When Lies of P launched in 2023, it quickly earned its place among the top Soulslike games by delivering a unique mix of sharp combat and symbolic storytelling inspired by the tale of Pinocchio—all wrapped in the dark, baroque atmosphere of Belle Époque France. With the release of the Overture expansion, the game doesn’t just extend its content; it offers a more mature narrative and refined mechanics, all while preserving its grim identity. Here’s our full Lies of P: Overture review.
A Deeper Dive into Krat’s Haunting Past
Overture picks up right after the events of the main game, as “P” uncovers deeper secrets about Krat’s dark history and the fate of the puppets he once fought. Though the story remains symbolic and open to interpretation, the expansion strengthens the player’s emotional connection to the world by introducing new characters and exploring painful experiences and philosophical ideas about humanity, consciousness, and freedom.
Some of the new narrative threads not only raise fresh questions or answer long-standing ones from the main game, but they also increase the emotional weight and curiosity around the twisted world of Lies of P. The storytelling style stays true to the original—subtle and atmospheric, favoring environmental clues and cryptic dialogue over direct exposition.
The new characters and enemies introduced in Overture add even more depth and horror to Krat, opening doors to new mysteries we hope will be explored further in the inevitable sequel.
Gameplay: Sharper, Not Overhauled
The Overture expansion doesn’t overhaul Lies of P’s already-excellent combat system. Instead, it refines it by introducing new mechanics tied to expansion-exclusive weapons and Legion Arms, which are equipped on the player’s left hand.
The expansion features a great variety of new weapons and tools, but one standout is the Pale Knight weapon you unlock after Chapter 3. It blends a heavy sword with a shotgun, allowing for ranged fire and quick movement—something entirely new for the Lies of P combat system.
If you’re the kind of player who loves experimenting with different weapons and tools, you’ll find a powerful arsenal in Overture that refreshes how you approach both the new expansion and even the base game.
An Unfair Difficulty Spike
Overture begins in Krat’s zoo—a once-lively place now twisted by a viral outbreak that has turned animals into monsters. Visually, the level design is a fresh and compelling departure from anything in the base game. But gameplay-wise, this opening section introduces one glaring issue: difficulty balancing.
By the time you begin the expansion, your character should be around level 70–80 if you’ve finished Chapter 9 of the base game. Yet the enemies in this new area demand a much higher level and punish the player relentlessly. The aggressive animal enemies barely leave you room to counterattack, creating a frustrating experience from the start.
To make things worse, this review was conducted on a standard New Game mode. It’s hard to imagine the experience on New Game+ difficulty. The developers at Round8 Studios acknowledged this backlash and released a statement promising improvements in future updates.
Note: The game now features three difficulty levels—Easy, Normal, and Legendary Stalker (the original release difficulty). This review was based on a playthrough at Legendary Stalker difficulty.
Despite the steep difficulty curve early on, the expansion redeems itself with some of the most cinematic boss battles in the series. Whether it’s due to the enemy size or their unique new move sets, these boss fights offer standout moments that, especially when using new expansion weapons, evoke the best memories of games like Elden Ring.
Exceptional Art Direction and Flawless Performance
One of the most praised aspects of Lies of P is its gothic, French-inspired art style—a blend of horror and romantic beauty. Overture takes this aesthetic even further, introducing an incredible variety of locations.
Each of the expansion’s five chapters features a completely distinct environment: a snow-covered zoo, a festive carnival, eerie underground labs, ancient temples, decaying ships, and a remote fishing village. The environmental diversity surpasses the base game and makes the journey much more visually stimulating.
Personally, it’s hard to imagine what the studio might pull off in the inevitable sequel, given how well-crafted this expansion is.
On a technical level, Overture also performs exceptionally well. The game was tested on a Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU with 32 GB DDR5 RAM and an RX 9070 GPU. On 2K resolution with max settings and FSR set to Quality mode, it maintained an average of 144 FPS.
Music: Quiet Melancholy and Intense Combat Themes
The soundtrack in Overture maintains the high standards of the base game, with its careful blend of ambient tension and intense orchestral energy. What makes the music in Overture special is its ability to heighten the emotional weight of each moment—whether it’s loneliness, danger, or despair.
Each chapter feels emotionally charged thanks to music that cuts beneath the surface, turning every moment into something intimate and unforgettable.
Lies of P: Overture Review Final Verdict
To wrap up our Lies of P: Overture review: this isn’t just an optional add-on. It’s a thoughtful, artistic continuation of a world already rich in style and sorrow. While it doesn’t reinvent the core formula, Overture enriches the base experience with narrative depth, refined gameplay, and haunting design.
Yes, the early difficulty curve needs balancing. But overall, this expansion proves that Round8 Studios knows how to build immersive, mysterious worlds. For fans of Lies of P and Soulslike games, Overture is an unmissable chapter.
Don’t forget to check:
