The Operator

The Operator (2024) is a narrative puzzle game where you play an investigator caught up in a dangerous mystery. You help field agents solve crimes with your computer by scanning files and compiling evidence from different programs. It stands out for centring painstaking computer-based detective work that slowly uncovers a plot of deception and lies.

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You play Evan Tanner, a new hire at the fictional U.S. Federal Department of Intelligence, who works behind a computer helping field agents solve cases. Your day begins without incident, but soon you get hacked by a mysterious individual. Things only get worse as you start to uncover a conspiracy involving the highest levels of your organisation, and you must do everything in your power to get to the bottom of what's going on.

Play involves helping agents solve the cases they're working on by providing the information they need. To do this, you search through different files and use programs to identify suspects and gather intelligence. You may need to scan a number plate from CCTV footage, use facial recognition technology, or use a program to identify the chemicals in a substance. Sometimes this is up against the clock, like finding the information needed to diffuse a bomb before it explodes.

The result is a fusion of computer-based puzzles and management to guide investigations with a story out of Doctor Who. Gradually peeling back the layers of office busywork to get to the meat of the narrative is where the fun and real challenge lies.

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Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked The Operator 7 weeks ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 6 weeks ago.