Report updated Apr 2, 2026
Telling Lies
v1.0Fans of narrative-driven mystery games, investigative thrillers, and interactive cinema who enjoy deep, puzzle-like storytelling experiences.
What Is Telling Lies?
Launched Oct 9, 2019
Updated Oct 2019
What does it look like?
What are the key features?
Players piece together a narrative by exploring a database of video clips rather than following a linear path.
The core mechanic involves typing search terms to uncover specific video clips within a stolen NSA database.
Features high-quality video footage starring professional actors like Logan Marshall-Green and Alexandra Shipp.
Players actively decide the truth by choosing which clips to watch and how to interpret the events.
What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
Gathering public signals...
Sentiment analysis will be available once enough user reviews are collected.
What are the pros and cons?
Pros
- High-production value with professional acting talent.
- Unique, highly immersive keyword-search mechanic.
- Strong brand association with prestige indie publisher Annapurna Interactive.
- Premium model ensures a focused, uninterrupted narrative experience.
Cons
- High price point ($19.99) may limit mass-market adoption on mobile.
- Lack of social media presence or community engagement channels.
- No recent updates or feature additions to maintain long-term interest.
What is the market outlook?
Growth Opportunities
- Potential to expand into new platforms or bundle with other narrative titles.
- Opportunity to build a community hub (Discord) to foster fan theories and discussions.
- Capitalize on the growing demand for "prestige" mobile gaming experiences.
Market Threats
- Rapidly evolving mobile-native narrative games (e.g., Scriptic) may offer more accessible, episodic content.
- High barrier to entry for new players compared to free-to-play competitors.
- Market saturation in the "found-footage" mystery genre.
Who competes with Telling Lies?
The Nemesis
SIMULACRA
Kaigan Games OÜ
Direct competitor in the 'found phone/database' narrative sub-genre, requiring players to piece together a mystery through digital forensic investigation.
Contenders
SIMULACRA 3
Kaigan Games OÜ
Expands on the found-footage investigative mechanics with higher production values and a similar focus on digital evidence.
Same Space
The Room
★4.8 (7K)Fireproof Studios Limited
A high-quality puzzle-mystery game that appeals to the same audience looking for deep, atmospheric, and tactile investigative gameplay.
What are the key takeaways?
Telling Lies is a divisive games app that is a paid app.
Best for: Fans of narrative-driven mystery games, investigative thrillers, and interactive cinema who enjoy deep, puzzle-like storytelling experiences.
How much does it cost?
Model: paid
Premium, single-purchase model typical of high-end indie narrative games, avoiding microtransactions or subscriptions to maintain narrative integrity.
iOS Version
1.0
Release Date
Oct 9, 2019
iOS Price
$19.99