Better Than Us is a neo-dystopian "social stealth" game about lying, and I'm ready to go full Pinocchio

How many times have you lied in a videogame? I remember upping my coercion in Dragon Age: Origins so that I would have sway over the werewolves in the Brecilian Forest, and as Astarion I bullshitted my way around Faerûn, charming the locals at every turn. While lying is often a means to an end in games, with particularly nasty ones being associated with 'evil' playthroughs, it has a deeper meaning in Better Than Us, a new visual novel-esque indie game that's steeped in dark humor despite its bright, gilded appearance. Little Bat Games' latest venture looks right up my alley, and if it's anything like Vampire Therapist, it's going to absolutely slap.

The year is 2200. The climate apocalypse has arrived, flooding the planet and leaving even the biggest cities under water. The rich have used their funds to erect floating islands that house their wealth, but our narrator claims that it was the elites that caused the crisis in the first place. "What can I say? They're Better Than Us," she muses. "I'm only human."

Described as a "social stealth narrative game," Better Than Us is all about lying. You are Jude, a master thief with one specific agenda: infiltrate high society parties, steal things, and get out without a scratch. You'll have to lie your way to the top, claiming that you're a distant relative of 40th US President Ronald Reagan, or that you own the original copy of the Mona Lisa. If you want to blend in with the upper echelons, you'd better look the part.

But lies are fickle things. You'll have to remember who you told them to, and why. As you deceive the unwitting and pinch all of their goodies, you'll have to paint the perfect picture to ensure that you're bulletproof - both metaphorically and physically.

Speaking to historians at various universities (creative director Cyrus Nemati is always thorough with his research), Better Than Us paints a picture of a world corrupted by wealth. "Looking to the past is a helpful way of examining modern issues," he says in a press release announcing the game. "Not only is the historical record inspiring, but dead people are less able to sue small game studios." As a historian by trade, I can confirm at least one part of that is true.

Better Than Us is set to drop in 2026, but we don't have a full release window at the moment. If it intrigues you as much as it does me, you can wishlist it here.

As someone who played a lot of Vampire Therapist (what can I say, bloodsuckers are my thing), I'm excited to see what Little Bat does next. Its ability to tackle complex, often triggering topics with care, while weaving a narrative that's both cohesive and enjoyable really is something special. If Better Than Us is as good as it looks, 2026 is going to be a great year for me.