Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 299 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala Game Cover
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In Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala, a detective and her partner continue their pursuit of the demonic Preacher to a remote monastery, where he seeks ultimate power from an ancient mystery. This thrilling hidden object puzzle adventure game features 43 hand-drawn locations and over 30 mini-games. The detective's personal mission to stop the Preacher reaches its climax in this final chapter of the Enigmatis trilogy.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 299 reviews
story101 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • A captivating conclusion to the Enigmatis trilogy with a well-developed plot and beautiful graphics.
  • The puzzles are varied and engaging, providing a good mix of challenge without being overly frustrating.
  • The game features a nostalgic atmosphere with great voice acting and a compelling soundtrack.
  • The game feels shorter than its predecessors, leaving some players wanting more content.
  • Some collectibles and hidden objects are difficult to find, which can lead to frustration.
  • The ending may feel anticlimactic for some, lacking the intensity expected from a final installment.
  • story237 mentions

    The story of "Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala" serves as a conclusion to the trilogy, continuing the narrative from the previous games and providing a satisfying climax, though some players found it less engaging and predictable compared to its predecessors. While the overarching plot is compelling and features intriguing twists, critiques highlight that the bonus chapter and certain story elements feel lackluster or disconnected. Overall, the game is recommended for those who have played the first two installments to fully appreciate the storyline's depth and continuity.

    • “The story was interesting all the way from the start to the end; you easily just keep going and going until you realize you played the game in one sitting.”
    • “The overarching story was really good.”
    • “The story is a satisfying climax to the trio of Enigmatis games, and this is one of the only series I have actually followed to the end.”
    • “The extra story doesn't really add much to what we already know, and the evidence part is a weak spot - it's only been stuffed in there to match the others in the series.”
    • “If you want to play this to find out how the overarching story finishes, I can honestly recommend going for the first two games only and just googling what happens in the end.”
    • “The story was very weak and a lot of scenes didn't even make sense.”
  • graphics69 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful artwork, vibrant colors, and improved quality compared to previous installments. Many reviewers noted the stunning visuals and detailed environments, although some pointed out inconsistencies in character animations and cut scenes. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere and storytelling, making it visually appealing and engaging for players.

    • “Beautiful graphics and music.”
    • “The graphics and art, as far as the backgrounds and painted scenes, are gorgeous!”
    • “Stunning artwork with a vivid pastel palette, 3D elements (title screen, snow and blowing wind), and a fast travel map.”
    • “Graphics are somehow worse than the second one, and the story is way weaker.”
    • “[*] poorly rendered cut scenes that don’t match the lush HD visuals of the rest of the game.”
    • “The cut scenes are not HD though and the discrepancy is clear as the visuals are blurred and nearly myopic when segmented between the game's environments.”
  • gameplay40 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of familiar puzzle mechanics, including hidden object scenes and point-and-click elements, though some players find it lacks the challenge and depth of earlier titles due to excessive hand-holding. While the game introduces new mechanics and maintains a good pace, it can feel repetitive for genre veterans, with some puzzles being too easy or familiar. Overall, the gameplay is engaging and varied, but may not fully satisfy those seeking a more traditional or challenging experience.

    • “I really liked how they brought back the map mechanic of bringing you to a specific place instead of a general area, like it had in the previous game.”
    • “The game has a lot of variety, but keeps the mechanics of the game throughout.”
    • “Gameplay: smooth combination of point and click, hidden object puzzles, mini-games, and interactive gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay itself is very lackluster compared to the earlier titles, as it includes too much hand-holding and not enough classic point-and-click elements.”
    • “The game mechanics are similar to those done before with point-and-click, puzzles, and hidden object games, but this time it simply didn't grab me.”
    • “It is somewhat at odds with the casual nature of the gameplay which is normally designed to relax and be entertaining, and it seems as though the writers and developers want to gloss over the weakness of the writing and plot by keeping you moving quickly between the scenes.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, with many reviewers noting that it enhances the overall experience and complements the beautiful graphics. While some felt it didn't reach the heights of previous installments, the soundtrack is described as relaxing, immersive, and fitting for the game's settings. Overall, the production value of the music, along with the sound effects and voice acting, contributes positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “The soundtrack accompanies the game nicely and is unobtrusive, even as it is pleasant to listen to with haunting tunes and soft melodic set pieces.”
    • “Amazing soundtrack that perfectly matched the atmosphere as well as the voice overs of the new protagonists we meet in the story.”
    • “There is a lot of emphasis on atmosphere and music, the more beautiful it is to see that real heart and soul has been put into the game.”
    • “The music is very fitting for their location.”
    • “Sound effects, music, and the quality of the voice acting are good overall.”
    • “Music is impressive.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful backgrounds, immersive soundtracks, and high production values, creating a captivating and dramatic experience. Players appreciate the blend of stunning visuals and engaging music, which enhances the overall adventure feel, although some miss the darker tone of earlier installments. Overall, the game successfully establishes a rich and atmospheric setting that draws players in from the start.

