Lies of P is a linear game structured around directed corridors, interconnected chapters, and mandatory boss milestones rather than an open-world sandbox. If you're wondering whether you can explore freely or if you're locked into a single path, the short answer is that the game relies on strict stage-based linearity, tempered by short-cut loops and optional side areas.
Unlike open-world action RPGs like Elden Ring, developer Round8 Studio built Krat as a focused, atmospheric descent reminiscent of Bloodborne or Dark Souls III. Understanding how its progression, level design, and gameplay loop intersect will help you know what to expect before you step onto the cobblestones of Krat.
The Core Gameplay Loop: Combat, Stargazers, and Ergo
The heartbeat of Lies of P revolves around a tight rhythm of exploration, survival, combat, and upgrade management. You enter a zone from a safe checkpoint known as a Stargazer, push forward through hostile streets, unlock shortcuts back to your origin point, defeat a major boss, and advance to the next distinct chapter.
Your primary currency is Ergo, earned by defeating puppets and carcasses or consuming specialized items. You spend Ergo at Hotel Krat—the central hub—to level up your stats, purchase weapon parts, or upgrade your P-Organ. This creates a risk-and-reward cycle: push deeper into unfamiliar territory to find the next Stargazer, or retreat early to bank your Ergo before dying and risking permanent loss upon failing your corpse recovery.
Weapon assembly also dictates how you interact with this loop. You can separate blades and handles to mix and match stats, scaling, and movesets, allowing you to adapt to linear choke points without needing to grind extra levels.
Level Design and Exploration: Are There Branching Paths?
While the overarching campaign is strictly linear—moving from Chapter 1 through Chapter 11 in a set sequence—individual levels feature dense verticality and looping shortcuts.
When you enter a zone like the Krat Central Station or Rosa Isabelle Street, you'll encounter locked gates, barred doors, and elevator shafts that only open from the opposite side. Exploring these areas feels like solving a puzzle. You find a side alley, defeat a mini-boss, and drop a ladder down that connects back to your active Stargazer.
However, these paths do not alter the narrative destination. They exist to ease traversal, reduce run-back times to boss arenas, and reward thorough exploration with hidden quartz, collectibles, and defensive parts. You won't find major faction choices or alternative world maps that change the order of your journey.
Side Quests, Humanity, and Ending Variations
Linearity in level progression doesn't mean your choices lack consequence. Lies of P features a robust Humanity system tied to optional NPC side quests and dialogue choices where you can choose to lie or tell the truth.
- Cryptic Vessels: You can find encrypted items that require you to track down specific locations or merchants, offering optional riddles and high-tier rewards.
- The Trinity Sanctuaries: Hidden rooms unlocked by answering riddles asked by the Arlecchino telephone puzzles across Krat.
- The Lie Mechanic: Choosing to lie shifts your character's humanity score, which directly influences weapon scaling benefits, audio-visual cues, and which of the three game endings you unlock.
While these systems add replayability, they take place within the boundaries of the same linear chapters. You can't skip chapters or tackle bosses out of order.
How Lies of P Compares to Traditional Souls-Likes
Veterans of the genre often compare Lies of P's structure to FromSoftware's catalog. Where games like Elden Ring champion open-world freedom and Dark Souls offers an interconnected metroidvania-style world map, Lies of P mirrors the linear, mission-based chapter flow of Demon's Souls or Dark Souls III.
According to developer insights shared on the PlayStation Blog, the team prioritized a taut, narrative-driven experience where pacing and tension remain high. Every street corner, enemy placement, and trap is hand-crafted rather than procedurally generated or spread across empty fields. This focus ensures that the challenge remains deliberate and fair, resting entirely on your mastery of parrying, weapon durability management, and fable arts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fast travel between chapters in Lies of P?
Yes. Once you activate a Stargazer, you can freely fast travel between any unlocked checkpoint in the game from any other Stargazer or from Hotel Krat.
Are there missable side quests if you progress too far?
Yes. Advancing the main story or defeating specific major chapter bosses can lock out certain NPC side quests, merchant inventories, or side objectives in earlier zones. It's best to check in with Hotel Krat residents after every major boss defeat.
Does Lies of P have a New Game Plus mode?
Yes. Completing the game unlocks New Game Plus (known as New Game Plus), where you retain your levels, weapons, P-Organ upgrades, and quartz, while facing significantly tougher enemies and earning rarer items.
How long does it take to beat Lies of P?
A standard playthrough of the main linear campaign takes approximately 30 to 45 hours, depending on your familiarity with souls-like combat mechanics and time spent on optional bosses.
