The Darkest Files

The Darkest Files is a narrative-driven investigation game set in 1956, in which players take on the role of Esther Katz, a young prosecutor who joins Fritz Bauer’s special unit tasked with prosecuting Nazi-era crimes. The game is based on true events involving Bauer’s team of prosecutors, who worked to bring perpetrators to justice at a time when much of German society sought to avoid confronting its past.

The game features two extensive cases inspired by real Nazi-era crimes. Players interrogate witnesses and suspects, gather evidence and piece together fragmented testimonies to reconstruct past events. Through Esther’s “mind’s eye”, players witness different versions of events as perceived from testimonies, which may be truthful, distorted or deliberately false. Investigative findings are then used to prosecute perpetrators in court, with the accuracy and thoroughness of the investigation affecting the outcome. The game includes multiple endings, depending on whether justice is achieved or the accused evades conviction.

Alongside the central cases, the game explores Esther’s personal history and her relationships with colleagues, family and Fritz Bauer. It uses cell-shaded 3D graphics inspired by 1950s pulp comics, including comic-style panels, and features full English voice acting throughout.