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No. Lies of P is a standalone action RPG with its own characters, setting and story. You do not need to play Elden Ring, Dark Souls or any other FromSoftware game first.
The useful choice is not about story order. It is about the kind of Soulslike you want: Elden Ring is a huge, open-ended fantasy world with horseback travel and many combat approaches, while Lies of P is a more directed journey through a Belle Époque-inspired city, built around weapon assembly, Legion Arms and decisions about telling lies.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Lies of P - PlayStation 5 | $38.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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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)
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Lies of P [Korean Edition] for PS5 | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5) | $26.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Art of Lies of P | $28.10 | Buy on Amazon |
The short answer: no prior Elden Ring experience is required
Lies of P does not continue Elden Ring’s plot, use its characters or assume that you know FromSoftware’s lore. It is a separate game inspired by Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio rather than by the world of the Lands Between. You can start it as your first Soulslike and understand its premise from the opening of its own campaign.
Playing Elden Ring first might make familiar action-RPG ideas feel less surprising—careful attacks, stamina management, dangerous checkpoints and learning enemy patterns—but it is optional background, not a prerequisite. The two games teach their own systems and present different kinds of exploration.
#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 comparison actually refers to
The PlayStation game being compared with Elden Ring is Lies of P. Sony’s product page describes it as “a dark fantasy action game inspired by the classic story of Pinocchio” and a “macabre Soulslike.” Its protagonist enters Krat, a Belle Époque-inspired city overwhelmed by madness and killer puppets.
The game’s defining systems include assembling weapons from different components, equipping swappable Legion Arms and making choices connected to whether Pinocchio tells the truth or lies. Those ideas belong to Lies of P itself; they are not references that require knowledge of Elden Ring.
Why the Plus entitlement needs a date check
On 29 July 2025, PlayStation Blog announced Lies of P as one of the August monthly PlayStation Plus games, with availability beginning 5 August 2025. That announcement established an entitlement for eligible subscribers at that time, not a permanent guarantee that every subscriber can claim the game indefinitely.
PlayStation’s current Plus information separates the benefits by tier:
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.
- Essential: monthly games.
- Extra: the Game Catalog.
- Premium: game trials and streaming, in addition to the relevant lower-tier benefits.
Catalog games can have an end date, and availability can vary by plan, country or region and the date you check. Before planning a playthrough around Plus, open the game’s current PlayStation Store listing while signed in, confirm that your own tier includes it, and check whether the listing shows a removal or expiration date. A game that was announced for Plus in August 2025 may not have the same entitlement in October 2026.
How the two games differ
The clearest way to choose is to compare what each game asks you to do, rather than treating one as a sequel or required introduction to the other.
| Reader priority | Better first choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Free-form exploration, horseback travel and many character-build routes | Elden Ring | Its official feature list emphasizes connected open landscapes, dungeons, travel on foot or horseback, weapons, magic, stealth and allies. |
| A tighter, more directed Soulslike with a distinctive fairy-tale setting | Lies of P | Its official description centers on Krat, Pinocchio, weapon assembly, Legion Arms and lie-based choices. |
| Trying a game before purchasing | Lies of P, if your current Plus listing includes it | The August 2025 monthly-game announcement created a way for eligible subscribers to sample it, but Plus availability changes. |
| Owning a long-term open-world benchmark | Elden Ring | Bandai Namco offers the base game in physical and digital editions, as well as editions that include Shadow of the Erdtree. |
What Elden Ring expects from a new player
Bandai Namco describes Elden Ring as a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin. Its central premise asks you to “Rise, Tarnished” and follow grace toward the power of the Elden Ring and the title of Elden Lord.
The game launched on 25 February 2022 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox and PC. Its structure is deliberately broad: connected outdoor areas lead to dungeons, and you can travel on foot or horseback. Character creation lets you shape a build around different weapons and magic. Stealth, allies and online play provide additional ways to approach encounters.
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
That breadth is the important distinction for a beginner. You are given room to leave a dangerous area, explore elsewhere, change equipment or approach a fight through a different combination of weapons, spells, stealth and companions. If you want a game that constantly offers alternative routes, Elden Ring is the better match.
The Shadow of the Erdtree requirement
Bandai Namco’s current product information also lists the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The expansion requires the base game, so buying an expansion-only product does not let you bypass the original campaign. If you choose an edition that bundles the expansion, the base game remains the foundation you must own and install.
