iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 30/09/2026

50 Steam reviews, and every single one is positive!! 🧡 Thank you so much to everyone who played A Night at Moka Efti: A #BabylonBerlin Story and took the time to leave a review. This makes us really happy! 🥹 Here’s to the next 50! 🥂 And don't get caught by the hat guy 👻

Key art of the game "A Night at Moka Efti: A Babylon Berlin Story" with a text reading "Thank you! 50" and a picture of the Paintbucket Games team.

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 25/09/2026

Hungry for a thrilling adventure in 1920s Berlin? 🥂 A dazzling nightclub. A mysterious murder. A trail of clues. And memories you can’t quite trust… Explore the famous #MokaEfti, the iconic nightclub from #BabylonBerlin, and try to find out the truth. Out now and FREE TO PLAY on Steam!

Screenshot of the game A Night at Moka Efti: A Babylon Berlin Story which shows the main character in the wardrobe

Screenshot of the game A Night at Moka Efti: A Babylon Berlin Story, which shows the notebook with scribbles and clues

Screenshot of the game A Night at Moka Efti: A Babylon Berlin Story, which shows the main character talking about a very big fish head

Screenshot of the game A Night at Moka Efti: A Babylon Berlin Story, which shows the main character facing a boss

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 10/09/2026

For browser users, enjoy our newest trailer in its full glory ✨ Moka Efti - A Babylon Berlin Story is RELEASED TODAY! 🥂 As a journalist, you’ll follow the clues to a mysterious case at the famous nightclub - but can you really trust your memories? You can now play the game for FREE ON STEAM! 🎉

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 10/09/2026

🎉 IT’S FINALLY HERE! 🎉 We’re incredibly happy to announce that Moka Efti - A Babylon Berlin Story is RELEASED TODAY! 🥂✨ As a journalist, you’ll follow the clues to a mysterious case at the famous nightclub - but can you really trust your memories? You can now play the game for FREE ON STEAM!

Cover art of the game A Night at Moka Efti: A Babylon Berlin Story

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 10/09/2026

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 29/08/2026

What a great start to the weekend! We won the gamescom award in the category Games for Impact with our historical deduction game SOKO 1977: anti-terror task force 🥳 ❤️ Thank you to the jury and to everyone who voted for us - enjoy the last days of gamescom and visit us in the @indiearenabooth.de

picture of the paintbucket games team and bpb team with the headline „Winner! gamescom award Games for Impact“

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 29/08/2026

Our @indiearenabooth.de booth has an original typewriter from the 70s! Can you imagine typing up your hands-on impressions on it? If you’d like to check out our latest project, SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force, we warmly invite you to visit us at the IAB in Hall 10.2!

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 06/08/2026

SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force stands out thanks to a setting that hasn’t been featured in any other game to date! 🔍 Experience 70s West Germany within a stylized police environment grounded in extensive research 🎮 Play the game at the @indiearenabooth.de at this year's gamescom!

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 22/07/2026

We're excited to reveal the very first trailer for our upcoming new game SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force! Our Steam page is now LIVE, and you can wishlist the game today to stay up to date and support us on our journey 👉 store.steampowered.com/app/3856200/... #SOKO1977 #IndieGame #GameTrailer

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 14/07/2026

We're at gamescom! 🎮 Visit our team at the @indiearenabooth.de in hall 10.2 and be among the first to get your hands on our newly announced game SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force! Could this year's IAB theme be any more fitting for the game? 🤩

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 07/07/2026

🕰️Are you ready for the session? ✨Let yourself be hypnotized and immerse yourself in the dazzling world of Moka Efti. 📝As a journalist, you follow the clues to a mysterious case at the nightclub. But can you trust your memories? Wishlist now on Steam 👉 A night in Moka Efti: A Babylon Berlin Story

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 20/05/2026

We're excited to announce our new game SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force, coming to Steam in early 2027! 🕵️ Set in 1970s West Germany, the game puts you in charge of a special police task force during a time of emergency. ➡️ More info on our website: paintbucket.de/en/projekte/...

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 20/03/2026

We got visited by two of the "Omas Gegen Rechts" ("Grannies Against the Right") @omasgr.bsky.social 🧡 Can you guess what we are up to? 🕵️‍♀️

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 17/03/2026

Barbara Yelin will be Germany's very first professor of comics. Congratulations! 🥳 We're proud to say our game "Forced Abroad" - a visual novel about a forced laborer - features her illustrations. Play for free on mobile: paintbucket.de/de/game/forc...

