Quick Links
Telling Lies is a devastating and enthralling experience. The objective here is to locate videos by searching through a database. The catch is that you can only access five videos at a time (and you will receive the five videos that chronologically come first), which means that you need to locate specific words in order to unveil segments of the story.
Typically, a player would do this by digging through videos, which will lead to a delightfully disorienting experience where you jump around in time and try to piece together the story, one disjointed video at a time. However, this guide will provide you with all the breadcrumbs necessary to help prevent you from getting stuck.
The final section of the guide also has a complete listing of every video in the game. So, if you are just searching for a few missing videos, feel free to consult it. Telling Lies is a grand mystery; this guide should be able to help maximize your enjoyment—and minimize your frustration.
Updated August 14, 2023: We've gone back through this guide and cleaned up a few things. Hopefully, with these changes, this guide will be even easier to parse.
Things You Should Know Before Starting Telling Lies
Can I Skip To The Beginning Of A Video?
Well, you can slowly rewind to the beginning, but place an emphasis on the "slow" part. But no, you cannot quickly skip to the beginning of any given video. Though don't feel obligated to watch every second of every video. You are meant to jump around a little.
How Do I Watch Video Clips Chronologically?
There is only one way to watch video clips chronologically (in the game). What you would need to do is open every clip first, bookmark each, and close them without watching them. Then, after you have bookmarked all 169 videos, when you go to your bookmarks tab they will all be ordered chronologically for you.
How Many Endings Are There?
There are three endings. You will be given the ending that best aligns with the videos you watched. There are extra segments for each ending as well, but if you have collected all the video clips (or even most of them), this won't be an issue.
Getting all the endings in one playthrough would be tricky (if not impossible). However, there are no achievements associated with watching all the endings, so if you have seen all the videos, there is nothing stopping you from just watching the missing endings elsewhere.
Achievements/Trophies Guide
The majority of achievements/trophies are simply tied to your progression. There are only seven achievements that you need to actively pursue (outside of simply watching all the videos in the game).
|
Animal Logic |
This one is easy to miss. At one point, while watching videos, you will be interrupted by your cat running across your keyboard. Search the gibberish that the cat enters into the search bar. If you don't search the gibberish, then you can still type it in after the fact (just make sure to press 'search' after you do). What you need to type is... sxwfrtniul.[‘po]\[/,l; |
|---|---|
|
Organizer |
You have the ability to group certain clips together by tagging them. If you tag ten different videos you will unlock this achievement. |
|
Taking out the Trash |
Just move the text file to the garbage bin. |
|
Forgot My Password |
Click on the Wi-Fi signal at the top of the screen. Choose one of the networks and guess the password five times. After the fifth incorrect guess, you will receive this achievement. |
|
Hypertextual |
In order to unlock this achievement, you simply need to jump into any video, then highlight any word, search it (from inside the video), and rinse and repeat. You will go down a rabbit hole of watching videos, and after you have gone through 20 of them, the achievement will unlock. Since you are jumping from video to video anyway, make sure to bookmark the videos along the way! |
|
Pointless Game |
Reset the solitaire game by pressing the "deal again" button 15 times. Bingo Bango, you got your achievement. |
|
Missing King |
Brace yourself. You are going to have to win a game of solitaire to get this trophy. You may want to watch an instructional video on how to play solitaire if you don't already know. |
Telling Lies Complete Walkthrough
The progression in Telling Lies is very non-linear. Your only goal here is to search for, watch, and bookmark videos. After you watch a certain number of videos, your search will be briefly interrupted (this will happen multiple times).
When you have watched around 80 videos or so, you will be given the opportunity to upload every video you have bookmarked, at which point you will be provided with one of the three endings (which will align with the character you spent the most time with). Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
If you are struggling to find the appropriate words to search, the section below will provide you with all the search words necessary to get you where you need to go.
Search These Words
When playing Telling Lies, you will be given the ability to search whatever word you would like. You can do this by just freely roaming through the videos, searching words that strike you as important. However, if you need guidance, here are a number of words that will provide you with a path to the videos that will favor one of the three key characters. .
If you are looking for every single video, searching all of these words should help you fulfill that goal. Any videos you may be missing can be located using the database at the end of this guide. Remember to bookmark every video when you encounter it for the first time. This will order them for you and make the missing videos easier to locate.
The story path section indicates who these search terms favor, so if you are looking for a specific ending, search and watch the videos associated with that character's story path (either Max, Emma, or Ava). Keep in mind that these search words won't be exclusively related to these paths, they will just favor them. Nothing is that cut and dry in Telling Lies.
