The Darkest Files (2025)

Developer: Paintbucket Games
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Adventure, Indie, Simulation
Rating: 4.8 of 5, 707 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 9.1 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A tense, atmospheric investigation game where you sift through clues and interrogate suspects in a dark historical setting, with choices that shape the story.

atmosphericinvestigativetensestory-richnonlinearnoirhistoricalpuzzle-heavy

What players say

Players praise the respectful handling of real Nazi-era cases and the emotional weight of the story. The investigation mechanics, especially exploring witness memories, are well received. However, many wish it were longer and some find the hidden object segments frustrating or hard to spot.

Screenshots

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More by Paintbucket Games

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.