Screenshot of the game Forced Abroad with an illustration by Barbara Yelin

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 29/01/2026

We are looking for a working student in Marketing & Communications to join us! 🎨 Interested? Find more information about the role here 👉 paintbucket.de/en/job/16

Graphic with text, reading: Job opening. Working Student: Marketing & Communications. Questions? Interest? Shoot us an email at jobs@paintbucket.de

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 29/01/2026

#GAMES & #HISTORY 🗓️ When: February 4, 2026, 6:30 PM 📍Where: DIE GAMEREI, München Our Game Designer Yannick will share insights into creating authentic historical game worlds. Find more information and free tickets here: events.games-bavaria.com/event/gamere...

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 08/12/2025

📢 Workshop in Erfurt today at 17:30! Educators explore how games can support remembrance. With Paintbucket Games and titles like Through the Darkest of Times and The Darkest Files, it will be discussed how games enable meaningful memory work and where the medium reaches its limits.

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 03/12/2025

We still can’t believe it! Last night was the #DEP, and we are so happy and grateful to have won in the two categories “Best Game Design” and “Best Game Beyond Entertainment” 🥳 Especially because the other contenders had such amazing projects! Thank you to everyone involved with the award show🎄

Picture of the Paintbucket Games team on stage, holding the awards for Best Game Design and Best Game Beyond Entertainment

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 01/12/2025

Join us to watch the DEP Awards together! Get some behind-the-scenes fun facts from the devs, cheer us on, and hopefully celebrate with us 🥳 When: 2nd December 8pm til 10pm CET Where: The Darkest Files Discord server: discord.com/invite/U5zXu... 🧡 See you there!

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 10/09/2025

Hurra! \o/ unsere Visual Novel "Max Mannheimer – Ben Jakov – Eine Holocaust-Geschichte" – wurde von der Deutschen Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur zur App des Monats gewählt! apps.apple.com/de/app/max-m... play.google.com/store/apps/d...

Illustration: Max Mannheimer mit Pinsel, im Hintergrund Menschen und ein Lagergebäude. Auszeichnung „App des Monats“.

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 16/05/2025

Auf Twitch streamt Copeylius gerade "Erinnern. Die Kinder vom Bullenhuser Damm" www.twitch.tv/copeylius reingeklickt! @copeylius.bsky.social

Screenshot eines gezeichneten Games zeigt einen älteren Mann mit Brille und einen jugendlichen mit punkigem Outfit

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 08/05/2025

Today marks 80 years since Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender and the end of fascism in Europe. At #histoCON we had young people from around the world engage with history through our games. Seeing a new generation confront Germany's darkest chapter and learn about resistance gives us hope.

Young people sitting in a room playing games on laptops and Steam Decks

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 17/03/2025

🙌 Erinnern. Die Kinder vom Bullenhuserdamm, das Serious Game, das wir mit der KZ-Gedenkstätte Neuengamme und der Alfred-Landecker Stiftung entwickelt haben wurde beim DCP nominiert. Danke an die Jury und herzlichen Glückwunsch allen Nominierten! #DCP @neuengamme-mem.bsky.social @ldml.bsky.social

Gezeichnetes Bild das 5 Jugendliche zeigt, von links nach rechts: ein Mädchen mit Brille und langen Haaren, ein asiatisch gelesener Junge mit Jeansjacke, ein Junge mit punkigen Haaren und Lederjacke, ein Mädchen mit Zopf und Schweißband, ein POC Junge mit Jeansjacke.
Oben steht der Titel des Spiels: Erinnern. Die Kinder vom Bullenhuser Damm. Unten steht "Deutscher Computerspielpreis nominiert"

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 12/03/2025

21:45 live auf dem Twitch Kanal der ARD TWITCH.TV/ARD: Müssen Games historisch korrekt sein? Mit Host Lvcia und Paintbucket narrative director Lena Falkenhagen und game director Jörg Friedrich @lenafalkenhagen.bsky.social @freejsf.paintbucket.de www.twitch.tv/Ard

Mittlelalter Mann mit Bart trägt eine Baseballkappe auf der steht Fritz Bauer Ultras - Jörg Friedrich

