The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️
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darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️
@darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
380 followers 43 following 160 posts
The Darkest Files is a historical investigation and courtroom game based on true crimes during the Nazi era. Investigate cold cases and win them at court. Release 25 March 2025

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2058730/The_Darkest_Files/
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darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
We're on a roll! Our game is nominated for the German children's and youth software award #TOMMI 🥳

We feel honored by the jury's words: "The Darkest Files is a bold and impressive game that brings history to life and promotes remembrance culture in a unique way." - Thank you so much!
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
We're thrilled to announce that we have been nominated for #DEP in not one, but four categories!

Best Gamedesign
Best Game Beyond Entertainment
Best Story
Best Graphics

Thank you to the jury and congratulations to the other amazing nominees - we are looking forward to the award show 🧡
October 21, 2025 at 12:10 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
🧡
This game hooked me and I played through it in one setting. It is so well-made, I love the art style and how it plays. It feels so incredibly applicable to the world today. The scene of Esther seeing her friend taken away could have taken place in present day USA as ICE kidnaps children and families off the street. I loved the game a lot and I so hope there will be more cases!
October 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
We won! 🥳 Thank you so much for recognizing our efforts to make The Darkest Files accessible to more players. We believe everyone should get the chance to play the games they want and we are grateful for all the feedback we got along the way 🧡

#GamingOhneGrenzen
August 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
We‘re so proud to share that we were part of this special Gamescom moment: Opening Night Live!

Thank you for including us and other games that are more than entertainment and that have the potential to inspire change.
August 19, 2025 at 8:02 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
If you are reading this, thank you! We want to invite you to a cozy community meetup. 🧡 Join us at our booth on Thursday at 2 pm and grab some special merch - we’re excited to meet you!

📍 Hall 10.2: Play games about past and current politics, democracy, its challenges, and its importance
August 15, 2025 at 11:20 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
We're part of Games Forged in Germany! 🥳 Check out all these amazing games by fellow German devs 🧡 Which game are you playing next?

➡️ store.steampowered.com/sale/Games-F...
July 25, 2025 at 8:49 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
Happy Birthday Mr Bauer! 🎂
a stylized image of general attorney Fritz Bauer smoking
July 16, 2025 at 1:06 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
Finally, we can reveal that we will be at Gamescom again this year! 🥳 Play The Darkest Files, chat with us devs and grab some merch at the @indiearenabooth.de - we're looking forward to meeting you 🧡
July 1, 2025 at 9:39 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
We're part of Steam Summer Sale with our biggest discount yet! Get The Darkest Files with 20% off now 🧡

And if you want to enjoy the warm weather outside, The Darkest Files also runs on Steam Deck 🕵️‍♀️

➡️ store.steampowered.com/app/2058730/...
June 27, 2025 at 9:27 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
We're happy to be part of @laurakbuzz.bsky.social's Access-Ability Summer Showcase again! It's so great to see the different ways we can make games more accessible 🧡

⏰ Get 10% off The Darkest Files on Steam now and check out the other amazing games on sale!

#accessibility #indiedev #indiegame
June 11, 2025 at 12:05 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
🏛️ Germany, 1956: The war is over, but justice remains unfinished. Former high up Nazis walk free while victims rest in unmarked graves. Uncover buried evidence, face reluctant witnesses, and pursue the truth. Do you have the courage to bring those "ordinary men" to trial? ⚖️ #PitchYaGame
June 6, 2025 at 11:31 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
Real cases, hidden clues, witnesses! Can you find out who is lying? 🔎 Step in the shoes of prosecutor Esther Katz and bring the perpetrators to court.

10% on Steam and GOG only today! 🧡

#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #indiedev
May 10, 2025 at 11:18 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
If you haven‘t yet experienced The Darkest Files, it is still available on Steam with a 10% discount as part of the #LudoNarraCon Sale 🧡
ALT text: Illustration of a fictional toy-style packaging featuring “Esther Katz – Prosecutor.” The packaging resembles an action figure set with various accessories arranged around a central female character in professional attire. Items include a cat, a laptop, a pen, a case file, a coffee cup, a diploma, a rotary phone, and a notebook. The packaging is labeled “Made in Berlin” and stamped with “100% Handmade – No AI.”
May 9, 2025 at 11:29 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
Do you like history, true crime, and strong narratives? Then our investigation and courtroom game #TheDarkestFiles is the perfect fit for you! 🔎

10% off on Steam now!
store.steampowered.com/app/2058730/...

