DaRmaZat BrokenLore: DON’T LIE is the latest psychological horror entry from Serafini Productions, taking us once again into a world where reality, trauma, and supernatural horror become increasingly difficult to separate. True to the franchise’s identity, it combines an unsettling atmosphere with a deeply personal story, though this time the focus shifts toward isolation, mental illness, and the unreliable nature of perception.
To get straight to the point: BrokenLore: DON’T LIE is haunting and melancholic from the very first second, precisely as we have come to expect from Serafini Productions. It all begins in the apartment of the protagonist, Junko, who is playing the retro game Fantasy Boy – clearly a nod to Wonder Boy – on her game console, when the doorbell rings. When she looks through the peephole, she sees a man wearing a creepy rabbit mask, telling her disturbing things. When she refuses to open the door, he eventually leaves, but not before making some threatening statements. From that moment on, you know you haven’t seen the last of him. The tone is immediately set, the sense of insecurity increases, and Junko has to reach for her pills in the bathroom for the first time.
Through the documents on her laptop, you gradually learn more about her fragile mental state – or should we say, her psychological disorder – which requires her to take those rather strong pills on a regular basis to keep the hallucinations under control. You also learn that lying and manipulation are her ways of dealing with her insecurities in everyday life. During her psychotic episodes, she talks about her troubled relationship with her parents, her lack of friends, and the rejection she experienced from Hideo and Shinji – both of whom were in the psychiatric care facility with her – leaving her feeling extremely isolated. Then there is Miki-chan, the AI assistant on her laptop, who functions as a sort of imaginary friend and sometimes displays some rather strange twists in her reasoning, meaning her advice is not always entirely reliable. Familiar, isn’t it?
This combination of extremes once again delivers the extremely eerie and surreal gameplay moments that are so characteristic of the series. Those familiar with the franchise will certainly recognize levels, design, scenery, and assets, as this is a reinterpretation of BrokenLore: DON’T WATCH. Fans of the series should not be bothered by this, however, as this edition offers that unique, different perspective, without venturing too far into spoiler territory. The numerous creepy eyes on walls and limbs are once again omnipresent, alongside the sometimes successful jump scares and escape sequences involving grotesque entities inspired by Eastern folklore.
As a BrokenLore entry, the horror is not merely built around conventional scares. The disturbing imagery, the feeling of being trapped, and the way the environment reflects Junko’s mental state and what is imprinted in her head – like a fractured youth – are what make these games so uniquely unsettling. However, while other entries in the series lean heavily into Japanese folklore and the legend of the Gashadokuro, DON’T LIE focuses more on the horror of isolation and the distortion of reality. So, to be clear, the folklore-inspired creatures and surreal encounters are still there, but they serve a more personal and psychological purpose this time around, portraying an extreme form of hikikomori.
Metaphorically, symbolically, and allegorically, this is once again an excellent entry. Gigantic pills bouncing down the stairs to eliminate you, school lockers submerged underwater, labyrinths made of wood: the threatening atmosphere they all create is particularly striking. Artistically, BrokenLore: DON’T LIE is once again a very intriguing game. The 2D visuals and enemies from the currently fictional “game within a game” Fantasy Boy – surprise, it will eventually be released as a standalone game on Steam – are brought to life in the 3D levels, including the hero’s sword and enemies. What is also interesting is that you can find keys here and there, which you can later use to open his treasure chests and learn more about the problems Junko is dealing with, as she discusses them with Miki-chan.
Not that the combat is anything to write home about. It mainly comes down to timing your sword swing correctly, allowing you to defeat enemies with a single hit. However, this can be quite frustrating when dealing with very small enemies, as you cannot crouch in this game. You end up having to keep the camera very close to your feet when they sneak up on you, causing you to lose your overview of the surroundings. Rather inconvenient, to say the least.
Sometimes, scenes are unclear about what you are supposed to do. By default, the game is very dark, but some puzzle segments are also somewhat trial-and-error-based, which can become frustrating. The section with the colored platform blocks was downright annoying. Another downside is that none of the cutscenes can be paused or skipped. Fortunately, there are regular automatic saves, so you never really get the impression that the game treats you unfairly. This is, after all, another game that can be completed in under two hours, with a rather abrupt ending, unfortunately. Possibly even a teaser for a sequel?
Performance in BrokenLore: DON’T LIE is generally fine, although further optimization is still needed, just as in the previous installments. The series should also continue to focus on visual fidelity. Even after disabling motion blur, the image still looks somewhat blurry, something the previous games also suffered from.
Final Thoughts
BrokenLore: DON’T LIE is, as is entirely characteristic of the franchise, another very short narrative walking sim that does not do anything particularly different, but also does not do anything wrong. Once again, the title succeeds through its atmosphere, surreal visual design, and the way it turns psychological trauma into something tangible and disturbing. The psychological horror is certainly frightening, although not every puzzle is equally clear, and not every jump scare lands perfectly. The tragedy of Junko, combined with the cross-references to DON’T WATCH – experienced from a different perspective this time – should nevertheless make this a worthwhile entry for fans of the franchise.
Additional Information
Release Date: September 10, 2026
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by developer and publisher.
Developer: Serafini Productions
Publisher: Wired Productions, Serafini Productions
Relevant links: Available on STEAM
