Review: The Darkest Files (PC)

So, there’s this game, The Darkest Files. I jumped in all ready to unpack post-war Germany—and it’s, let’s just say, quite a ride. A young prosecutor named Esther Katz, heels clicking away, going after Nazis. Heavy stuff, right? But don’t get tangled up too quickly; the game’s a mix of genius and glitches. Seriously, it’s like—playing hopscotch on uneven ground.

Anyway, the storytelling is something else. Based on real post-WWII investigations? Yup. Puts you right in the thick of history. And man, they got German voice actors for the English dub. Actually made me pause for a moment. Felt oddly respectful, you know? Like sipping hot tea on a winter morning. Okay, maybe not quite that, but close.

Graphically, it’s got this comic book essence—cel-shaded, with those noir blues and yellows. Ever seen a political cartoon? It’s like that. Sort of modestly stylish. Caught myself stopping mid-session just to gaze a bit more than I should—yes, a distraction, but hey, pretty colors.

Now, imagine playing detective. Find clues, chat with survivors, and build your case. No loud “objection!” moments, more like leafing through dusty archives to connect stories. Yeah, deliberately paced—not slow, just… thought-through. That’s a word, right?

Speaking of time, it wraps up quicker than you’d want. Two cases hit you, and then poof—done in six hours. Almost feels like when you reach for your coffee and realize… ah, empty cup. DLCs on the horizon? Fingers crossed.

There’s this interface, okay, like a rusty old cabinet. Reports hide when they shouldn’t, and then there’s a bookmark system that just—ugh, leaves me scribbling notes on my hand. Pages vanish and reappear like some mischievous ghost scribble. Frustrating.

Bugs, schmugs, none of that really douses the fire. The game, messy little quirks included, makes you face history’s darkness head-on, pondering justice, morality—big words, sometimes. Compare it to most games out there? It’s like puttering around a pond with a pebble in your shoe. Engaging, reflective, bit troubling in all the right ways.

So, if brooding courtroom dramas charged with history sound like your cup of evening brew, give it a whirl. Puzzling over national archives sounds like your thing, right? Maybe? Or maybe not. I mean, who am I to judge?

And there you have it. A game that stirs the pot. Now, if only there were more cases to sink your teeth into. When’s the next cup coming, I often wonder.