Characters
|
Term |
Story Path |
|---|---|
|
David |
--- |
|
Davey |
Max |
|
Jones |
Ava |
|
Miller |
--- |
|
Emma |
Emma |
|
Alba |
Emma |
|
Laura |
Emma |
|
MeeMaw |
Emma |
|
Dada |
Emma |
|
Mama |
Emma |
|
Glowy |
Emma |
|
Paul |
Emma |
|
Steven |
Emma |
|
Anesthesiologist |
Emma |
|
Max |
Max |
|
Michelle |
Max |
|
Melissa |
Max |
|
Ava |
Ava |
|
Eric |
Ava |
|
Peter |
Ava |
|
Riordan |
Ava |
|
Barry |
Ava |
|
Jane |
Ava |
|
Star |
Ava |
|
Mike |
Emma |
|
Karen |
Ava |
|
Chris |
Ava |
|
Simon |
--- |
|
Harry |
--- |
Fairy Tales
|
Term |
Story Path |
|---|---|
|
Dopey |
Ava |
|
Knight |
--- |
|
Little Mermaid |
Ava |
|
Mirror, Mirror |
--- |
|
Prince Charming |
Max |
|
Rose Red |
Max |
|
Rumpelstiltskin |
Emma |
|
Sneezy |
Max |
|
Snow White |
Max |
Events
|
Term |
Story Path |
|---|---|
|
Barbecue |
Emma |
|
Halloween |
Ava |
|
Recital |
Emma |
|
Thanksgiving |
Emma |
|
Valentine |
Emma |
Phrases
|
Term |
Story Path |
|---|---|
|
Hey, babe |
Ava |
|
Hey, hon |
Emma |
|
Hi there |
Max |
|
My kid |
Emma |
|
You Okay |
Ava |
|
So sorry |
--- |
|
Exit plan |
Ava |
Other Words
|
Term |
Story Path |
|---|---|
|
Accountant |
Ava |
|
Asshole |
Max |
|
Black Kite |
--- |
|
Boo |
Ava |
|
Books |
Ava |
|
Bureau |
--- |
|
Clean |
Emma |
|
Died |
Emma |
|
DWP |
--- |
|
Freezing |
Ava |
|
Hypnotize |
Max |
|
Machines |
--- |
|
Medicine |
Ava |
|
Motherfucker |
Ava |
|
Pigeons |
Emma |
|
Pregnant |
Ava |
|
Prosperen |
Ava |
|
Proud |
Emma |
|
Selfishly |
--- |
|
Shot |
Max |
|
Song |
Ava |
|
Spell |
Max |
|
Special |
Ava |
|
Stranger |
Ava |
|
Tattoo |
Ava |
|
Terrorized |
Ava |
|
Victim |
Max |
|
Yoga |
Max |
The Complete Video Listing
Below you will find every single video, their length, and the words you can use to locate them listed. We do not recommend that you move down the list, video by video, searching for every entry. That would be tedious. However, if you are missing a video or two, you can consult this list, crosscheck it with your bookmarked videos, and you should quickly obtain whatever video you are missing.
|
# |
Date |
Length |
Searchable Word |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
08/15/2017 |
3:09 |
Mirror, Mirror |
|
2 |
08/15/2017 |
3:09 |
Snow White |
|
3 |
08/15/2017 |
4:25 |
Love |
|
4 |
08/15/2017 |
4:25 |
Love |
|
5 |
08/15/2017 |
5:45 |
David |
|
6 |
08/15/2017 |
5:45 |
Star |
|
7 |
08/18/2017 |
1:29 |
Snow White |
|
8 |
08/23/2017 |
2:38 |
Hypnotize |
|
9 |
08/22/2017 |
2:38 |
John |
|
10 |
08/23/2017 |
7:00 |
Snow White |
|
11 |
08/23/2017 |
7:00 |
Snow White |
|
12 |
08/29/2017 |
1:18 |
Mirror, Mirror |
|
13 |
08/29/2017 |
1:18 |
Ava |
|
14 |
08/29/2017 |
3:43 |
Stranger |
|
15 |
08/29/2017 |
3:43 |
Love |
|
16 |
09/08/2017 |
2:31 |
David |
|
17 |
09/14/2017 |
6:03 |
Books |
|
18 |
09/14/2017 |
6:03 |
Books |
|
