The Operator (2024)

I've been thinking about this game since I finished it last night and I think I have determined what a problem with it is.

I was reading recently a breakdown about how Super Mario games were designed -- generally speaking the way that they work is they introduce a gameplay idea, then they make that idea more challenging, then they introduce an evolution or twist on that idea. This makes for gameplay that is interesting, that develops, that increases or alters the character of the challenge.

Now, The Operator isn't a platformer, of course, but The Operator doesn't do anything like this with its elements. You basically do every gameplay idea once, and there's no development or evolution or increasing level of difficulty in those ideas. Even similar games like Her Story, which has only a singular verb (searching the database), make the actual logical puzzles you're solving within the story increase in difficulty or require different kinds of logical leaps or deductions.

The game is okay, but it coulda been great if it just had a little bit more to it.

Seventh game finished for 2026: The Operator.

This one reminded me of Her Story and the new TR-49, though it had a shorter, more linear narrative and easier puzzles than both of those games. I thought its storytelling was really well done with great voice acting, despite its puzzle elements being pretty easy and straightforward, at least for a seasoned puzzle gamer.

The ending was kind of a downer and a little unsatisfying -- I think they were going for maybe a "No Country For Old Men" sort of thing, but overall I didn't think what led up to the ending earned that. If there had been just a little more "meat on the bones", a little more development of the gameplay and some of the themes, I think I would have been a little happier with it.

As a huge fan of Hacknet and Orwell, The Operator's gameplay mechanics were immediately clear and appealing to me. And the game had me hooked for a while, even if some of its parts did not fit so well together. I can only talk about the highs and lows of the game with some spoilers, so spoiler warning ahead.

The absolute high of the game is being dropped into a high-pressure scenario and being asked to solve a problem under a ticking clock. I'm being vague to avoid ruining the experience for others, but this sequence is the absolute peak of the game - very intense and glued-to-the-seat levels of engaging.

The lowest point of the game is its story, and more specifically the ending. The ending comes quite abruptly, and it's tonally very dark compared to an otherwise optimistic tone. It leaves a very unsatisfying feeling.

Since the Steam page for this game implies that this is a free-form game where you take on and solve cases, I feel compelled to say that this description is incorrect. This is a very linear game where you have a series of conversations, look into specific pieces of data, and then use your available tools to extract information. Using the new information, the conversation (and the story) moves forward.

It should also be mentioned that the game is fairly short, lasting about 3-4 hours on average. Since the story does not have variations or multiple endings, replay value is limited.

I would not call this a bad game any means, but I also find it difficult to recommend it to others.

A masterpiece in writing, this is more a narrative than a puzzle game (puzzles are relly simples)

Although some specific achievement can be missed (and be dramatic), it doesn't change the course of the game. The game design is perfect, you are behind a computer and interact with people, agents, hacker, etc. Every detail in the game has been made on specific purpose, the blurred cutscenes where everything is based on the sounds (listen carefully), the video footage, etc.

Finished in around 2/3h.

The Operator is yet another entry in one of my favorite niche gaming genres - immersive detective hacking sim game. It’s pretty middle of the road but still an enjoyable experience.

You play as an assistant behind the screen for FDI field agents, assisting with their cases using a computer UI. It has some unique mechanics, like analyzing video footage (I guess it’s rendered 3D animation but looks pretty good with the security cam filters). And then your more common terminal application, chatting, and putting together clues.

The game is very short, so I’d say wait for a discount. It is also a multiple endings type game, which is a bit frustrating if you fail at a mission because instead of getting to redo it, it just locks your failure in as part of the plot (cutting down playtime even more).

The story is a bit confusing and definitely not my favorite. But the puzzles are well done and that’s what matters most. If you enjoy Simulacra, Cyber Manhunt, or Greyhat - this one is definitely worth checking out.