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The Darkest Files

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?

Adventure Historical Detective Female Protagonist Puzzle
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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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
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.

Sources fresh
Native Steam builds
Windows: unknown
macOS: unknown
Linux: unknown
Steam Deck
verified
Valve compatibility test
Input
Controller support: unknown

Developer-declared accessibility on Steam

Features not declared by the developer are not labeled unsupported.

adjustable text size subtitle options camera comfort custom volume controls playable without timed input keyboard only option mouse only option adjustable difficulty save anytime
Structured language support (3)
LanguageInterfaceFull audioSubtitles
EnglishYesYesYes
GermanYesNoYes
FrenchYesNoYes
Steam store page fresh · checked 2026-09-29 PCGamingWiki technical notes External link only; SteamIQHQ does not ingest PCGamingWiki content.
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Game Insights

Buy Verdict

Wait — $19.99.

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▬ ~13 days until next sale

Value Score

Fair Value — 100th percentile.

Price-to-player ratio ranks in the 100th percentile. Priced as Premium at $19.99.

▲ Premium pricing tier

Genre Benchmarks

Player Count Top 36%
Value Ratio Top 0%

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Darkest Files worth buying right now?
Wait — $19.99. Wait for upcoming sale in ~13 days for potentially better pricing.
When does The Darkest Files go on sale?
Wait for upcoming sale in ~13 days for potentially better pricing.
Is The Darkest Files free to play?
The Darkest Files costs $19.99 on Steam.
What genre is The Darkest Files?
The Darkest Files is a Adventure, Indie, Simulation game.
Who developed The Darkest Files?
The Darkest Files was developed by Paintbucket Games and published by Paintbucket Games.
What platforms does The Darkest Files support?
Available on Steam for Windows, macOS.

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