Frau trägt eine Brille, lange lila gefärbte Haare - Lena Falkenhagen

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 03/02/2025

Look at the amazing results of our #TheDarkestFiles art contest! Esther in her office, in three very different creative art styles 🧡 Now, on to the next case! Thanks to our community members Eschl, DasHauptquartier, and MaHei 🥳 #detectivegame #artcontest #indiedev

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 01/02/2025

Look into the memories of True Crime witnesses - but who is telling the truth? 🔍 Find hidden clues in and bring your theory to court! 🏛️ The Darkest Files releases 25th of March 🕵 Wishlist now on Steam! #indiegame #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #detectivegame

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 30/01/2025

What motivated us was our concern about the state of the world. Games are our way of expressing that. The concerns have only grown. Nevertheless, we want to celebrate today: Happy birthday Through the Darkest of Times and love and strength to all who try to stop fascism - keep it up! 🧡✊

game art work showinga group of people holding leaflets and smoking

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 30/01/2025

partnering with HandyGames brought the game to many more players than we had ever dreamed of - and an unforgettable appearance in the main hall of Gamescom (thank you Florian Emmerich and everyone else who supported us on that end) @preussensflorian.bsky.social

a crowded hall at Gamescom and a huge screen showing a scene from the game where somene paints the slogan "Hitler ist Krieg" - "Hitler means war" at a awall

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 30/01/2025

when publisher HandyGames agreed, Vivi, JD and later Jona joined them - Almut is responsible for the soundtrack - the swing music and historical resistance songs came from Berlin based Rufus Temple Orchestra @muu418.bsky.social @handy-games.com @akuramalp.bsky.social @vivskito.bsky.social

collage: top right Almut making sounds with vegetables, top left band two men playing a trumpet, one conducts and the back of a person bottom a mixing desk

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 30/01/2025

But enough about swastikas - the game started as a small side project for Jörg and Sebastian alongside their day jobs. When Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg funded the game, they quit their jobs and worked on it full-time. @freejsf.bsky.social

Zwei kaukasische Männer in schwarzen T-Shirts sitzen vor Laptops und lachen in die Kamera

a printed card saying "a historival resistance game - Through the Darkest of Times" and a post it note sying "Press Play to Stop Hitler"

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 29/01/2025

Investigate True Crimes and bring perpetrators to court! 🕵️ Uncover the truth and don't let their crimes go unpunished. ⚖️ Are you up for the challenge? Play our free demo and wishlist on Steam 🧡 #wishlistwednesday #indiedev #truecrime

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 25/01/2025

Did you know there were far more crimes during WW2 than you might think? Investigate True Stories in #TheDarkestFiles and defend your theory in court! 🔍⚖️ Wishlist on Steam now store.steampowered.com/app/2058730/... 🧡 #indiegame #truecrime #screenshotsaturday

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 20/01/2025

Win a merchandise package in our #TheDarkestFiles Fanart Contest! The theme is “What would Esther do?” 🕵️‍♀️ All mediums are allowed, you can draw, craft, crochet, or whatever you want! Post your entries in the ⁠#atelier on our Discord server and vote there discord.gg/U5zXuJqpz4 🧡 #fanartcontest

Win a merchandise package in our The Darkest Files Fanart Contest!
The theme is “What would Esther do?” Think like Esther - what does she create, while
connecting the dots in her latest case? Does she draw her colleagues in cute hats? Does she crochet Paula’s cat?

All mediums are allowed, you can draw, craft, crochet, or whatever you want! Post your entries in the #atelier on our Discord server until the 2nd of February.

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 18/01/2025

In The Darkest Files, your mission is clear: investigate real cases, and ensure the past doesn’t stay buried. 🕵️‍♀️ Can you, a young prosecutor, find out the truth and win your case in court? Play our free demo on Steam and find out! 🔍 #screenshotsaturday #indiegame #historicalgame

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 11/01/2025

The Darkest Files is running on SteamDeck! 🧡 Investigate true crimes wherever you are - from the comfort of your couch or on the train. 🕵️‍♀️ What is your favourite way to play? #SteamDeck #indiegame #Screenshotsaturday

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 23/12/2024

🎁DOOR 23: Meet Paula Fischer! Whether you need support with your research or comfort when the public hates you: Paula is there for you! Clever, courageous and not one to mince her words, you can always rely on her. Paula Fischer is voiced by the marvellous @ruthbosch.bsky.social

