The Darkest Files

27 Games like The Darkest Files that you should try

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The Darkest Files is hard to replace: few games combine deep simulation, strong narrative focus and open world exploration in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 10 gameplay attributes and found 27 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Beholder, Papers, Please and Papers, Please - The Short Film lead the list, with Beholder reaching a 97/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes The Darkest Files special.

iRank89/ 100

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GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

Tags

NarrativeDarkSolo

Year 2025Dev Paintbucket Games

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to The Darkest Files is Beholder — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. Papers, Please and Papers, Please - The Short Film follow close behind.

#1Beholder97 #2Papers, Please95 #3Papers, Please - The Short Film95 #4Do Not Feed the Monkeys97 #5Loom93

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Games like The Darkest Files

27 similar games found

97

iRank85

Beholder

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDark3DStealth

Steam👍 92%· 30KIGDB80· 3OC76· 27

Year 2016Dev Warm Lamp Games · Alawar EntertainmentOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ If you enjoyed The Darkest Files, expect deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, stealth mechanics and visual 2d, while skipping open world exploration

#2Papers, Please

95

iRank91

Papers, Please

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDarkFirst PersonCasual

Steam👍 97%· 79KRAWG👍 91%· 1.8KMC85IGDB82· 5

Year 2013Dev Lucas Pope · 3909Playtime ~4hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ If you enjoyed The Darkest Files, expect deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual, punishing difficulty and visual pixel, while skipping open world exploration

#3Papers, Please - The Short Film

95

iRank91

Papers, Please - The Short Film

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDarkFirst PersonCasual

Steam👍 97%· 79KRAWG👍 91%· 1.8KMC85IGDB82· 5

Year 2013Dev Lucas Pope · 3909Playtime ~4hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ Like The Darkest Files, it's known for deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, punishing difficulty and visual pixel, while skipping open world exploration

#4Do Not Feed the Monkeys

97

iRank84

Do Not Feed the Monkeys

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDarkFirst PersonManagement

Steam👍 93%· 12KIGDB75· 1OC77· 21

Year 2018Dev Fictiorama Studios · BadLand PublishingOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Like The Darkest Files, it's known for deep simulation, puzzle design and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with resource management, visual 2d and visual pixel, while skipping open world exploration

93

iRank89

Loom

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeHistoricalMagicFantasy

Steam👍 89%· 699

Year 1990Dev Lucasfilm GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Like The Darkest Files, it's known for deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: combat magic, fantasy world and visual third person, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#6There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

92

iRank92

There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeMeleeCasualPixel Art

Steam👍 98%· 25KRAWG👍 90%· 143MC88OC88· 18

Year 2020Dev Draw Me A PixelPlaytime ~5hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ If you enjoyed The Darkest Files, expect deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, vibe casual and melee combat, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Steam GOG Nintendo

#7Port Royale 2

96

iRank74

Port Royale 2

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloHistoricalManagementIsometricsocial-trading

Steam👍 71%· 688RAWG👍 78%· 23MC75

Year 2004Dev ASCARON Entertainment · Strategy FirstPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ If you enjoyed The Darkest Files, expect deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: resource management, visual isometric and social trading, while skipping adventure storytelling

94

iRank82

Golf Story

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeLootSkill TreeIsometric

IGDB83· 7OC81· 45

Year 2017Dev Sidebar GamesOn Switch

✓ Shared with The Darkest Files: deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings sports simulation, deep RPG systems and loot and gear systems, while skipping puzzle design

#9This Is the Police

96

iRank72

This Is the Police

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDarkManagementIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 11KIGDB61· 14OC64· 58

Year 2016Dev Weappy Studio · EuroVideo MedienOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Shared with The Darkest Files: deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with visual novel storytelling, resource management and visual isometric, while skipping puzzle design

#10AaAaAA!!! - A Reckless Disregard for Gravity

94

iRank76

AaAaAA!!! - A Reckless Disregard for Gravity

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloHistoricalFirst PersonMeleeFantasy

Steam👍 84%· 752RAWG👍 48%· 42MC81IGDB90· 1

Year 2009Dev Dejobaan GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Like The Darkest Files, it's known for deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings sports simulation, melee combat and fantasy world, while skipping adventure storytelling

#11The Sims Medieval

94

iRank75

The Sims Medieval

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloHistoricalFantasyMedievalIsometric

IGDB75· 3

Year 2011Dev The Sims Studio · Electronic ArtsOn PC · Mac

✓ Shared with The Darkest Files: deep simulation, adventure storytelling and historical setting

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world, setting medieval and visual isometric, while skipping puzzle design

#12Hunting Unlimited 2010

91

iRank85

Hunting Unlimited 2010

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

Solo

Steam👍 85%· 376

Year 2009Playtime ~1hOn PC

✓ Shared with The Darkest Files: deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with sports simulation, while skipping adventure storytelling

#13New Pokémon Snap

91

iRank81

New Pokémon Snap

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloFirst PersonFantasySci-Fi

IGDB81· 12

Year 2021Dev Bandai Namco Studios · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Shared with The Darkest Files: deep simulation, adventure storytelling and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world and setting scifi, while skipping puzzle design

91

iRank79

Observation

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDarkFirst PersonHorror

Steam👍 78%· 5.1KIGDB82· 11OC76· 81

Year 2019Dev No Code · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed The Darkest Files, expect deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with horror tension, horror setting and setting scifi, while skipping open world exploration

91

iRank77

Yakuza

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldMeleeSandbox World

IGDB77· 3

Year 2005Dev Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios · Sega

✓ Shared with The Darkest Files: deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: sports simulation, deep RPG systems and action RPG combat, while skipping puzzle design

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Simulation · Adventure

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Always Sometimes Monsters

Simulation · RPG

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SEGA Bass Fishing

Simulation · Sports

Thief: The Dark Project

Thief: The Dark Project

Simulation · Adventure

Pokémon Quest

Pokémon Quest

Simulation · RPG

Mario Paint

Mario Paint

Simulation · Puzzle

Sim Theme Park

Sim Theme Park

Simulation

Sunflower Land

Sunflower Land

Simulation

Pokémon Snap

Pokémon Snap

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to The Darkest Files?: The closest game to The Darkest Files is Beholder, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 7 gameplay attributes, including deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like The Darkest Files?: The three closest games to The Darkest Files are: 1. Beholder (97/100, 7 shared attributes) 2. Papers, Please (95/100, 7 shared attributes) 3. Papers, Please - The Short Film (95/100, 7 shared attributes). All share The Darkest Files's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 27 candidates across 10 dimensions.
Is Papers, Please similar to The Darkest Files?: Yes, very much so — Papers, Please scores 95/100 similarity to The Darkest Files. They share 7 attributes, including deep simulation and adventure storytelling. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Simulation games are similar to The Darkest Files?: The best Simulation games similar to The Darkest Files are Beholder, Papers, Please, Papers, Please - The Short Film and Do Not Feed the Monkeys. All share the Simulation genre alongside other key The Darkest Files attributes like deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design.
How is similarity to The Darkest Files calculated?: We compare The Darkest Files against every game in our catalog using 10 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the The Darkest Files experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.