19 |
09/14/2017 |
2:31 |
Anesthesiologist |
|
20 |
09/14/2017 |
2:31 |
Hey, hon |
|
21 |
09/14/2017 |
6:25 |
Died |
|
22 |
09/14/2017 |
6:25 |
Jane |
|
23 |
09/14/2017 |
4:11 |
David |
|
24 |
09/14/2017 |
4:11 |
Knight |
|
25 |
09/15/2017 |
7:02 |
Special |
|
26 |
09/15/2017 |
7:02 |
Special |
|
27 |
09/15/2017 |
3:06 |
Alba |
|
28 |
09/15/2017 |
3:06 |
Emma |
|
29 |
09/15/2017 |
2:02 |
Special |
|
30 |
09/15/2017 |
2:02 |
Special |
|
31 |
10/10/2017 |
5:03 |
Snow White |
|
32 |
10/10/2017 |
5:03 |
Michelle |
|
33 |
10/30/2017 |
1:41 |
Meemaw |
|
34 |
10/30/2017 |
1:41 |
Alba |
|
35 |
10/31/2017 |
2:30 |
Ava |
|
36 |
10/31/2017 |
2:30 |
Halloween |
|
37 |
11/01/2017 |
1:45 |
Ava |
|
38 |
11/03/2017 |
8:17 |
Boo |
|
39 |
11/03/2017 |
8:17 |
Tattoo |
|
40 |
11/03/2017 |
6:57 |
Hi there |
|
41 |
11/03/2017 |
6:57 |
Davey |
|
42 |
11/04/2017 |
1:48 |
Steven |
|
43 |
11/03/2017 |
1:48 |
Alba |
|
44 |
11/04/2017 |
0:27 |
Halloween |
|
45 |
11/04/2017 |
2:05 |
Eric |
|
46 |
11/04/2017 |
2:05 |
Eric |
|
47 |
11/04/2017 |
0:32 |
Ava |
|
48 |
11/04/2017 |
0:32 |
Freezing |
|
49 |
11/05/2017 |
1:14 |
Mama |
|
50 |
11/05/2017 |
1:14 |
Dada |
|
51 |
11/06/2017 |
2:54 |
Emma |
|
52 |
11/06/2017 |
2:54 |
Died |
|
53 |
11/06/2017 |
1:23 |
Mirror, Mirror |
|
54 |
11/06/2017 |
1:23 |
Machines |
|
55 |
11/09/2017 |
8:58 |
Stranger |
|
56 |
11/09/2017 |
8:58 |
Davey |
|
57 |
11/14/2017 |
3:56 |
Emma |
|
58 |
11/14/2017 |
3:56 |
Mama |
|
59 |
11/23/2017 |
0:52 |
Thanksgiving |
|
60 |
11/23/2017 |
3:16 |
Hi there |
|
61 |
11/23/2017 |
3:16 |
Clean |
|
62 |
11/27/2017 |
7:39 |
Shot |
|
63 |
11/27/2017 |
7:39 |
Max |
|
64 |
11/28/2017 |
1:27 |
Boo |
|
65 |
11/28/2017 |
1:27 |
Song |
|
66 |
11/28/2017 |
2:28 |
Emma |
|
67 |
11/28/2017 |
2:28 |
Star |
|
68 |
11/28/2017 |
4:02 |
Stranger |
|
69 |
12/01/2017 |
0:45 |
Prince Charming |
|
70 |
12/01/2017 |
0:45 |
Black Kite |
|
71 |
12/15/2017 |
3:47 |
Eric |
|
72 |
01/11/2018 |
2:21 |
Prosperen |
|
73 |
01/24/2018 |
2:30 |
You okay? |
|
74 |
02/01/2018 |
4:12 |
Peter |
|
75 |
02/02/2018 |
2:45 |
Boo |
|
76 |
02/02/2018 |
2:45 |
Peter |
|
77 |
02/02/2018 |
2:54 |
Yoga |
|
78 |
02/02/2018 |
2:54 |
Davey |
|
79 |
02/14/2018 |
1:25 |
Valentine |
|
80 |
02/14/2018 |
1:25 |
Valentine |
|
81 |
02/14/2018 |
2:14 |
Boo |
|
82 |
02/14/2018 |
2:14 |
Victim |
|
83 |
02/17/2018 |
2:09 |
Pigeons |
|
84 |
02/16/2018 |
2:09 |
Pigeons |
|
85 |
02/18/2018 |
6:25 |
Rose Red |
|
86 |
02/17/2018 |
6:25 |
Anesthesiologist |
|
87 |
02/19/2018 |
2:16 |
Yoga |
|
88 |
02/19/2018 |
2:16 |
Davey |
|
89 |
02/22/2018 |
1:49 |
Mike |
|
90 |
02/22/2018 |
1:49 |
Karen |
|
91 |
02/23/2018 |
1:52 |
Hi there |
|
92 |
02/26/2018 |
2:49 |
Melissa |
|
93 |
02/26/2018 |
2:49 |
Melissa |
|
94 |
02/28/2018 |
2:18 |
Boo |
|
95 |
02/27/2018 |
2:18 |
Barry |
|
96 |
