Wandering the desktop as a cursor, besieging viruses in battle. "Identifile: Desktop Dungeon" impression [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/949/G094939/20250929028/
Writer: Sen'ichi Yabumoto | 2025/09/29 05:29 (UTC)
At the Identifile booth during Tokyo Game Show 2025 Image Gallery No.002 thumbnail / Wander around the desktop as a cursor, encircling viruses to fight them. “Identifile: Desktop Dungeon” impressions [TGS2025]
The indie game Identifile: Desktop Dungeon, in which you take on the role of a cursor removing viruses from your PC, was available for hands-on play at Tokyo Game Show 2025. You click through files on your desktop and use your mouse to circle around viruses roaming across the screen.
Identifile: Desktop Dungeon is an upcoming PC game developed by Gearbyte Games, an indie studio based in Singapore. Early access is scheduled to begin November 25, 2025. The game’s setting is your own personal computer. One day, your machine gets infected by a mysterious virus, and you find yourself transformed into a cursor moving across the desktop. To restore peace and order, you must search for files that have been infected.
Image Gallery No.001 thumbnail / Wander around the desktop as a cursor, encircling viruses to fight them. “Identifile: Desktop Dungeon” impressions [TGS2025] Image Gallery No.003 thumbnail / Wander around the desktop as a cursor, encircling viruses to fight them. “Identifile: Desktop Dungeon” impressions [TGS2025]
To find the infected files, simply move your cursor with the mouse to operate File Explorer and navigate from folder to folder—exactly as you would when using a PC in everyday life. Various folders and files with amusing names are scattered across the desktop. Files like “cute_cat.png” or folders named “Treasure” tempt you to click them, while others such as “Minutes” or “Late Submission” make your stomach ache just from reading their titles.
There’s an uncanny sense of intimacy and awkwardness, as if someone had asked you to peek inside their PC for repairs. Unfortunately, clicking on files won’t let you view any actual content—but you can collect resources used to upgrade the cursor’s abilities or power-ups called “EXE” that assist in virus removal. Exploring the desktop thoroughly becomes a key part of gameplay.
Once you locate an infected file, double-click it to launch the virus—it will then fight back with barrage attacks or charge at you. Hold down the left mouse button and drag your cursor in a loop around the enemy to deal damage and eliminate the threat. If the cursor takes hits from bullets or body slams, its HP heart icon decreases; if it runs out, you lose. Moving the cursor quickly increases your attack speed (“number of attacks”), but also raises the risk of getting hit due to loss of control. The fun comes from alternating between focused dodging during enemy attacks and suddenly increasing pace to encircle them when they pause.
Image Gallery No.005 thumbnail / Wander around the desktop as a cursor, encircling viruses to fight them. “Identifile: Desktop Dungeon” impressions [TGS2025] Image Gallery No.006 thumbnail / Wander around the desktop as a cursor, encircling viruses to fight them. “Identifile: Desktop Dungeon” impressions [TGS2025] Image Gallery No.007 thumbnail / Wander around the desktop as a cursor, encircling viruses to fight them. “Identifile: Desktop Dungeon” impressions [TGS2025]
The sensation of circling your target recalls the Pokémon Ranger series. Not surprisingly, Gearbyte Games has openly stated on their official website that they were inspired by Pokémon Ranger and the bullet-hell roguelike The Binding of Isaac. It’s clear this game is a creative fusion of the developer’s personal favorites.
What sets this title apart are its original elements: desktop exploration, the raw authenticity brought by realistic-looking file and folder names, and the dynamic contrast between aggressive attacks and precise evasion.
Deep within the desktop lies a massive boss that launches intense assaults. When your HP runs out, countless error messages flood the screen—eventually triggering a full blue screen of death, delivering quite a shock.
Image Gallery No.008 thumbnail / Wander around the desktop as a cursor, encircling viruses to fight them. “Identifile: Desktop Dungeon” impressions [TGS2025] Image Gallery No.009 thumbnail / Wander around the desktop as a cursor, encircling viruses to fight them. “Identifile: Desktop Dungeon” impressions [TGS2025]
The version available at Tokyo Game Show supports Japanese, making it easy to understand the humor in file and folder names. If you’re intrigued, try out the demo currently available on Steam and look forward to the official release on November 25.