Game overview
The Darkest Files
Germany, 1956. The war is over, but justice is not served. Former Nazis walk free, while their victims lie in unmarked graves. As a prosecutor, you'll unearth long-buried evidence, confront witnesses and hunt down perpetrators. Will you have the courage to bring these "ordinary men" to court?
- Last tracked players
- 5
- All-time peak
- 46
- 24-hour change
- Unavailable
- Steam reviews
- 95% positive 280 reviews · via SteamSpy
Delayed observation · last tracked . Values marked unavailable are not estimated.
About this game Read the full description


Justice requires courage. The courage to uncover truths that no one wants to see. The courage to confront former murderers who now wear suits and command respect. The courage to be threatened, ostracised or worse. And the courage to look into the darkness and be changed forever.

You are Esther Katz, a young prosecutor who has just joined Fritz Bauer's new special unit. Your task seems impossible: to investigate crimes committed years ago, where evidence has been destroyed, witnesses silenced and the perpetrators embedded in the highest ranks of society. Every decision matters. Every interrogation can bring you closer to the perpetrator or lead you astray. Silence is your worst enemy. Time is working against you. And German society is not ready to face its past.

In 1956, Fritz Bauer and his team of “Nazi hunters” demanded justice when everyone else demanded silence. A small team of prosecutors defying an entire nation. Criminals hiding in plain sight as respected citizens. Experience their dangerous struggle through the immersive investigations. Uncover truths a country has fought to keep buried. Challenge a society desperate to rewrite its own past.
Investigate two extensive cases based on true Nazi-era crimes
Interrogate witnesses and suspects, break through walls of silence and expose lies
Witness different versions of events through Esther's "mind's eye" as you perceive testimonies - which may be truthful, distorted, or deliberately false
Reconstruct events step by step from fragmented evidence and testimonies
Prosecute perpetrators in court with the right charges, where your investigative thoroughness will be put to the test
Shape the outcome with multiple endings - succeed in bringing justice or face the harsh reality of a perpetrator walking free
Explore Esther's story, her past and her relationships with family, colleagues and the iconic Fritz Bauer
Immerse yourself in stunning cell-shaded 3D graphics inspired by 1950s pulp comics, complete with comic panels that reflect the era
Listen to full English voice acting bringing every character to life
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Media gallery 15 screenshots · 0 videos
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All news on Steam ↗System requirements Windows · macOS
Windows
Minimum
Minimum:- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: x64
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Dedicated graphics card - Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 or equivalent (Onboard/integrated graphics not supported)
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 5 GB available space
macOS
Minimum
Minimum:- Requires an Apple processor
- OS: macOS Big Sur (11)
- Processor: Apple M1 or equivalent
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Storage: 5 GB available space
Game details Languages, features & support
- Publisher
- Paintbucket Games
- USK rating
- 12
- Content warning
- This Game may contain content not appropriate for all ages. Some scenes feature disturbing content in the form of narrative text or imagery and a sensitive general theme.
- Achievements
- 46
- Controller support
- full
- Metacritic
- 80
- Features
- Single-player, Steam Achievements, Full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, Captions available, Adjustable Text Size, Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, Adjustable Difficulty, Keyboard Only Option, Mouse Only Option, Playable without Timed Input, DualShock Controller Support, DualShock Controller Support, DualSense Controller Support, DualSense Controller Support, Save Anytime, Subtitle Options, Steam Cloud, Family Sharing
- Languages
- English*, German, French
*languages with full audio support - Website
- Official website ↗
- Support
- Support site ↗
Compatibility & accessibility Steam Deck, controllers & access features
Can I Play This?
Steam declarations and Valve's Steam Deck compatibility result. Missing data is shown as unknown, never unsupported.
Developer-declared accessibility on Steam
Features not declared by the developer are not labeled unsupported.
Structured language support (3)
| Language | Interface | Full audio | Subtitles |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| German | Yes | No | Yes |
| French | Yes | No | Yes |
More analysis Activity patterns, updates & developer tools
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Wait for upcoming sale in ~13 days for potentially better pricing.
Value Score
Price-to-player ratio ranks in the 100th percentile. Priced as Premium at $19.99.
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