What Lies of P expects from a new player
Lies of P takes place in Krat, where a Pinocchio-inspired protagonist confronts a city of malfunctioning or murderous puppets and spreading madness. Its Belle Époque visual identity gives the game a setting that is separate from medieval fantasy, even though its combat belongs to the broader Soulslike tradition.
The campaign is more directed than Elden Ring’s open world. That does not mean you need another game’s lore; it means the journey gives you a clearer route through its locations and systems. Weapon assembly lets you combine parts, while Legion Arms provide additional tools beyond the weapon in your hands. Lie-related choices connect the player’s decisions to the story instead of simply presenting a fixed Pinocchio retelling.
Rank #4
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For a first Soulslike, that focused structure can be an advantage. You can concentrate on learning the game’s own timing, equipment and upgrade rules without also deciding which enormous region to investigate next. You still need to engage with the genre’s deliberate combat and recover from mistakes, but nothing in the premise depends on having completed Elden Ring.
Is Lies of P a good first Soulslike?
It is a sensible first choice if you want a self-contained story, a recognisable route through the world and mechanics that are introduced within that game. The official description gives you the essential context: Pinocchio in Krat, a dark fantasy crisis, weapon construction, Legion Arms and choices about lying. You can evaluate those ideas on their own terms.
Elden Ring may be the better first Soulslike for someone who specifically wants maximum freedom. Its official feature list supports multiple play styles and a world that can be crossed on foot or horseback. A player who prefers to wander, find optional dungeons or solve difficult encounters by changing build may value that freedom more than a directed campaign.
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Neither choice requires you to complete a previous entry in a series. Treat “first Soulslike” as a preference question: do you want a focused route through Krat or a large sandbox in the Lands Between?
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A practical decision guide
Choose Lies of P first when these statements fit
- You want a separate story that does not assume familiarity with FromSoftware games.
- You prefer a defined journey rather than a very large open landscape.
- The Pinocchio-inspired setting, Belle Époque city and puppet enemies appeal to you more than high fantasy.
- You want to test the game through a current PlayStation Plus entitlement before deciding whether to buy it.
- You are interested in experimenting with assembled weapons, Legion Arms and lie-based narrative decisions.
Choose Elden Ring first when these statements fit
- You want connected open-world exploration and horseback travel.
- You would rather solve encounters through a wide mix of weapons, magic, stealth and allies.
- You are looking for a game you can own and revisit without relying on a changing catalog listing.
- You want the base game that is required for the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
Use the Plus listing as a trial, not as a story prerequisite
- Check the current PlayStation Store page for Lies of P on your console or account.
- Verify that the displayed entitlement belongs to your Plus tier—Essential monthly games, Extra catalog access or Premium benefits can differ.
- Confirm the region and any stated end date before assuming you will retain access.
- Add or download the game while the entitlement is active, then read the store’s current access terms if the listing changes.
- If the game leaves the catalog and you have not purchased it, continued access may require buying a compatible edition.
Those checks matter because the 5 August 2025 date came from a specific monthly-game announcement. It does not establish permanent availability for every plan or region.
Do you need PlayStation Plus to play either game?
No Plus subscription is needed merely to play the single-player premise of Lies of P or Elden Ring. Prior knowledge of another game and an online subscription are separate issues.
PlayStation Support says that most PS4 and PS5 games require PlayStation Plus for online multiplayer, while some games are exceptions and their store listings identify those exceptions. Elden Ring’s official page lists both single-player and online modes, so the practical rule is straightforward: play its solo campaign without Plus, but expect a subscription requirement for most online co-op or other subscription-gated multiplayer features.
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What to buy if you decide to keep playing
If Lies of P is available through your current Plus plan, trying it first reduces the risk of buying a game whose directed structure is not your preference. If you enjoy Krat and the entitlement is approaching its end, buying a compatible edition preserves access independently of that catalog date.
For Elden Ring, select the base-game edition that matches your platform. If you want Shadow of the Erdtree, make sure the purchase includes or is paired with the base game, because the expansion cannot be used by itself. The choice is therefore about ownership and desired structure, not about which game must come first.
Bottom line for a first-time player
Start Lies of P immediately if its Pinocchio-inspired world and focused route sound more appealing, especially while your current Plus plan lists it. Start Elden Ring if open-world exploration, horseback travel and many build paths are the reason you are interested in the genre. In either case, you can begin without completing the other game, and you can play the single-player experience without a PlayStation Plus multiplayer subscription.
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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.
