Highlights

  • Lies of P is successful as a Soulslike game because it doesn't rely on prior knowledge of the Pinocchio fairy tale, instead offering a unique world-building experience with notable references and Easter eggs.
  • The dark and twisted reimagining of Pinocchio in Lies of P gives the game a gruesome atmosphere, making it stand out among other Soulslike games.
  • The potential for Lies of P to adapt Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a Soulslike game is exciting and could provide a fresh, immersive experience.

Lies of P made its name as a Soulslike in pre-release marketing due to two underlying premises: it looked remarkably similar to Bloodborne, which was highly in its favor, and it wasn’t a wholly original world since it was a reimagined adaptation of The Adventures of Pinocchio. The fact that Lies of P could compare to an established fairy tale IP in the public domain and twist it into something horrific as a dark fantasy Soulslike was fascinating, and the game did not disappoint when it finally got into players’ hands with a lengthy demo preceding its launch.

Lies of P is brilliant because it works well if players are fond of the fairy tale it’s based on but it doesn’t hinge on that lore being critical to its success or understanding. Like any good Soulslike, Lies of P permits a foundation of world-building that doesn’t require players to already know Pinocchio lore and can stand on its own as a Soulslike with notable references and Easter eggs instead. The next Soulslike endeavor in this universe will now adapt The Wizard of Oz and it’ll be phenomenal to see how that reimagining looks, but Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would make a sensational next entry if possible.

lies of p interview
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Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory Would Make a Whimsical Soulslike Setting

Lies of P obviously isn’t a one-to-one adaptation of The Adventures of Pinocchio, but it’s in Neowiz’s grim reimagining where it finds its Soulslike legs. Soulslikes are inherently unpleasant and intimidating in their lore and atmosphere, presenting a world that is awfully gruesome or nightmarish, and Lies of P aptly represents that through its dark portrayal of the Pinocchio IP.

Indeed, Pinocchio still seems like an odd choice amid many possible options, and how the IP could have turned out as a Soulslike was anyone’s guess when it was first announced. However, Lies of P has gone on to be one of the most popular Soulslikes from a studio that isn’t FromSoftware with an argument to be made that it’s earned the crown outright in that regard.

The beauty of its Pinocchio reimagining allows it to lean on established themes, motifs, and characters from the fairy tale, all while being largely inventive in how Lies of P decided to repurpose them for its Soulslike action-RPG. Lies of P is now slated to feature a DLC expansion at some point, as well as another DLC or fully fledged sequel adapting The Wizard of Oz as a Soulslike, but seeing how Neowiz might reimagine Charlie and the Chocolate Factory could be its sweetest-tasting confection yet.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Story is Ripe with Soulslike Potential

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory could follow the original story’s progression with Charlie exploring Wonka’s factory. Charlie would be a great default protagonist avatar like Lies of P’s P, especially since he’s a rather blank canvas of a character anyhow. The other children who managed to procure golden ticket admission to the eponymous factory could either be NPCs players interact with or bosses for different regions in the factory, such as Violet Beauregarde taking on the form of an engorged blueberry monstrosity, perhaps even as a predicted twist in a second phase of her boss fight.

Like Lies of P’s Geppetto main antagonist, Wonka could be this Soulslike’s main antagonist depending on how Neowiz wanted to depict the chocolatier in the reimagining. Between Oompa-Loompas, Vermicious Knids, snozzwangers, hornswogglers, and whangdoodles, there would be a diverse wealth of enemy types, and creative candies like Everlasting Gobstoppers, Hover Choc, three-course dinner gum, and edible flower teacups could make for immersively impactful consumables.