No. Lies of P is a self-contained Soulslike with its own characters, setting and story; you do not need to play Elden Ring, Dark Souls or any other FromSoftware game first. The meaningful choice is structural: Elden Ring is a huge, open-ended fantasy adventure, while Lies of P is a more directed journey through a Pinocchio-inspired city.
The short answer: start with whichever structure suits you
Lies of P does not continue Elden Ring and shares no required story knowledge with it. Its protagonist is a reimagined Pinocchio in Krat, a Belle Époque-inspired city suffering from madness and attacks by killer puppets. The game builds its identity around weapon assembly, swappable Legion Arms and decisions about whether to lie.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Lies of P - PlayStation 5 | $38.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Lies of P (PS5) | $35.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Lies of P [Korean Edition] for PS5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+-vdq74lL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Lies of P [Korean Edition] for PS5 | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5) | $26.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
The Art of Lies of P | $28.10 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Elden Ring takes place in the Lands Between, a separate fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin. You create a character, follow guidance toward the Elden Ring and the Elden Lord title, and decide how to travel, fight and develop your build. You can explore on foot or horseback, use weapons, magic, stealth and allies, and play alone or online.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →That makes Lies of P a valid first Soulslike if you want a focused route and a distinctive fairy-tale setting. Choose Elden Ring first if your priority is freedom to wander, discover optional areas and experiment with many character approaches.
#1 Best Overall
- The essence of battle: Wield and master various weapons with unique combinations of Fable Arts and Legion Arms to find out what fits your playstyle
- Variety of attraction: Enjoy the beautiful, yet dark atmosphere of the Belle Époque era and explore the once prosperous city of Krat
- Lie system: P is made of a puppet's heart, but he learns how to think and feel like a human by lying
- Legacy of the classics: The city of Krat, the characters, and even the smallest objects reflect our deepest admiration for the original tale of Pinocchio
What the PlayStation Plus “rival” actually is
Sony’s product description calls Lies of P “a dark fantasy action game inspired by the classic story of Pinocchio” and a “macabre Soulslike.” The central location is Krat, where puppets have turned against the city’s inhabitants. Its systems are specific to this game: you can assemble weapons from components, equip different Legion Arms and make lie-based narrative choices.
The PlayStation Plus connection is an access route, not a permanent ownership guarantee. In an announcement dated 29 July 2025, Sony said Lies of P would be one of the August monthly PlayStation Plus games, available to subscribers from 5 August 2025. Monthly entitlements and catalog listings can later change, and availability depends on your country, subscription tier and the date you check.
PlayStation describes the tiers differently: Essential provides monthly games, Extra provides the Game Catalog, and Premium adds trials and streaming. A game can leave a catalog even when the service itself continues, so confirm the current store listing before planning a long playthrough around access.
Do the stories or worlds connect?
No. Elden Ring and Lies of P are unrelated properties with different authors, settings and characters. Knowing the mythology, bosses or terminology of one will not reveal plot information in the other.
Rank #2
- Inspired by the familiar story of Pinocchio, Lies of P is an action souls-like set in a dark Belle Époque world.
- As the puppet P, players must wind their way through the streets of the ruined city of Krat, crafting weapons from the materials found in the world and interacting with the remaining few who manage to survive in this hellscape.
- The more lies told, the more human players become, with all the advantages and disadvantages it entails.
- Experience profound narrative choices and deeply customizable character progression as you guide P on his unrelenting journey to become human.
Lies of P: a retold fairy tale in Krat
You play a puppet version of Pinocchio in a decaying, Belle Époque-style city. The premise uses familiar fairy-tale ideas but presents them as dark fantasy. The lie mechanic is part of the narrative identity, while weapon assembly and Legion Arms shape how you fight. The setting and story are introduced inside the game, so there is no prerequisite reading or previous installment to catch up on.
Elden Ring: an original open-world myth
Elden Ring is built around an original fantasy world rather than an adaptation. Its official premise asks you to rise as a Tarnished, follow grace, wield the Elden Ring’s power and become an Elden Lord. The Lands Between is a network of connected landscapes and dungeons, with travel, character creation and multiple combat tools presented as core features.
What a new player is taking on in Elden Ring
Elden Ring launched on 25 February 2022 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox and PC. The base game is the foundation; the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion requires that base game. Current editions can package the standard game with the expansion, but buying the expansion alone does not replace the base game.
The official feature list explains why a first-time player may find it unusually broad:
Rank #3
- This is Korean Version released by SIEK. Region free title so you can play it on your system.
- Korean Edition supports Multi language Subtitles: English, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Polish, French, Korean
- Open exploration: connected outdoor regions and dungeons can be approached in different orders.
- Movement options: you travel on foot or horseback, changing how you reach and assess areas.
- Build variety: character creation, weapons and magic support different combat plans.
- Approach choices: stealth and allies are listed alongside direct fighting.
- Play modes: the game supports solo play and online play.
This breadth is the attraction if you enjoy finding your own route. It also means that the game does not function like a single, tightly ordered corridor: you are repeatedly deciding where to go, what to equip and whether to return later.
What makes Lies of P different
Lies of P is more directed. Its official description centers the journey through Krat rather than a vast connected world. You still get the demanding action-RPG combat associated with the Soulslike label, but the defining choices are easier to summarize:
- Weapon assembly: combine weapon components to create a setup that fits your preferred attacks.
- Legion Arms: swap specialized mechanical arms to change your available combat tools.
