KARMA: The Dark World

About

KARMA: The Dark World is a single player role playing game with horror, thriller and science fiction themes. It was developed by POLLARD STUDIO LLC and was released on March 27, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

KARMA: The Dark World is a first-person psychological thriller set in an alternate 1984 East Germany, where the oppressive Leviathan Corporation controls society through surveillance and manipulation. Players assume the role of Daniel McGovern, investigating suspects’ memories using advanced technology to uncover hidden truths. Navigate twisted mental landscapes while questioning reality and your own sanity.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 758 reviews

story228 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a captivating atmosphere that immerses players in its dystopian world.
The narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, with emotional depth that resonates with players.
The voice acting and sound design are top-notch, enhancing the overall experience.

The story can be convoluted and confusing, leaving some players unsure of the plot by the end.
Gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with limited interactivity, which may not appeal to all players.
Some puzzles can be frustratingly difficult or lack clear hints, leading to potential confusion.

story
578 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
The story of "Karma: The Dark World" is a complex and emotionally charged narrative that blends psychological horror with dystopian themes, drawing comparisons to works like Orwell's "1984." While many players praise its rich storytelling, stunning visuals, and immersive atmosphere, some find the plot convoluted and difficult to follow, particularly in the latter acts where it shifts focus and introduces unexpected elements. Overall, the game is celebrated for its unique narrative experience, though it may require careful attention to fully appreciate its depth and intricacies.
- “This is a master class in storytelling and emotional depth.”
- “The story pushes an intriguing narrative that had me feeling engaged throughout the entire game.”
- “The storytelling is absolutely fantastic.”
- “Here, there's practically no scope for this, to the point that the entire plot and concept are revealed to you in the final fifteen minutes of your playthrough.”
- “The story isn't captivating at all and all that buildup for the plot twist at the end isn't worth it at all.”
- “The story is extremely convoluted and nonsensical.”
graphics
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, intricate detail, and unique art style, often described as breathtaking and hauntingly beautiful. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling, with some comparing its aesthetic to works of surrealist cinema. While there are minor technical issues reported, the overall visual presentation is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The visuals are stunning and the story is absolutely top tier.”
- “The graphics are top-tier, bringing the game’s unsettling world to life with intricate detail and an oppressive color palette that enhances the feeling of unease.”
- “The atmosphere is intense, the visuals are stunning, and the narrative slowly peels away the layers until you realize the real horror lies within.”
- “I managed to get past that crash by using the -dx11 command in the launch options— I think it's not very well optimized or something didn't mesh with my AMD graphics card driver.”
- “This was an appropriately priced game for the length of time and the meh graphics it has.”
- “Most of your time is spent in enclosed spaces, so while the graphics are solid, the environments feel a bit repetitive after a while.”
gameplay
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
73%
4%
The gameplay of the game is primarily characterized as a walking simulator, featuring simple mechanics and light puzzle-solving elements, which some players found lacking in depth and challenge. While the gameplay is often described as relaxed and straightforward, it serves to enhance the rich narrative and atmospheric experience, making it appealing for those who prioritize storytelling over action. Overall, the gameplay is decent but not exceptional, with many players recommending it for its immersive story and visuals rather than its mechanics.
- “The gameplay feels smooth and polished, with just enough puzzles and exploration to stay engaging.”
- “Karma: The Dark World exists in a game design framework I usually enjoy: mostly a walking sim with some light puzzles, easygoing gameplay segments, and environmental exploration.”
- “Despite the (sometimes) lack of polish for the gameplay, I was pretty immersed and absolutely recommend it to anyone at least a bit curious.”
- “The gameplay is severely lacking even by walking simulator standards.”
- “Gameplay is mainly a walking simulator with some puzzle and horror elements, but by Act 3 it is mostly walking.”
- “Of 6 hours of gameplay, I’d estimate it was about 5 hours of cutscenes and about 1 hour of real gameplay.”
music
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, significantly enhancing the storytelling and atmosphere. Composed by Geng Li, the soundtrack is described as both captivating and immersive, effectively mirroring the game's themes and emotional arcs. While most players praise the score, a few express minor criticisms regarding specific tracks, but overall, the music is considered a standout feature that elevates the gaming experience.
- “Just wanted to update this as I have also found myself coming back to the soundtrack - Geng Li has done a phenomenal job in crafting an eerie but beautiful set of songs that add so much to the storytelling and atmosphere.”
- “The music is captivating to where it invokes an emotional response of sadness, fear, happiness, warmth, darkness, and love.”
- “This visual masterpiece, paired with its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and sound design, creates an experience that is deeply emotional and immersive.”
- “Edit: just remembered the comedically awful songs over the end credits (which seem to transition to a resolution that I assume is VGA, on account of how illegible they become).”
- “There's just this one song in there where the dude that's singing it sounds like he's trying to whisper you a secret while trying to drop the biggest shit through the tiniest asshole after running a marathon and having a heart attack.”
- “Even though I liked the story, the character design, music, and graphics, the lack of controller dexterity and the frustration that comes from it negates the ups.”
emotional