#screenshotsaturday #truecrime #indiedev #madewithunity
May 3, 2025 at 9:55 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
The Darkest Files is currently on Sale on Steam! Thanks to @fellowtraveller.games for including us in the #LudoNarraCon Sale alongside so many awesome titles! Go check them out 🧡
May 2, 2025 at 8:54 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
"The Darkest Files has some great workarounds to improve your experience playing through it. [...] this is definitely a title that can be tailored to suit players’ needs and abilities."

Thank you, GameGrin, for this review on accessibility! 🧡

#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #accessibility
April 19, 2025 at 2:20 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
Thank you @gamegrin.com for this piece on The Darkest File's accessibilty! 🧡

www.gamegrin.com/articles/how...
The Darkest Files has some great workarounds to improve your experience playing through it. Paintbucket Games has stated that it’s committed to creating games that are inclusive and welcoming to all, and this is definitely a title that can be tailored to suit players’ needs and abilities.
April 16, 2025 at 3:56 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
Yes, you can play The Darkest Files on #Steamdeck
Investigate history on the go or bring justice from the comfort of your couch! 🕵️‍♀️

#Screenshotsaturday #Indiegame #Indiedev
April 12, 2025 at 8:08 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
How do people describe our game:
- An office sim about investigating and prosecuting Nazi war criminals
- Ace Attorney, Obra Dinn and Paper's Please had a baby
- If you like Ace Attorney and history, this game is occupying just that space.
-the second best thing after punching modern day Nazis!
April 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
What a moving release party! In dark times, our solidarity is more important than ever. While egoism grows, we embody community. A privilege to work on games that stand for humanity and freedom – with like-minded people. Thank you to all who support us in this! 🧡 #Community #IndieGames
A speaker stands in front of a projected screen, addressing an attentive audience in a dimly lit room with neon lighting. The audience sits closely on the floor and benches, listening intently. A vertical banner for "The Darkest Files" with a character illustration is visible to the left. A black T-shirt with the words "CASE FILES CLOSED 2025" in bold white and orange letters lies folded on a red couch. Next to it is a graphic art book or folder titled "The Darkest Files," featuring an illustrated female character in a trench coat standing in a dramatic, noir-style staircase scene. The scene has a bold, comic-book aesthetic with strong contrast and shadow lines.
April 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
The @paintbucket.de team celebrated the Darkest Files‘ release tonight with friends and drinks and … cake! Thank you @downieseb.bsky.social what a fantastic surprise! 🧡
April 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
Since today you can collect Steam trading cards featuring Nazi hunting prosecutor Fritz Bauer - or his supporting cat Marlene. Are these the coolest trading cards Steam has ever seen? You decide for yourself - but we think: yes.
April 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
Prosecutors!
We've just released a major balance patch 1.0.5 with more accepted solutions and a new "normal" difficulty mode between easy and hard. Game is now less strict, more approachable, with improved graphics and various bugfixes. See you in court! 🧡

steamcommunity.com/games/205873...
The image shows a stylized, noir-inspired game menu interface for what appears to be a detective or mystery game. It displays three game mode options across a split screen: On the left is "Story Mode," showing characters in an office setting with one person holding a cup. In the center is "Investigator Mode," featuring people examining documents at a desk. On the right is "Prosecutor Mode," labeled as "for players who want the ultimate challenge," showing a character looking at a wall covered with case materials, photos, maps, and evidence notes in a classic investigation board style. The top left corner displays a "Difficulty" label with a small icon, and the overall color palette uses moody blues, yellows, and dark tones typical of noir detective aesthetics.
April 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
darkestfiles.paintbucket.de
There are those who plunge the world into chaos for personal gain, and those who try to bring order to it – so that everyone can live better. That's what The Darkest Files is about – the plot takes place 75 years ago but right now it feels like the future.

store.steampowered.com/app/2058730/...
April 5, 2025 at 12:59 PM