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 22/12/2024

🎁DOOR 22: Meet Simon Peters, your co-prosecutor! The team might say that he can be a challenge to work with. However, his contribution to the office's efforts to investigate cold cases from the Nazi era is undeniable. Simon's unforgettable voice comes from the great @alexbronsky.bsky.social

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 21/12/2024

🎁DOOR 21: One day, Paula brought her cat Marlene into the office - ‘only temporarily’ - and Marlene has been a permanent member of the legal team ever since. You can talk to her about anything and who knows - maybe she'll help you solve the case? #TheDarkestFiles #ScreenshotSaturday #caturday

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 20/12/2024

🎁 DOOR 20: 2018, Paintbucket founders Sebastian & Jörg participated in a 48h game jam about fake news and created a little game called FUX NEWS. Feels still pretty relevant. Unfortunately. #FreeGameFriday The game takes only 5 minutes and can be played in browser paintbucketgames.itch.io/fux-news

screenshot showing a fox and an otter in a dialogue about replacing human jounalists with AI

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 19/12/2024

🎁 DOOR 19: "Through the Darkest of Times" was the first game that legally showed Swastikas in Germany. We talked to many politicians to convince them. Something we had to censor though, to get a lower age rating internationally was smoking. 1000nds of cigarettes had to be removed before release.

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 18/12/2024

🎁 DOOR 18: Meet Herbert Frahm - better known by his battle name Willy Brandt. He fled Nazi Germany and organised the resistance from Denmark, where he worked together with Fritz Bauer. After the war, he became Mayor of Berlin and later Federal Chancellor. He would turn 111 today! Happy birthday! 🎉

a drawn picture showing Willy Brandt playing mandoline with a cigarette in his mouth

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 16/12/2024

🎁DOOR 16: Meet Viv! Our Lead Artist Viv has been with us almost from day one! Not only does she know our studio from the inside out, but she also keeps team spirits high by organizing karaoke nights, summer parties and more 🧡 The award for cutest office desk goes to her! ✨ bsky.app/profile/vivs...

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 15/12/2024

🎁 DOOR 15: For Through the Darkest of Times we prototyped a real time mission planning and executing - inspired by the classic The Clou. We cut it because of the the additional effort but also because we thought it might've made the game too complex. Right decision? What do you think? #indiedev

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 14/12/2024

🎁 DOOR 14: Yesterday we had our Paintbucket Christmas Party with lots of Snacks, Lego and Karaoke fun 🎉🎄 What‘s your go to Karaoke song?

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 13/12/2024

🎁DOOR 13: Sigmund Haubner is the second defense lawyer and therefore your opponent in court. Less zealous than his colleague Rudolf Scham, but very experienced, you should not underestimate him if you want to win the case.

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 12/12/2024

🎁 Door 12: 🎉 Huge update for our Darkest Files Closed Beta Kickstarter backers featuring the complete second case, revamped courtroom gameplay, and Marlene the office cat! 🐱 They can now dive deeper into Esther's story while we keep working on the final touches. Thank you for your continued support!

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 11/12/2024

🎁 DOOR 11: Fritz Bauer was a judge until 1933. The Nazis removed him from office and sent him to a concentration camp. He fled into exile and helped the resistance. After the war, he dedicated his life to fighting for the rule of law. In The Darkest Files, Fritz Bauer is your boss and mentor.

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 10/12/2024

🎁 Door 10: Meet Jona! Paintbucket Lead Programmer Jona Witt joined us in 2020 from the UK, where he had worked on some insignificant game about a wizard school. Jona loves Pokemon, KiKANiNCHEN and antifascism and we are super happy to have him. 🧡 bsky.app/profile/akur...

a young man wearinga The Darkest Files - shirt

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 09/12/2024

🌟 We have an advent calendar surprise for you! 🌟 Until Christmas, you'll get news, facts, and more here🎄 🎁 DOOR 9: Brand new Screenshots of the second case in The Darkest Files! What do you think is happening here? #indiedev #detective #truecrime

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Paintbucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️ @paintbucket.de · 07/12/2024

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. Play our demo now on Steam! 🧡 #indiegame #truecrime #detective #screenshotsaturday

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