each release. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a smart, intense psychological horror experience.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
BrokenLore: DON'T LIE ends up being one of the weakest entries in the franchise, abandoning much of the tension that defined previous games in favor of limited and unexciting combat mechanics. On top of that, performance issues on PlayStation 5—such as minor stutters and bugs during progression—can also be bothersome and ultimately hinder the experience for some players.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I wasn’t expecting much from BrokenLore: DON’T LIE, and I still left disappointed. I can easily blame myself for still not being able to understand what terrifies Japanese culture. But the experience here doesn’t feel complete, and with only a two-hour runtime, it was a blessing that it ended so quickly.
BrokenLore: DON'T LIE is at its best when it relies on atmosphere and Junko rather than cheap scares. Its psychological horror and striking contrast between reality and fantasy stay with you, even if restrictive exploration and an overly open ending hold it back.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
BrokenLore: Don’t Lie is an interesting, albeit flawed, addition to the ever-expanding BrokenLore franchise. It can miss the mark a bit with its puzzling and some of the visual issues are jarring, but it has enough unique ideas and an intriguing narrative that help make it worth checking out if you’re already a fan of the previous releases (and especially BrokenLore: Don’t Watch). As a standalone horror game, it stumbles a bit too often to be an absolute must-play, but it’s still an enjoyable release in the genre that shows that the BrokenLore franchise isn’t running out of ideas yet.
BrokenLore: DON'T LIE is a real return to form for this horror anthology, with loads of gorgeous environments and an engrossing story.
BrokenLore: Don’t Lie is a compelling addition to the franchise, offering an intriguing new perspective on its growing web of interconnected anthologies. Junko’s psychological descent, the mysteries surrounding Elysium, and the connections to the other protagonists give the game plenty of intrigue, especially for players already familiar with the series. However, the short runtime means that Junko’s backstory, the mythology behind the yokais, and Elysium are not explored as deeply as they could be. Even with these shortcomings, Don’t Lie adds meaningful pieces to the larger BrokenLore narrative and gives returning players another perspective worth seeing. It may leave some questions unanswered, but for those already invested in the franchise, there is enough here to make Junko’s story a worthwhile addition.
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.