Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala screenshot

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 402 reviews

story128 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

High-quality graphics and beautiful scenery enhance the immersive experience.
Engaging storyline that ties well into the previous entries in the Enigmatis series.
Variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes that keep gameplay interesting.

Some players found the game to be shorter than previous installments.
Technical issues such as long loading times and occasional glitches detracted from the experience.
The story felt less impactful and more predictable compared to the earlier games in the series.

story
319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The story of "Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala" serves as a conclusion to the trilogy, continuing the narrative from the previous games while introducing new elements and settings. While many players found the overarching plot engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay, some noted that it felt less cohesive and impactful compared to its predecessors, with a few plot holes and a somewhat predictable resolution. Overall, the game is recommended for those who have played the first two installments to fully appreciate the story's development and conclusion.
- “The story carries through all three games.”
- “The final chapter and conclusion to the Enigmatis storyline.”
- “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.”
- “As I mentioned in my second review, just like movies, the storylines start dwindling as they make more of them without the same love or passion as they did the first.”
- “The story felt quite a bit distant from the last game, let alone the one from the first.”
- “But by itself, the story of Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala isn't that good, really, and it's certainly the weakest of the three games.”
graphics
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
3%
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and improvement over previous entries in the series, featuring stunning artwork, vibrant colors, and detailed environments. Many reviewers noted the captivating visual style, enhanced animations, and the effective use of 3D elements, although some pointed out inconsistencies in character animations and cut scenes. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, making it visually appealing and engaging for players.
- “Beautiful graphics, good story, logic puzzles, hidden objects, solve the mystery, fun to play!”
- “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.”
- “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; it’s a small overlook that they weren’t upgraded, though it is partially understandable considering the original release date of the series.”
- “The graphics are fine, but some of them could be a bit sharper.”
gameplay
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
5%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of hidden object puzzles, point-and-click mechanics, and mini-games, offering a variety of experiences that can be both engaging and familiar to genre veterans. While some players appreciate the new mechanics and improved pacing, others criticize the excessive hand-holding and linear progression that detracts from the investigative feel. Overall, the game provides a solid experience with enjoyable visuals and a compelling storyline, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more challenging gameplay experience.
- “Well, it's an intelligent and funny hidden objects adventure, fun for more than 5 hours of gameplay, with an unlockable bonus chapter at the end. Really, I can recommend this game with pride.”
- “In many ways, Enigmatis 3 is the best game of the series, being finally comfortable with the formula of hidden object puzzles and straightforward, connective adventure game mechanics that have always been its strong point.”
- “The gameplay is a 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 hidden object puzzles feel tedious and needlessly drawn-out, but it is mild in comparison to the illogical point-and-click mechanics, which may force brute-force trial-and-error at some parts with their unpredictable solutions.”
- “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.”
music
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
35%
6%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack that complements the visuals and enhances the overall experience. While some noted that the music may not be as memorable as in previous installments, it is generally described as relaxing, fitting, and well-produced, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance. Overall, the combination of high-quality music and stunning graphics has left a positive impression on players.
- “Amazing soundtrack that perfectly matched the atmosphere as well as the voice overs of the new protagonists we meet in the story.”
- “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.”
- “The music was particularly good, and never subtly repetitive or annoying like certain themes in titles like Nightmares from the Deep.”
- “Though the last two stations on the car radio are songs from the previous games, so they're a little on the grating side.”
- “I really wish they offered the flute title song (or any of the flute songs) as a download, because those were fantastic.”
- “The extras section lets you save the music files, but I really wish they offered the flute title song (or any of the flute songs) as a download, because those were fantastic.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
14%
21%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its beautiful environments, captivating soundtracks, and high production values, creating an immersive experience. However, some players feel it lacks the dark and mysterious tone of the earlier installments, with a more detached narrative that doesn't fully capture the eerie essence of the previous games. Overall, while the atmosphere is visually stunning and engaging, opinions vary on its emotional depth compared to earlier entries.
- “Amazing soundtrack that perfectly matched the atmosphere as well as the voiceovers of the new protagonists we meet in the story.”
- “The atmosphere was so dramatic and captivating that I was breathing heavily when the intro sequence was finally over.”
- “The cinematics, design, atmosphere, and music were all very nice and immersive.”
- “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 games.”
- “Personally, I preferred the dark atmosphere of the first game.”
- “The game wraps up the story fairly well, even though the ending is quite lacking after the first game's eerie atmosphere and the second one's bleakness.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's replayability is generally considered low, with some users noting minimal replay value. However, it does offer a prequel bonus chapter and additional content such as mini-games and hidden object challenges that can enhance replay experiences for some players.
- “The game features a prequel bonus chapter about Brittany and an extra menu with replayable hops, mini-games, cutscene videos, wallpapers, music, etc.”
- “There are 3 sets of extra hidden objects: 21 morphing tainted spirits (which look like evil skeleton ghosts or balls of mist), 15 feathers, and 8 flowers.”
- “The game is infinitely replayable.”
- “The replay value for the game is low.”
- “Minimal replay value.”
- “Hopa = no replayability.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The game's optimization has been criticized for performance issues that worsen over time, particularly during extended play sessions and in the post-game content. While the voice acting remains credible, the unoptimized loading of new areas can lead to frustrating delays, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The game's performance takes a hit during the post-game bonus adventure, though.”
- “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.”
- “The main issue I had is the same one I've had with a bunch of these, which is slowly deteriorating performance as you play.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the lack of indicators for collectibles and the repetitive nature of hidden object puzzles. The on-the-rails plot and illogical mechanics contribute to a frustrating experience, making the gameplay feel unnecessarily drawn-out compared to previous installments. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the enjoyment and flow of the game.
- “The puzzles also got tedious this time.”
- “The most tedious thing about the game for me was locating all the collectibles.”
- “The hidden object puzzles feel tedious and needlessly drawn-out, but it is mild in comparison to the illogical point-and-click mechanics, which may force brute-force trial-and-error at some parts with their unpredictable solutions.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features intelligent and clever humor, particularly in its witty script and tongue-in-cheek moments, such as the amusing mispronunciations of a character's name by the research team. Players have found the humor to enhance the overall experience, making the hidden objects adventure enjoyable and engaging. Additionally, unexpected bugs, like a safe opening on its own, added to the hilarity of the gameplay.
- “Well, it's an intelligent and funny hidden objects adventure, fun for more than 5 hours of gameplay, with an unlockable bonus chapter at the end. Really, I can recommend this game with pride.”
- “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.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players found the emotional impact of the game to be heightened due to the visible deaths, which added a sense of heart to the narrative. However, the final confrontation was criticized for lacking tension and emotional stakes, leaving some players feeling unsatisfied.
- “It seemed a lot more heartfelt in this game since there were a lot more visible deaths.”
- “The final confrontation is brief and unsatisfying, lacking tension and emotional stakes.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The stability of the game received mixed reviews; while some players experienced significant bugs, such as prolonged black screens during cut scenes requiring restarts, others found the game to be well-polished and free of issues.
- “The story is more absorbing, the game is well polished and was bug-free for me.”
- “I experienced no crashes or glitches during my playthrough, which made for a smooth gaming experience.”
- “The game runs flawlessly on my system, providing a stable and enjoyable experience throughout.”
- “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.”
- “The stability issues were frustrating, as the game frequently crashed, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
- “I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted gameplay, including freezing and unexpected crashes.”