Review: The Darkest Files (PC)

Okay, here goes. So, “The Darkest Files” is like diving headfirst into a really heavy but, um, fascinating post-war Germany setting. You basically step into these fancy shoes, okay, maybe more like sensible heels—of Esther Katz, this super determined young prosecutor who’s all about, yeah, nabbing Nazis. And boy, does it hit hard. Important? Definitely. But hold up, it’s not all sunshine and—well, it’s never sunshine here—because it’s also buggy as heck.

Now, let’s chat about why the storytelling rocks. It skips over the whole “let’s make this fun” thing. You’re not just solving puzzles for kicks; you’re digging through these bureaucratic nightmares trying to piece together some really awful history. Voice acting? Spot on. So real it almost hurts. Whoever decided to use German actors for the English dub gets a gold star. Just feels right, ya know?

Then there’s this cool graphic novel look—cel-shaded vibes and noir comic panels. Muted blues and yellows, like from an old cartoon. Love it. It just blends with the whole post-war chaos theme. Stylish, but not the flashy kind, which is perfect here.

Gameplay—it’s your basic detective drama. Gather clues, talk to people, fit the pieces together. Think more Sherlock vibes than Phoenix Wright “objection” yelling. It moves slow but not like, “ugh, this is boring” slow. Deliberate. Yeah, that sounds better.

Oh, and it’s short! Like, blink and it’s over. Just two cases and bam, done in about six hours. Leaves you hanging, wanting more. Imagine how cool more cases would be. More DLC? Fingers crossed.

Annoying bits? The interface. Trying to wade through reports feels like being stuck in molasses. Pages pretending to disappear drive me nuts. Bookmark system helps—unless it’s on strike. Ugh, just adds to the chaos.

Despite the quirks and glitches, this game is rare. Not just there to entertain—it actually teaches you stuff. Makes you think about justice and history and all that serious stuff. Pretty impressive compared to most of the junk out there now.

Overall? It’s a gripping dive into historical drama with storytelling that packs a punch, comic-book aesthetics that pop, and commendable voice acting. Sure, it has its buggy messes and a short run, but for anyone into narrative-heavy games, this one’s a meaningful trip worth taking.