Berlin-based game studio Paintbucket Games has officially unveiled the very first trailer for Battalion, the newly announced expansion for their acclaimed investigation game The Darkest Files.

If you loved digging through historical cold cases, piecing together evidence, and delivering justice, get ready to dive back into the shadows of history.

In Battalion, players step back into the shoes of post-WWII prosecutors and investigators tasked with bringing unpunished criminals to light. But this time around, uncovering the truth requires looking beyond individual actions and tackling complex institutional hierarchies.

What’s New in Battalion?

The headline feature of the new DLC is the Hierarchy Board—a brand-new gameplay mechanics tool designed to help players map out organisational structures.

In historical war crime investigations, proving who pulled the trigger is only half the battle. To secure a conviction, investigators must trace orders back to the top. Using the Hierarchy Board, players will:

• Piece Together Fragmented Testimonies: Sort through conflicting, incomplete, and secretive statements from witnesses and suspects.
• Reconstruct Chains of Command: Map out rank, role, and authority to establish who gave the orders.
• Establish Responsibility: Build bulletproof arguments to hold powerful figures accountable in court.

A Thrilling Historical Deep Dive

Paintbucket Games—known for their deep commitment to historical accuracy and compelling narrative design (previously behind Through the Darkest of Times)—promises another gripping, atmospheric experience. Battalion challenges players to think like true detective-prosecutors, balancing legal strategy, deduction, and logic.

Check out the newly released trailer to get a first glimpse of the Hierarchy Board in action and see what awaits in this intense new chapter!

What do you think of the new Hierarchy Board mechanic? Let us know in the comments below!

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