Comparison

Telling Lies vs Word Forward

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Telling Lies

Explore a database of secretly recorded video conversations to uncover the truth behind four interconnected lives. This investigative thriller game uses non-linear storytelling where you piece together a shocking incident by searching for keywords and watching clips.

Highlights
  • Non-linear storytelling
  • Secretly recorded video conversations
  • Searchable video database
  • Investigative thriller gameplay
  • Player-driven narrative
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

A Video Game About Private Conversations An investigative thriller game with non-linear storytelling, Telling Lies revolves around a cache of secretly recorded video conversations. Starring Logan Marshall-Green, Alexandra Shipp, Kerry Bishé, Angela Sarafyan and directed by Sam Barlow, creator of Her Story and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. How does it work? Telling Lies sits you in front of an anonymous laptop loaded with a stolen NSA database full of footage. The footage covers two years in the intimate lives of four people whose stories are linked by a shocking incident. Explore the database by typing search terms, watch the clips where those words are spoken and piece together your story. Unlike anything you've played before, Telling Lies is an intimate and intense experience. A game where you decide the truth.

About

Word Forward

This word puzzle game challenges players to clear a 5x5 grid by forming words. It requires strategic use of every letter tile to solve 500 unique puzzles, offering an endlessly challenging brain teaser.

Highlights
  • Spell words by tracing lines
  • Swap letters with tokens
  • Jumble tiles for new letters
  • Change letters with modifiers
  • Eliminate tiles with bombs
  • Solve 500 puzzles
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The #1 Word Game! Played by millions! “Equally a brain-teaser and a brain-pleaser” - MacWorld “An excellent buy for solo players” - TechRadar “A really fun and well-executed word game” - PocketGamer Beautifully simple. Endlessly challenging. Word Forward is the word puzzle game where every choice matters. Can you use all of the letters in the 5x5 grid to make words disappear and clear the board? Word Forward isn’t about spelling the longest words or the most clever - it’s about carefully using every tile to declare victory in 500 puzzles. It requires cunning and strategy -- Word Forward is a brain teaser that will really make you think! • SPELL words by tracing a line between tiles in any direction, including diagonally • SWAP any two letters on the grid by using a SWAP TOKEN, earned during gameplay • JUMBLE the tiles on the grid to replace all the letters with new ones when all else fails • CHANGE the letter on a tile to any other letter you choose using the SWAP MODIFIER • ELIMINATE stubborn tiles with BOMBS to get yourself out of a tight spot The latest brain-tingling puzzle game from the creators of Block Droppin Blitz.

Screenshots

Telling Lies4 screens
Word Forward4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Word Forward at 4.5 against Telling Lies's 3.9. Word Forward also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 57%) and price ($2.99 vs $6.99). Telling Lies's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (106 vs 11). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Telling Lies costs $6.99 and Word Forward $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Word Forward holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Telling Lies has 106 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Telling Lies's written reviews are positive against 76% of Word Forward's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Telling Lies ships an update every 3 days, Word Forward every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Telling Lies versus Word Forward: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTelling LiesWord Forward
Price$6.99$2.99 — better
Rating3.9 (106 ratings)4.5 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews76.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings106 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#85 — better#118
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS12.29.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3.1 GB122 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAnnapurna Games, LLCThalamus Digital Publishing Ltd.

Customer experience

Telling Lies

All ratings106 ratings
Positive69.8%
Neutral5.7%
Negative24.5%
Written reviews105 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral10.5%
Negative32.4%

Word Forward

All ratings11 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative23.5%

Bugs and requests

Telling Lies

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Game crashes on startup or during gameplay
  • No sound on iPhone speakers (Bluetooth audio works)
  • Bluetooth audio compatibility issues
  • Subtitle/text sync problems during video playback
  • Slow and laggy video scrubbing controls
Show 4 more
  • High CPU/GPU usage on MacBook Air M1
  • Game crashes in specific locations during progression
  • Font sizes too small on iPhone displays
  • Video playback freezing or stuttering

Requested features

9 requests
  • Side-by-side video playback for conversation pairs
  • Quick jump to video beginning button
  • 30-second skip/fast-forward functionality
  • Note-taking system for tracking clues
  • Progress indicator showing story completion
Show 4 more
  • Tutorial or onboarding guidance
  • Synchronized conversation viewing
  • Achievement or reward system
  • Better search functionality with exact matching

Word Forward

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Telling Lies

No in-app purchases

None

Word Forward

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Telling Lies free?
Telling Lies costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Word Forward free?
Word Forward costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Telling Lies or Word Forward?
Word Forward is rated higher. Telling Lies averages 3.9 out of 5 from 106 ratings, while Word Forward averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.
Do Telling Lies or Word Forward have ads?
Neither Telling Lies nor Word Forward shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Telling Lies or Word Forward?
Telling Lies ships an update every 3 days, and Word Forward every 6 weeks. Most recently, Telling Lies was updated on November 11, 2026 and Word Forward on November 6, 2026.
Which is more popular, Telling Lies or Word Forward?
Telling Lies currently peaks at #85 in the App Store charts, and Word Forward at #118. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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