Game · Paintbucket Games
The Darkest Files
- Steam Deck Verified
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.
Before you buy
- Redeem on
- Steam clientPC: Windows, macOS. Needs a free Steam account.
- Activates in
- Europe and UK. Activates on accounts registered in 32 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.Activates on accounts registered in the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.Will not activate on accounts registered in North America, Asia, Latin America or Oceania.
- You get
- A digital activation keyStandard edition. No disc, no box.
- Delivery
- To your account and by emailDelivered to your account and by email once it is ready. Some orders get a short manual check first.
Trailers and screenshots
About this game
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
Funded by:
Description, images and details are taken from this product's Steam page.
Details
- Developer
- Paintbucket Games
- Publisher
- Paintbucket Games
- Released
- 25 Mar, 2025
- Genres
- Adventure, Simulation, Puzzle, Indie
- Runs on
- Windows, macOS
- Activates on
- Steam client, Europe and UK
- Interface
- English, German, French
- Full audio
- English
- Controller
- Full controller support
- 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
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.
System requirements
Windows
| Component | 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
- Requires an Apple processor
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OS | macOS Big Sur (11) |
| Processor | Apple M1 or equivalent |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Storage | 5 GB available space |
Activating it on Steam client
- Open the Steam client and sign in.
- Choose Games in the top menu, then Activate a Product on Steam.
- Paste the key and confirm. It appears in your library.
The key is listed for the Europe and UK. Activates on accounts registered in 32 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom. region. Read how regions work before you buy.