The Operator

Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

The Operator is a thrilling and fast-paced debut into the indie simulation scene. While the game may initially appear to be a simple investigation simulator, its snappy pace and intriguing narrative quickly draws players in within the first thirty minutes. While the alien parts of the game feel disconnected from the rest of it, it's not enough to draw away from its better elements.

Developer Bureau 81’s ability to file The Operator down to its best components and focus solely on what works is its biggest asset. It’s not a bloated campaign with an equal balance of tacky and tactful puzzles. Instead, it’s a taut collection of cases that work in tandem to create a gripping adventure that encourages savvy problem-solving. It’s all cushy desk work, but The Operator makes examining phone records and enhancing grainy security camera footage just as exciting as tiptoeing through an enemy base with a silenced pistol.

Narrative-driven mystery solving puzzle experience

The Operator will attract anyone who likes a good mystery with some very contemporary themes and does not care too much about complex gameplay. The story moves at a good pace, the characters have personalities, and the general atmosphere of paranoia works well. But the mechanics are built around a computer screen, a few apps, and plenty of reading.

The Operator is a short but very well made mystery that leaves you craving more of its amazing puzzles and storytelling moments.

The Operator is a narrative adventure where you play the role of an IDF agent who must solve cases from his computer, offering an experience that stands out for being immersive and having some unexpected twists and turns.

The Operator is a fun sci-fi mystery for those short on time, or those daunted by the prospect of spending too long working at a fictional computer desk, let alone your actual one. I felt a little underwhelmed by the underuse of most analytical tools and its unclear ending, but I will always prefer a game that leaves me wanting more over one I just can't wait to be over and done with.

Despite all this, The Operator’s concept is fresh and compelling, and generally well-executed. Even with my misgivings about the small flaws that made themselves apparent during my gameplay, I thoroughly enjoyed the minute-to-minute experience of playing, and the cliffhanger worked on me – I do want to know what happens next, and how the gameplay will change given the ending’s repercussions. If you’re able to ignore these things, and you love detective games, The Operator packs a lot of fun into a bite-sized package.

As a narrative puzzle game, The Operator is very good. It never feels unsolvable, but isn't insultingly easy either, and presents itself with some nice touches.