- Lie decisions: choices about truth and deception affect the game’s narrative presentation.
- Distinct setting: the Pinocchio-inspired premise gives the journey a clear visual and thematic identity.
Because the route is more focused, it can be a comfortable entry point for someone who wants to learn one game’s combat and upgrade systems without first navigating a giant map. “More directed” does not mean effortless; it describes how the adventure presents its spaces and progression, not a promise of a particular difficulty level.
Which game fits your priorities?
| What you want | Better first choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Free-form exploration, horseback travel and many build routes | Elden Ring | Its official features emphasize connected landscapes, dungeons, weapons, magic, stealth and allies. |
| A tighter route with a dark fairy-tale setting | Lies of P | Krat, Pinocchio, weapon assembly, Legion Arms and lie choices define the experience. |
| A way to sample the game before buying | Lies of P, if it is currently included for your plan | Sony announced a PlayStation Plus entitlement beginning 5 August 2025, but listings and end dates change. |
| A long-term open-world benchmark to own | Elden Ring | The base game is sold in standard and expansion-inclusive editions, and the expansion requires the base game. |
Is Lies of P a good first Soulslike?
Yes, provided you want to learn through a contained adventure. You can enter Krat without knowing the conventions or lore of FromSoftware games. The game explains its own premise, and its systems give you concrete ways to adjust your equipment: assemble a weapon, select a Legion Arm and make choices that match how you want the story to develop.
Rank #4
- Enter the stadium and take part of one of the biggest competitions across 34 sports: from swimming, soccer, extreme bike, weightlifting, trampoline and much more!
- Defend your own country and visit the World: United States, Australia, Japan, France…
- Train yourself alone or compete with your friends!
- An enhanced version of “30 Sport Games in 1”, with revamped design, new games and more customisation!
A first Soulslike player should still expect to pay attention to enemy patterns, positioning, equipment and upgrade decisions. The label describes a demanding action-RPG tradition, not a requirement to have completed an earlier title. Treat each defeated enemy or failed attempt as information about timing and range rather than as evidence that you were supposed to play another game first.
Elden Ring is also a legitimate first Soulslike, especially for players who prefer solving problems through exploration. If a region or encounter feels too demanding, the game’s open structure gives you more opportunities to travel elsewhere, use another weapon or magic approach, and return with a different plan. That freedom is a major part of its appeal.
How to use PlayStation Plus as a test without assuming permanent access
- Check the current listing on your console or the PlayStation Store. Confirm that Lies of P appears for your country and your specific tier. A 2025 announcement does not prove that the same entitlement is still active in 2026.
- Identify the access type. Essential monthly games, Extra catalog games and Premium trials or streaming are different benefits. The listing will show which one applies and whether an end date is displayed.
- Check the account that holds the subscription. The entitlement is tied to the PlayStation account and plan shown by the store, so use that account when claiming or downloading.
- Plan for removal. If the title is marked as leaving a catalog or is only available through a limited monthly offer, do not assume it will remain playable indefinitely. Decide whether the available period is enough for you or whether purchasing the game makes more sense.
- Buy only if you want continued access. If you enjoy the game and the Plus entitlement is ending, a standalone purchase avoids making the rest of your playtime depend on a changing catalog entry.
This approach lets Plus answer the most important personal question—whether Krat’s combat and atmosphere suit you—while keeping the access caveat visible.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteDo you need PlayStation Plus for either game’s single-player mode?
No subscription is needed merely to begin the single-player premise of either title. Elden Ring explicitly supports single-player as well as online play, and Lies of P‘s story is likewise presented as a solo action-RPG experience.
Best Value
Online rules are separate. PlayStation Support says that most PS4 and PS5 games require a PlayStation Plus subscription for online multiplayer, while some games are exceptions; the store listing is the authority for a specific title. Therefore, check the current listing if you intend to use online co-op or another network feature in Elden Ring. Your decision about which game to start does not depend on having played a previous Soulslike.
A practical decision path
Choose Lies of P first when
- You want a clear, directed campaign rather than a world built around free-form wandering.
- Pinocchio-inspired dark fantasy is more appealing than an original high-fantasy myth.
- You want to experiment with assembled weapons and Legion Arms.
- You can access it through a current PlayStation Plus entitlement and want to sample it before buying.
Choose Elden Ring first when
- You want horseback travel and a large connected world to explore at your own pace.
- You enjoy changing direction, revisiting areas and testing different weapons, magic, stealth or allies.
- You are specifically looking for the Elden Ring story and the Lands Between, not a Pinocchio adaptation.
- You want a base game that can later support Shadow of the Erdtree.
Bottom line for a first-time player
Play Lies of P first if its focused Krat setting and weapon-focused systems appeal to you, especially while an eligible PlayStation Plus listing lets you try it. Play Elden Ring first if the idea of an enormous, flexible exploration sandbox is the main draw. Neither choice requires the other, and neither game’s single-player story assumes prior Soulslike experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I miss references in Lies of P if I have never played Elden Ring?
No. They are unrelated games with separate settings, characters and stories; Lies of P introduces its own Krat and Pinocchio-inspired premise.
Was Lies of P permanently added to PlayStation Plus?
Sony announced it as an August 2025 monthly PlayStation Plus game beginning 5 August 2025. Current availability can change by region, tier and catalog end date, so verify the live store listing.
Can I play Elden Ring offline?
Yes. Elden Ring has a single-player mode. PlayStation Plus is generally relevant to online multiplayer, not the basic solo campaign.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
