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PaintBucket made The Darkest Files 🕵️‍♀️
@paintbucket.de
1.6K followers 340 following 150 posts
"Ausnahmestudio" - DER SPIEGEL

We make games that matter.

The Darkest Files, Through the Darkest of Times,Beholder 3 and more

@darkestfiles.paintbucket.de

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/paintbucketgames
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paintbucket.de
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“.
September 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
paintbucket.de
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
May 16, 2025 at 1:09 PM
paintbucket.de
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 Young people sitting in a room playing games on laptops and Steam Decks Young people sitting in a room playing games on laptops and Steam Decks Young people sitting in a room playing games on laptops and Steam Decks
May 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
paintbucket.de
🙌
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"
March 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
paintbucket.de
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
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 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
March 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM
paintbucket.de
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
February 3, 2025 at 12:23 PM
paintbucket.de
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
February 1, 2025 at 9:15 AM
paintbucket.de
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
January 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
paintbucket.de
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
January 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
paintbucket.de
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 logo saying HANDY GAMES
January 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
paintbucket.de
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"
January 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
paintbucket.de
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
January 29, 2025 at 12:28 PM
paintbucket.de
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
January 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
paintbucket.de
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.
January 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
paintbucket.de
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
January 18, 2025 at 8:32 AM
paintbucket.de
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
January 11, 2025 at 9:24 AM
paintbucket.de
🎁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
December 23, 2024 at 2:33 PM
paintbucket.de
🎁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
December 22, 2024 at 1:34 PM
paintbucket.de
🎁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
December 21, 2024 at 10:02 AM
paintbucket.de
🎁 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
December 20, 2024 at 2:41 PM
paintbucket.de
🎁 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.
December 19, 2024 at 5:18 PM
paintbucket.de
🎁 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
December 18, 2024 at 2:44 PM
paintbucket.de
🎁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...
December 16, 2024 at 11:33 AM
paintbucket.de
🎁 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
December 15, 2024 at 5:01 PM
paintbucket.de
🎁 DOOR 14:
Yesterday we had our Paintbucket Christmas Party with lots of Snacks, Lego and Karaoke fun 🎉🎄 What‘s your go to Karaoke song?
December 14, 2024 at 12:17 PM