Truth or Lies is a game in which your family will speak answers into a microphone, and the game’s built-in “Truth Detector” will determine whether or not you are telling the truth or telling a lie.  We’re not sure of how accurate it really is, but this is a game that makes for fun conversations with moments of spontaneous laughter.

Although the game is rated T for teen, there are actually five different gameplay modes which can be enjoyed with younger kids.  Everything is spoken, so even toddlers might be able to get in on the action, as long as you ensure the game is on either the Kids or Family setting.  The other settings are Adult, Couples and Teens.

The game features a great “host,” who narrates the whole experience, and serves as a good guide directing you as to what you need to do.

When you start playing, you’ll type in your name using the Wii-mote, and then the game will assign you a funny nickname like “Cosmo” or “Sparky.”  The first time you set up your profile, you’ll need to truthfully answer three questions, and then purposely lie to three more questions.  This supposedly helps the game calibrate whether or not you are telling the truth or a lie later on. 

The main gameplay consists of three rounds of questions, ranging from identifying others in the room, choosing which of two unappealing things you’d rather do, or even asking scruples type questions.  For example, the game might ask you whether or not you’d wear a nose piercing connected to an ear piercing for a year for $15,000.  After it records your answer, the game takes a few seconds, and determines whether or not you’re telling the truth or not.

Although the ultimate goal of the game is to convince the game you are telling the truth most of the time, the fun of the game relies on the how much fun you decide to have with the answers, and whether or not your family can really get into the experience.  There’s also a Hot Seat mode which lets anyone ask a question, and the game will determine whether or not the answerer is telling the truth (again, according to whatever the game’s built-in “Truth Detector” decides).

If your family and friends are willing to set aside their inhibitions, we think Truth or Lies can provide an enjoyable and oftentimes hilarious experience.  Although the game is rated T for Teen, there are options for Kids to play, you’ll just need to make sure they don’t choose the Adult or Couples option.  We definitely recommend this game for a party-type atmosphere, or for a real casual gameplay session.