Review: The Darkest Files (PC)

Alright, so here’s the thing. I stumbled across this game called The Darkest Files. Right off the bat, you’re thrown into post-war Germany. You’re not just kicking back and relaxing, no way. You’re wearing the shoes of Esther Katz, a newbie prosecutor. She’s got the gnarly task of hauling Nazis into court. Gritty stuff.

So, here’s the kicker, right? The storytelling? Off the charts. It grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. The cases are actually based on real post-WWII digs, which is, you know, heavy but in a good way. And oh man, the voice acting? Spot on. They used German actors even for the English version. Smart move there. It adds this raw, authentic vibe.

Visually, the game’s hanging out in this graphic novel zone—everything’s cel-shaded. Imagine muted blues and yellows doing a dance, like they popped out of a war-time cartoon or something. It’s stylish but not shouting for attention, which is just what the doctor ordered for a game like this.

Now, let’s talk about the game mechanics. You’re playing detective—snooping for evidence, chatting with survivors, connecting the dots. Forget courtroom drama with the “OBJECTION!” shout-outs. It’s more like “Let’s link these documents and see what they reveal.” It’s slow but purposeful. Not dull. Just… deliberate?

But boy, is it short. Like blink-and-you’ll-miss-it short. Two cases and you wrap it up in six hours. Just when you’re really settling in, it’s all “See ya, wish you could stay longer!” Here’s hoping they toss more content our way, maybe with some DLCs.

The interface, though, yikes. Clunky mess. Trying to navigate reports is like wrestling with your kitchen junk drawer—there’s a bookmark thing, but the pages like to play hide and seek. Annoying, right?

Now, despite all that messy stuff, it’s doing something pretty wild. It’s not just fun; it sneaks in some education. Makes you ponder the tough stuff about justice. I mean, how many games can pull that off?

The Darkest Files is this weird blend of gripping narrative and clumsy mechanics, wrapped in a stylish comic-book package. It’s a bit buggy, sure, and too short, but there’s something real here. A bit of a diamond in the rough for those into heavy, narrative-driven games.

Oh, this review? Based on a copy given by the game folks themselves. Got my own two cents in there.