Karen: An Outrage Simulator
- August 27, 2020
- Vagabond Dog
Get on Steam"Karen: An Outrage Simulator" is a humorous game where you play as Karen, arguing your way through six stages and unlocking your potential as you demand refunds and battle managers. Discover Karen's mysterious past, and master manipulation to break the resolve of customer service clerks. Experience hilarious freakouts and unlock 12 achievements in under 30 minutes of playtime.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is surprisingly funny and cleverly written, providing a humorous take on the 'Karen' phenomenon.
- It's a short and entertaining experience, perfect for those looking for a quick laugh or a casual gaming session.
- The game effectively captures relatable scenarios for anyone who has worked in retail or customer service, making it both amusing and relevant.
- The game is very short, with limited replay value and can be completed in about an hour.
- Some players found the gameplay repetitive and the lack of a save feature during levels frustrating.
- There are technical issues reported, such as problems with fullscreen mode and unresponsive achievements.
- humor50 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in "Karen: an outrage simulator" is widely praised for its relatable and absurd scenarios, drawing laughter from players who find the situations both hilarious and reflective of real-life experiences. Many reviews highlight the game's witty writing and well-paced comedic moments, making it a fun, albeit short, experience that leaves players entertained. While some found it unfunny, the majority agree that it offers a unique and laugh-out-loud take on the "Karen" phenomenon, making it worth the low price.
“A surprisingly funny and occasionally sensitive take on the Karen phenomenon—worth an hour of your life and a couple bucks.”
“Overall this was a hilarious game and I would definitely recommend playing it.”
“Every situation in this game is hilariously believable.”
“The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
“I expected more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
“The attempts at humor are cringeworthy and miss the mark.”
- music11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and thematic relevance, with standout tracks like the catchy theme song "Karen" by Day by Dave leaving a lasting impression on players. While the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, some users expressed frustration over the lack of options to adjust music volume or mute it entirely. Overall, the music is considered a significant highlight, complementing the clever writing and unique character designs.
“The writing's clever, the music... the music is almost too good.”
“Great writing, great art, great soundtrack, and the protagonist is great to play as.”
“You can't mute the music, and that was something I really wanted to do.”
“- No options to change controls or music volume.”
“Even comes with a theme song that I have stuck in my head now.”
- story9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is highly praised for its engaging narrative, humor, and unique character designs, effectively blending tropes and pacing within a short playtime of 1-2 hours. Reviewers highlight its ability to deliver surprising plot twists and emotional depth, making it stand out among indie games. Overall, the story is considered a significant strength, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience.
“Although it is a simple game that can be completed in 1-2 hours, I'm surprised by how good of a story is jam-packed within this game.”
“Fun story, brilliant ending, decent challenge, and the depth of the responses are well done.”
“All in all, this game is quite a piece since it successfully juggles tropes, humor, pacing, and pieces of an actual story.”
“The music is amazing, the character designs are all unique, the humor is well-paced, and it actually has a small bit of a story!”
“Maybe I'm just hysterical, but this game really does gut punch you with hilarious plot twists and scarily believable freakouts.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as simplistic yet charming, with a unique art style that evokes an uncanny feeling through intentionally unappealing character designs. While some users feel the aesthetics could be improved, the amusing dialogue and thematic elements contribute positively to the overall experience. The game's visuals, combined with its humor, create an engaging atmosphere that aligns well with its low price point.
“The different 'levels' in the game are amusing, while the silly graphics and opportune deployment of the 'Karen song' only added to its charm.”
“Neat character artwork and funny writing.”
“It is okay, could be better but it does have a certain 'Karen' aesthetic.”
“The art style is really what captivated me as it makes people try to look as ugly as possible, giving me an uncanny feeling for some characters.”
“Simplistic graphics, but the dialogue is amusing and it’s fun enough given the low price.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, "Karen: an outrage simulator" is noted for its short playtime and lack of replayability, with users suggesting it may be best enjoyed during a sale. While it offers a humorous and engaging one-hour experience, there are no significant incentives for returning to the game after completion.
“Although there really isn't any replayability or post-game content, so maybe wait for a sale if that matters to you.”
“It's a nice little game to play when you're bored, but there's not much replayability. It looks like it was made with RPG Maker, but it's still a good 1-hour experience; it even has a plot.”
“The game lacks replayability, making it feel more like a one-time experience rather than something you would want to revisit.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay involves players taking on the role of a "Karen," where they must strategically deplete an opponent's health by targeting one of three attributes: confidence, patience, or indifference. Players have a single health meter and must manage their actions to prevent their own freakout meter from filling up, adding a layer of tension to the mechanics. Overall, the mechanics are considered solid and engaging.
“The gameplay involves playing as the Karen, where you have a single health meter while trying to deplete the other person's health, represented by confidence, patience, and indifference. This means you must focus on destroying one of the three health bars.”
“The game mechanics are quite engaging; you need to resolve one of their attributes before the freakout meter is full.”
“The gameplay is unique and offers a fresh take on strategy, requiring players to think critically about their actions and the consequences.”
“The gameplay involves playing as a Karen with a single health meter while trying to deplete the other person's health, represented by confidence, patience, and indifference. This means you must focus on destroying one of the three health bars.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game demo is criticized for being buggy, with users experiencing issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these problems, players express appreciation for the developers' responsiveness to troubleshooting and their previous work.
“An interesting and mostly enjoyable half-hour demo wrapped in a 45-minute buggy package.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to become tedious after just a few levels, despite appreciating the overall quality of the game.
“While I appreciate the quality of the game, it gets tedious after the first three levels.”
“The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which made the experience feel monotonous.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, experiencing a range of feelings from laughter to tears, which enhances their overall enjoyment and connection to the experience.
“I laughed, I cried, and I took my favorite friend out for brunch after playing this game.”
“The emotional depth of the story left me reflecting on my own life for days.”
“I felt a profound connection to the characters, and their struggles resonated with my own experiences.”