02/28/2018 |
2:00 |
Harry |
|
97 |
02/28/2018 |
2:00 |
Clean |
|
98 |
03/03/2018 |
2:27 |
Chris |
|
99 |
03/03/2018 |
1:32 |
Mike |
|
100 |
03/04/2018 |
1:32 |
Clean |
|
101 |
03/04/2018 |
1:20 |
Laura |
|
102 |
03/04/2018 |
1:20 |
Paul |
|
103 |
03/10.2018 |
1:18 |
Hey babe |
|
104 |
03/10/2018 |
1:18 |
Died |
|
105 |
03/11/2018 |
9:45 |
Rumpelstiltskin |
|
106 |
03/11/2018 |
9:45 |
Rumpelstiltskin |
|
107 |
03/12/2018 |
2:44 |
Chris |
|
108 |
03/14/2018 |
2:12 |
So sorry |
|
109 |
03/14/2018 |
2:12 |
Died |
|
110 |
03/19/2018 |
3:15 |
Barry |
|
111 |
03/19/2018 |
3:15 |
Barry |
|
112 |
03/20/2018 |
0:19 |
Glowy |
|
113 |
03/20/2018 |
0:19 |
Glowy |
|
114 |
03/21/2018 |
2:46 |
Little Mermaid |
|
115 |
03/21/2018 |
2:46 |
Little Mermaid |
|
116 |
03/29/2018 |
4:18 |
Riordan |
|
117 |
03/29/2018 |
7:19 |
Riordan |
|
118 |
04/07/2018 |
4:19 |
Mirror, Mirror |
|
119 |
04/15/2018 |
2:12 |
Riordan |
|
120 |
04/15/2018 |
2:12 |
Jones |
|
121 |
04/15/2018 |
2:56 |
Riordan |
|
122 |
04/15/2018 |
0:50 |
Simon |
|
123 |
04/15/2018 |
0:50 |
Exit Plan |
|
124 |
04/23/2018 |
1:32 |
Exit Plan |
|
125 |
04/23/2018 |
1:32 |
Exit Plan |
|
126 |
04/23/2018 |
2:43 |
Yoga |
|
127 |
04/23/2018 |
2:43 |
Sneezy |
|
128 |
04/24/2018 |
3:23 |
Karen |
|
129 |
04/25/2018 |
1:25 |
Bureau |
|
130 |
04/25/2018 |
1:25 |
Hey, hon |
|
131 |
04/25/2018 |
1:08 |
Motherfucker |
|
132 |
04/25/2018 |
1:08 |
Pregnant |
|
133 |
04/25/2018 |
0:39 |
Terrorized |
|
134 |
04/25/2018 |
0:39 |
Terrorized |
|
135 |
05/04/2018 |
2:34 |
Medicine |
|
136 |
05/04/2018 |
2:34 |
Medicine |
|
137 |
06/18/2018 |
2:09 |
Accountant |
|
138 |
06/18/2018 |
2:09 |
Accountant |
|
139 |
06/24/2018 |
1:54 |
My kid |
|
140 |
06/24/2018 |
1:54 |
My kid |
|
141 |
06/25/2018 |
2:27 |
Asshole |
|
142 |
06/26/2018 |
2:27 |
Knight |
|
143 |
06/28/2018 |
0:49 |
DWP |
|
144 |
06/28/2018 |
0:49 |
DWP |
|
145 |
07/03/2018 |
3:23 |
Melissa |
|
146 |
07/04/2018 |
3:23 |
Knight |
|
147 |
07/15/2018 |
0:46 |
Glowy |
|
148 |
07/15/2018 |
0:46 |
Glowy |
|
149 |
07/15/2018 |
1:42 |
Clean |
|
150 |
07/15/2018 |
1:42 |
Recital |
|
151 |
07/15/2018 |
7:47 |
Paul |
|
152 |
07/15/2018 |
7:47 |
Knight |
|
153 |
07/19/2018 |
1:05 |
Max |
|
154 |
07/19/2018 |
1:05 |
Miller |
|
155 |
07/24/2018 |
4:20 |
Prince Charming |
|
156 |
07/28/2018 |
1:49 |
Jones |
|
157 |
07/28/2018 |
1:49 |
Machines |
|
158 |
10:20/2018 |
0:53 |
Selfishly |
|
159 |
11/01/2018 |
1:19 |
Jane |
|
160 |
11/01/2018 |
1:19 |
FBI |
|
161 |
11:05/2018 |
0:48 |
Star |
|
162 |
11/06/2018 |
3:26 |
Spell |
|
163 |
11/06/2018 |
3:26 |
Rose Red |
|
164 |
11/07/2018 |
1:11 |
Harry |
|
165 |
11/07/2018 |
1:11 |
Miller |
|
166 |
11/20/2018 |
6:56 |
Rumpelstiltskin |
|
167 |
11/20/2018 |
6:56 |
Rumpelstiltskin |
|
168 |
11/21/2018 |
3:58 |
Proud |
|
169 |
11/22/2018 |
4:31 |
Miller |