OPERATOR

Ever stared at a computer screen so long your eyes started burning? Well, that's basically The Operator in a nutshell – except this time, you're actually supposed to do it. It's yet another entry in gaming's weirdest genre: stuff that sounds boring on paper but ends up being addictive as hell.

Think Papers, Please, but instead of stamping passports, you're helping field agents catch killers while nursing the world's worst hangover. The worst part is that it absolutely succeeds in keeping you glued to the screen. The game knows exactly what it is, and it leans into its premise hard.

Detective Work – Minus the Legwork

Remember Her Story? How about Observation? The Operator takes that same "everything happens on a computer screen" concept and runs with it. You're not out there kicking down doors or engaging in car chases - you're the person the action heroes call when they need to know if that suspicious license plate belongs to their prime suspect.

I'll admit that I'm not the greatest fan of The Operator's concept. Telling Lies almost put me to sleep, as addictive as it was in the end. However, The Operator managed to keep me hooked with its intriguing premise and its brutalist, hacker-cool theme.

The interface feels appropriately clunky in that government-software kind of way, but never frustratingly so. Each tool has its purpose, from the ChemScan that analyzes trace evidence to a vehicle database that would make the DMV jealous. It's the kind of game where you'll find yourself taking actual notes on actual paper, and somehow that makes it even better.

A Plot to Die For

What starts as a series of seemingly routine cases slowly unravels into something much darker. The game plays with your expectations, making you question whether you're really the good guy here. It's like if Papers, Please had a baby with The X-Files, and that baby grew up to be really into cyberpunk.

The cases themselves are clever puzzles that require actual detective work rather than just following a checklist. It's infinitely more rewarding to solve a case using actual deductive work rather than relying on the game's mechanics like the Ace Attorney series would have you do. Every eureka moment in this game feels earned, and it shoots your serotonin through the roof.

The Devil (and Hopefully the Killer) Is in the Details

The presentation is minimal but effective. The UI looks exactly like the kind of software you'd expect a government agency to be stuck using – functional but definitely not winning any design awards. The sound design deserves special mention – the subtle keyboard clicks, the humming of computer fans, and the occasional office ambiance create an atmosphere that's somehow both mundane and tense.

Never since Control have I seen a game that nails that "Government Building" aesthetic as well as The Operator. Also like Control, the deeper you go into the game's core case, the more you learn that things are not exactly what they seem – and the more you realize that you might need that third cup of coffee after all.

Pros

• Surprisingly engaging for its minimalistic gameplay
• Clever cases that respect your intelligence
• The story gets pretty wild

Cons

• Can feel slow if you're not in the right mindset
• Some cases require serious note-taking

OPERATOR is a tactical shooter where you are part of a special "Tier 1" armed team. Together with your teammates, storm enemy bases using only the most advanced weapons. In low visibility conditions, there is an opportunity to destroy the enemy directly from the air, using only drones. Feel the team spirit, because your teammates will not leave you with a good set of combat skills. Successfully complete missions and become a legendary squad among your organization.

Pros of the game:

• A large set of modern weaponry
• Smart artificial intelligence