Do you ever play a demo, and have such a strong reaction to it that you immediately tell one of your mates about it? That’s exactly what happened when I finished the Next Fest demo for Desktop Explorer. It was so good that I had to let someone else know about it.
That said, what exactly is Desktop Explorer?
As the name implies, Desktop Explorer is a game where you’ll explore the contents of a computer. In this case, you’re looking through an old PC that you inherited from your late uncle. However, things aren’t as simple as mindlessly clicking through the machine’s file system. Instead, you’ll need to make use of the titular Desktop Explorer, and crack a bunch of cryptic puzzles to explore deeper into the bowels of your uncle’s old PC.
So that’s what Desktop Explorer really is: it’s a game where you solve a variety of different logic puzzles that are built around a faux, in-universe file manager. For example, one of the puzzles from the demo involves renaming a specific file as part of the solution for delving deeper into the system. Others ask the player to leverage the other distinct features of a file manager such as orienting windows, and editing the contents, or examining the properties of a given file. It’s all really clever if only because developer Recurring Dream has managed to gamify some of the most mundane aspects of using a computer.
That said, for as dry as the puzzles may seem, they do have quite a bit of set dressing. In fact, I’d argue that the set dressing is the main reason to play Desktop Explorer.
You see, instead of the puzzles being framed in mundane terms, do X for Y, they’re framed as part of an expedition into an abandoned cave. This adds some much needed flavour text to the whole adventure – flavour text that is genuinely enthralling to read. In combination with the different visuals and excellent soundtrack, I was completely absorbed by the writing to the point where I, at times, forgot that I was simply clicking around a file manager.
Honestly, it almost reminded me of something like Citizen Sleeper where I’d frequently forget that I was playing an entirely text-based game, and believe I was playing something akin to Divinity: Original Sin. Though, that illusion was always shattered whenever I had to interact with the file manager.
Regardless, what’s on offer here is an extremely promising showing – one that has me keen to see more when Desktop Explorer releases fully in July.
That said, there is one more element to Desktop Explorer that I feel like I should mention. However, it’s one of those annoying things where if I tell you about it then it’ll spoil part of the fun of discovering it for yourself. Hell – even just mentioning this here could be considered a spoiler.
As such, maybe go check out the demo if I’ve piqued your interest. I won’t be offended. You can always come back and read the remainder of my impressions later. Or just let me know how you found the demo after you’ve played it for yourself.
Seriously: this is your last warning for spoilers.
We good?
Okay.
So, Desktop Explorer is yet another of those meta-horror games that’ll constantly fuck with the player throughout their playtime. I’m not going to tell you the specifics of what the demo will do, or when it will do it, but it’s the kind of thing that hits better when you’re not expecting it. Personally, I wasn’t even aware of this aspect of the game, prior to trying the demo, but I found it extremely compelling once it started to happen.
The other really neat thing about this meta-layer to Desktop Explorer is that it appears to tie into a much wider mystery that’ll run throughout the wider strokes of the game. While exploring your uncle’s PC, it becomes apparent that your father, the older brother to your uncle, died of mysterious circumstances. It also seems like there might be clues about how, or why he passed away within the guts of the computer. Ergo, you might start to have some of the same thoughts I did while playing in the demo. Namely, are these stories about exploring a cave actually fictitious, or did they really happen? Furthermore, does any of this tie into the deaths of either of the brothers?
Honestly, I’d consider this another point in favour of Desktop Explorer’s writing. Having something to chew on between puzzles helped to tie the rest of the game together wonderfully, while also providing a compelling reason to press forward. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of how authors like Dan Brown will string the reader along by constantly giving them new kernels of information that relate to the overarching mystery, which compel the reader to continue reading just so they can find out what happens next.
I’m also intensely curious where Desktop Explorer is going to go with its overarching mystery. I love a good Detective story, so I’m absolutely here for what’s been laid out in the demo.
Though, I will admit that I’m not as well versed in these kinds of games as most people seem to be. That is, I didn’t play games like Doki-Doki Literature Club, nor have I played the bulk of Daniel Mullins’ games. As such, these sorts of meta, fourth-wall breaks aren’t a groan worthy concept for me, and they still feel fresh due to that lack of exposure. Obviously, I can’t speak for everyone, but if you are totally burned out on that kind of thing then maybe you won’t find it as endearing as I did.
All said, I was really impressed with Desktop Explorer. I loved how it built puzzles around an otherwise mundane aspect of day-to-day computer use, and elevated it with some killer writing, art, and music. Combined with the horror elements, fourth wall breaks, and overarching mystery that already has me salivating, I’m definitely locked in for more.
Thankfully, with a July 17th release date, I won’t have to wait too long to get my hands on the full release of Desktop Explorer.
If you would like to check out Desktop Explorer for yourself, then you can play the demo right now! It’s taking place in the June 2026 Next Fest, and the demo is already available for download. Obviously, it comes highly recommended.
Don’t forget to wishlist Desktop Explorer if you enjoy the demo. Also consider giving me a shout below in the comments because I’m curious to know if other folks enjoyed this demo as much as I did.
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