The Darkest Files Review

When Paintbucket Games’ award-winning title, Through the Darkest of Times, released in 2020, it explored the atrocities of Nazi Germany from the perspective of a resistance group leader, placing you in active danger as you oppose the fascist regime. Now, in the first-person courtroom game The Darkest Files, the pursuit of survival has transformed into the pursuit of justice, as we’re taken to the year 1956, after the war; former Nazis are hiding in plain sight, and most citizens refuse to face the horrors of the past, yet some are dedicated to revealing hidden truths and holding those accountable for the crimes committed.

Our protagonist, Esther Katz, has taken a job as a prosecutor, joining Fritz Bauer’s new special unit. You might recognise Bauer as the real-life individual who initiated the Auschwitz Trials, and while his portrayal in The Darkest Files is modelled after his look and legacy, Esther and her colleagues are fictional. Their in-game experiences do well at conveying the public sentiment Bauer would’ve been faced with at that time — insults, death threats, and bricks aplenty.

As Esther, you’ll investigate two incidents: The Insurgent and The Looter. They’re based on true events with names changed for the game, and you get the opportunity to read the real-life file at the end if you wish. Both consist of heavy subject matter and disturbing actions, but Paintbucket handles the tough details thoughtfully. Additionally, the level of thoroughness in the documents, conversations, and testimonies will leave you feeling like you received an immersive, compelling history lesson. The first of the two cases serves as your tutorial for investigation mechanics and preparing arguments for court. I’ll note that there is, technically, a third matter that has narrative importance, but you’re not doing the hands-on investigating, as it’s your colleague Simon Peters who’s the main prosecutor on it.

The Darkest Files’ gameplay loop is great for anyone looking for an in-depth courtroom/detective puzzler. You’ll review your case file, interrogate your witnesses/suspects, request appropriate documents, read/mark those texts, and rinse and repeat until you’re ready for court. Once you’re in court, you’ll have five questions to answer about the case, such as who searched the room or who shot the victim, and you’ll select three documents that prove your conclusions.

Evidence reports, execution orders, old transcripts, and more will fill your ever-growing folder as you learn about your victim, witnesses, and suspects. If you love detective games and enjoy reading detailed accounts, then you’ll be captivated while poring over the many texts in The Darkest Files. The bookmarking/annotation system makes it easy to stay organised, giving you multiple ways to mark paragraphs or lines of important info, such as with exclamation points, question marks, and numbered tabs. As you uncover inconsistencies when comparing documents, you’ll feel like a true detective, especially since the game doesn’t tell you what to annotate; it’s all up to you to generate theories and follow your evidence.

By the time I reached court for The Insurgent case, I realised how immersed I’d been while I prepared my arguments and conclusions. Many of the game’s components all aid in drawing you into the world, from the phenomenal voice acting to the amount of reading you must do, digesting real, harrowing events.

You’re also literally pulled into the past as you get to walk through 3D recreations of the memories your witnesses tell you about. Here, your investigative skills rely on how thorough you are at observing the environment; you can walk around and interact with photos, clocks, jackets, and more, which will prompt Esther to ask appropriate questions. Some answers will give you extra context to the situation at hand, and at times, you’ll unlock a new document that you can get after the conversation.

You can also interrupt the character you’re talking to and use information you already have from your case folder to contradict or challenge what they’ve said, which can also lead to new files afterwards. These additional texts are often crucial pieces that will come into play during court, and if you’re missing them, you might find yourself unable to convince the judge of your theory. As I said before, you need three documents to prove your conclusion, so you'll be short if you only have two that support your argument.

Visually, you’ll feel like you’re playing through a 1950s pulp comic, a style that makes The Darkest Files stand out and further complements its genre. The aforementioned 3D environments give off a retro noir look with the cel-shaded art and intentional colour palette. Deep blues and moody purples surround you when you’re playing in Esther’s present day, and dark grey is prominent when you delve into memories of the past.

Where The Darkest Files struggles slightly is its pacing, as the game ends a bit abruptly. With the first crime serving as your tutorial, by the time you’re feeling comfortable with the mechanics, it’s over; a third case could have made it feel like a fuller experience. I did get 10 hours of gameplay from my first playthrough, as I tried to be as thorough as possible when reviewing the evidence, so it’s still a decent length, and the cases have been crafted with care. The game sticks with you in a deeply emotional way, and in my case, I felt quite stressed when it came time to fight for justice in court; as such, the brevity was almost welcomed.

The Darkest Files is an excellent detective game that I’m sure will satisfy those who enjoy history or are interested in learning about real Nazi-era crimes. If you’re interested in sifting out truths and lies in pieces of evidence and transcripts, this is a game for you. It’s engaging, well-written, and sleuth-friendly — it’s very easy to recommend.