The Operator

Genres: Puzzle, Mystery, Point & Click, Story Rich, Atmospheric, Thriller

Play modes: singleplayer

Release Date: 22-7-2024

Developer: Bureau 81

Our verdict

8/10

Difficulty: Medium
Players: 1
Playtime: 3–5 h

The Operator is a desktop investigation game in which you play a new, hungover analyst at a federal agency called the FDI. From your work computer you support field agents by searching databases, examining documents, photos and audio, and connecting evidence across cases from murders to cyber attacks, until the job turns into a conspiracy thriller. It suits solo players who like simulated-desktop mysteries with a strong story.

About 90% of 3,800 Steam reviews are positive. Players praise the writing, voice acting and music, and many say the plot twists caught them off guard all the way to the finale. Several reviewers feel the difficulty sits in a comfortable middle, and the intense final act gets frequent mention.

Length is the main complaint: most finish in three to five hours, and several advise waiting for a sale. Some reviewers wanted freer investigation and found the game too guided, and the ending leaves threads open for a sequel. Recommended for story-driven players; those after open-ended detective work may find it on rails.

Pros

Simulated agency desktop with databases and evidence tools
Twisting conspiracy plot with a tense final act
Strong voice acting and soundtrack

Cons

Short for the full price
Guided investigations leave little room to deduce alone
Ending leaves many questions open

About

From the Steam store page · View on Steam

Welcome to the FDI, Mr Tanner.
Time to clear your head, work through your hangover and start your first day as an Operator. There are plenty of cases to solve. Assist our field agents using your computer console and ingenuity to bring criminals to justice. Ready to make the world a better place?

Investigate Crimes: Solve cases such as murders, missing people, and cyber attacks.
Use FDI Software: Analyze evidence and find clues using cutting-edge tools.
Dig Deeper: Follow the evidence as it twists and turns, no matter where it leads.
Uncover the Truth: Each case is a mind-bending story to unravel, so take notes.

Assist Our Field Agents
When our field agents need support, they’ll call you. Help them by fact-checking, searching databases, identifying killers, and more. Each case will have evidence to evaluate, and it’s your job to dig into documents, connect the clues, and solve the mysteries.

Cutting-Edge Software
You have the finest FDI **software to help with those challenging cases. Point and click through the Video and Photo Analyzer, Citizen and Vehicle Database, ChemScan, Notepad and a fully functional Terminal at any point to find out %^^** what you need.

In Truth, We Seek
To find the truth, you must follow the //** evidence **// and see where it leads, no matter how unsettling. %% But don’t poke into unauthori$ed* areas without first notifying your **superiors {liars}**//.

FDI’s Most Wanted
WARNING: Any new $** information **// on the cyber criminal known as HAL should be reported to your supervisor ** {jailor} immediately. For the safety of the general public and your fellow agents, please keep all ////**5%%%
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ //****evidence{{///**%%%%%
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ of ***/////^^^ HAL %%%
///&&&&*****$$
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ confiden%%%tial////****
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ^^^%%%***
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ^^$
gt;>{{}}}
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎****
///// TRUST NO ONE /////

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