    • “There is a lot of emphasis on atmosphere and music; it's beautiful to see that real heart and soul has been put into the game.”
    • “The cinematics, design, atmosphere, and music were all very nice and immersive.”
    • “Personally, I preferred the dark atmosphere of the first game.”
    • “The atmosphere was so dramatic and captivating that I was breathing heavily when the intro sequence was finally over.”
    • “The story still has the same end goal, which is to get to the priest and destroy his evilness, but it feels detached from the gloomy, mysterious atmosphere prevalent in the previous two.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally considered low, with some users noting it as "infinitely replayable" due to additional content like a prequel bonus chapter and extra hidden objects. However, the overall sentiment suggests that the core gameplay does not encourage repeated playthroughs.

    • “3 sets of extra hidden objects: 21 morphing tainted spirits (look like evil skeleton ghosts or balls of mist), 15 feathers, and 8 flowers.”
    • “The replay value for the game is low.”
    • “Hopa = no replayability.”
    • “A prequel bonus chapter about Brittany and an extra menu with replayable hops, mini-games, cutscene videos, wallpapers, music, etc.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for performance issues, particularly during area transitions, which can lead to frustrating loading times. While the voice acting remains credible, it does not stand out, and previous aggravations from earlier titles have been addressed. Overall, the optimization problems are annoying but not game-breaking.

    • “The same voice actors are present; however, the performance is not particularly noteworthy. They are credible, and the aggravations of previous titles do not cause any issues here.”
    • “Performance issues after running for a while can become rather bothersome.”
    • “Don't assume that it has crashed, as it is simply loading the next area in a very unoptimized way.”
    • “Lastly, and not a deal breaker for me, but nonetheless extremely annoying: the game has coding/performance issues.”
    • “Performance issues after running for a while get rather bothersome.”
    • “Don't assume that it has crashed as it is simply loading the next area in a very unoptimized way.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the lack of indicators for missed collectibles and the need to replay scenes multiple times to find them. This repetitive task detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the experience feel more laborious than engaging.

    • “The puzzles also got tedious this time.”
    • “I go back and replay to pick up ones I missed, but there are no indications whether those objects are in a scene or how many you may have found or not found—the game was just too tedious to have to do that multiple times.”
    • “The most tedious thing about the game for me was locating all the collectibles.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by clever writing and smart dialogue, with players finding amusing moments, such as unexpected bugs that add to the comedic experience. Overall, the script is praised for its wit and charm, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere.

    • “I ran into a bug where the safe opened by itself without the need for keys, but I went around with them and it was hilarious.”
    • “The script is beautiful, very smart, and funny.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players found the game to have a more heartfelt emotional impact due to the visible deaths, but felt that the final confrontation lacked tension and emotional stakes, resulting in a brief and unsatisfying climax.

    • “It seemed a lot more heartfelt in this game since there were many visible deaths.”
    • “The emotional stakes in this game really resonate with the players.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game suffers from stability issues, with frequent bugs causing prolonged black screens during cut scenes, often necessitating restarts.

    • “Sadly, this game was a bit buggy; during the cutscenes, it would pause for quite some time on a black screen, and I had to restart the game multiple times.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
2-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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