REVIEW / The Darkest Files for PC

Okay, so let me just jump in here. “The Darkest Files” — ever heard of it? This game takes you on a wild ride straight into post-war Germany as, get this, a young prosecutor named Esther Katz. She’s got her sights set on tackling some really heavy stuff — imagine putting Nazis on trial. Yep, it’s as intense as it sounds.

The storytelling is where this game really shines. They’re taking actual post-WWII investigations and throwing you right into the mess. You’re not playing for kicks; you’re digging up horrors tucked away by red tape and denial. The voice acting is killer, by the way. They threw in German voice actors even in the English version; it just feels more… real, I guess? Like they actually care about doing this right.

Visually, it’s got this graphic novel thing going on — cel-shaded stuff, noir comic vibes. Those blues and yellows, though. It’s like stepping into a political cartoon from the post-war era. Stylish, not overdone. Handling heavy topics without going full disco ball on you.

Now, mechanics-wise… it’s classic detective drama. You know — evidence, survivor chats, threading the narrative, prosecution. Less “OBJECTION!” and more “here’s an old report, connect the dots.” Pacing’s deliberate. Some might think slow, but I say it works.

And it’s short, super short. Two cases, six hours, tops. Just enough to intrigue, but leaves you craving more. I’d kill for DLCs that dive deeper, just saying.

UI? Meh. It’s a jumbled mess. Sorting through files feels like wrestling a pile of greased-up documents. Bookmarking helps a bit, if it’s not glitching out. Frustrating, yet somehow part of the charm?

Anyway, bugs aside, there’s no running from the fact that it’s rare — this mix of being thought-provoking and educational. It makes you really think — not just play. Questions justice and all that. More depth than a kiddie pool, which is more than I can say for most games dropping lately.

Look, it might not be perfect, but “The Darkest Files” pulls off that historical courtroom vibe with gripping tales, artsy comic looks, voices that hit home — and despite its faults, it offers something you don’t see every day. Ahem, unique and all. Give it a shot if you dig narratives that hit hard.