I don’t usually play Soulslike games because, frankly, I am not pure of heart enough to be good at them. I understand they’re brilliant, meticulously designed, brutally fair, and deeply rewarding, but my personal skill level tends to hover somewhere between “confidently walking into traps” and “accidentally using all healing items at the wrong time.”
That said, Lies of P is one of those rare games where the world-building, atmosphere, and sheer design quality are so undeniable that I feel morally obligated to throw myself into it anyway. Even if I suffer. Even if I learn nothing. Even if a puppet with a rake absolutely ruins my afternoon.
Gameplay and Performance
The biggest surprise is just how beautifully Lies of P runs on the Switch 2. Combat feels smooth and responsive, which is incredibly important in a game where a mistimed dodge or parry can quickly send you back to the nearest Stargazer.
The environments retain their gloomy atmosphere and impressive level of detail, while character models, enemies, and visual effects all look excellent. I rarely felt like I was playing a heavily compromised version of the game. Instead, it feels like a proper current-generation experience that just happens to be running on a Nintendo handheld.
Having Lies of P available both at home and on the go is a huge benefit, especially for players who enjoy tackling a few enemies or attempting a difficult boss whenever they have some spare time.
Feedback
While the game performs extremely well in handheld mode, I personally think Lies of P benefits greatly from being played while docked. The game is intentionally dark, with many areas relying on shadows, dim lighting, and muted colors to establish its atmosphere.
On the smaller handheld display, some environments can become a little too dark, making it harder to spot enemies, pathways, and smaller environmental details. Playing on a larger television makes those areas much easier to read and allows the game’s impressive art direction to stand out.
Handheld mode is still perfectly playable, but docked mode provided the better overall experience for me.
Final Verdict
Lies of P: Definitive Edition is an outstanding addition to the Switch 2 library. It looks fantastic, performs beautifully, and delivers the smooth, responsive combat the game requires without feeling noticeably compromised.
The darker visuals can make handheld play difficult at times, but that issue is largely resolved when playing docked. For anyone looking for a challenging and polished Soulslike experience on the Switch 2, Lies of P is an easy recommendation.
Lies of P: Definitive Edition is available now for the Switch 2.
