The Darkest Files

The game gives me more understanding of Germany and Nazi history. I'm feeling so disgusted while playing, so fortunate that I am living in a much civilized time.

An important historical game that immerses you in the fight against the remnants of the Nazis and an effort to bring them to justice.

The Darkest Files is a fascinating spin on the investigative procedural wherein you try to figure out the truth of what happened in two WW2-era cases within Germany itself. First of all, the pop-art aesthetic is amazing and really helps to bring the world to life. Despite its ostensible cartoonishness, however, it never detracts from the grim reality of the cases that your character, prosecutor Esther Katz, is tasked with solving. The two cases involve wanton abuse of power and tangled motivations, and they do not shy away from depicting the complexities of real-world criminal cases -- particularly these two, being set as they are in the twilight days of the world's most infamous fascist regime. Gameplay-wise, the Darkest Files is a solid detective game. Your job is more bureaucratic than a good deal of video-game investigators, but this is completely fitting; you're essentially reopening cold cases, and poring through archived documents is a big part of that. You'll also be interrogating witnesses, often using said documents to help challenge any inconsistencies in their stories and providing you with further evidence for the inevitable big day in court. The courtroom dramas at the climax of each case are their own spectacle, as you put forth theories for each aspect of the case (who was standing where? Who refused an order? Who had a motivation for framing the victim?) and substantiate those theories with files and documents obtained over the course of your investigation. The Darkest Files is, mechanically, a very competent game, but it's in the meat and potatoes of the cases themselves where it really comes to life. The two cases are based on real events from WW2, and in the first case in particular, I found myself having to really interrogate my own beliefs and assumptions regarding the actions of one or two individuals. Because these are based on real crimes, the motivations of those involved are sometimes not as black and white as you might first think, and it's important to put aside what you think may have happened and simply follow the evidence. All in all, The Darkest Files was a riveting and eye-opening game that I enjoyed very much. If I had any gripes, it would be that it's a little on the short side, but with a third case incoming as DLC, it's safe to say that I'll be returning to The Darkest Files before too long.

Actually got goosebumps at the end of the game - incredibly well-written, very educational and respectful. Gameplay mechanics are great - very engaging to go through evidence, piecing together the truth and conclusions for trial. So excited to see what the developers do next ~

Best detective game I ever played. Awesome plot, awesome characters. Too short, sadly - DLC needed ASAP. :)

This is an example of an 'educational' game done right. The story is intriguing and the 'detective work' is done really well, and at the same time, you are learning about an important piece of history.