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its storytelling depth, powerful performances, and ability to evoke strong feelings, often leaving players in tears. While many found the narrative touching and immersive, some critiques noted that certain emotional moments felt forced or poorly executed, detracting from the overall impact. Overall, the game is recognized as a unique emotional journey that combines haunting visuals, a captivating score, and complex character arcs, making it a memorable experience for players.
- “This is a master class in storytelling and emotional depth.”
- “The emotional range was incredible, moving from tense and fearful to moments of love, safety, and even deep sadness.”
- “The music is captivating to where it invokes an emotional response of sadness, fear, happiness, warmth, darkness, and love.”
atmosphere
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The atmosphere in "Karma: The Dark World" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, characterized by stunning visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and a strong focus on environmental storytelling. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a tense, psychological experience that emphasizes emotional depth over jump scares, making it a standout in the indie horror genre. Despite some narrative inconsistencies, the overall atmosphere is described as captivating and meticulously crafted, drawing players into its dystopian world.
- “Karma: the dark world hits way above its weight class; for an indie, its art is stunning—a dystopian '1984' vibe soaked in oppressive colors. It's a psychological walk through a crafted nightmare, and the core is a masterclass in environmental storytelling with mind-bending puzzles that make you think.”
- “The atmosphere is haunting, the visuals are stunning, and the emotional weight of the story hit me harder than I expected.”
- “Karma: the dark world is a visually stunning dive into a dystopian nightmare, blending psychological horror with an eerie, almost hypnotic atmosphere.”
- “It literally becomes some weird love story completely irrelevant to the game and main plot and is so jarring to the atmosphere the game has built up it took me out of it.”
- “The story effectively builds an atmosphere of paranoia and oppression, making you constantly question what is real and who can be trusted.”
- “However, more than explicit terror, what truly captivated me was its dense and corrupted atmosphere, which kept me hooked until the very end—roughly seven hours of gameplay.”
optimization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
37%
10%
Overall, the game's optimization received mixed reviews. While many players praised its impressive graphics and solid performance, some experienced crashes and issues, particularly with AMD graphics cards, indicating that further optimization could enhance stability. Despite these concerns, several users noted that the game runs smoothly on various systems, showcasing the potential of Unreal Engine 5 without significant performance drawbacks.
- “I managed to get past that crash by using the -dx11 command in the launch options— I think it's not very well optimized or something didn't mesh with my AMD graphics card driver.”
- “Visually, Karma looks impressive even when it's made with UE5, great optimization with eerie environments and strong lighting design.”
- “Very little performance issues, they did very well with optimizing the game.”
- “The optimization is not good, and the puzzles are not for me.”
- “Visually the game is incredible, but I had to do some tweaking for the performance.”
- “It had its issues with performances, but all in all, a pretty solid UE5 game for a first-time game from the developers.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with players noting that once completed, there is little incentive to return, aside from minor collectibles. Suggestions for improvement include enhancing interactivity, adding multiple choice dialogues, and incorporating more character-driven narratives to enrich the experience. Despite its engaging elements, the lack of replay value and short playtime have led some to question its overall worth.
- “As much as I loved this game, given the zero replayability factor to it and generally short playtime, I feel $25 is a little bit asking of it.”
- “Infinitely replayable.”
- “I might have given it an 8, except from my perspective it doesn't have much replayability—once you're done, it's pretty much game over.”
- “It lacks conventional thrills, has little replay value in the traditional sense, and demands patience and attention.”
- “Replayability is limited, with minor collectibles being the only incentive to revisit.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the interesting aspects and vivid ensemble dynamics, others feel that overall character engagement falls short. The art style and character designs are praised, particularly for their appeal, but frustrations with gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience.
- “I was left in awe at some of the character designs and environments; the art style is beyond amazing.”
- “Some cool character development aspects.”
- “- character development - as I said, some aspects were interesting but overall I wasn't too fond of any of them.”
- “Even though I liked the story, the character design, music, and graphics, the lack of controller dexterity and the frustration that comes from it negates the ups.”
- “Yet for a debut indie title, even without leniency, it delivers a profoundly resonant story within its constraints, alongside remarkably vivid ensemble character development.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as unintentional at times, with emotional scenes eliciting laughter instead of the intended reactions, creating an engaging experience. Players find the quirky elements, such as a unique 2% sale, amusing, and the collaborative puzzle-solving moments add to the fun, despite some challenges. Overall, the humor blends with the game's body horror and mystery elements, contributing to its distinctive charm.
- “It was funny - and in its own way, engaging.”
- “Jokes aside, the only reason I even looked at this game was because it had a 2% sale, which seemed funny to me since I’ve never seen a 2% sale on a game before.”
- “The puzzles have been interesting so far; one of them stumped my entire chat for a while as it was late and our brains were like ooze, so it was funny us guessing all the wrong combinations but fun that we worked together and tried to figure it out together and listen to each other's explanations.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with excellent performance and stunning visuals, though some users report minor audio delays in cutscenes and occasional visual glitches. Despite these issues, the gameplay remains smooth and largely free of significant bugs.
- “Performance-wise, the game runs great on quality settings and looks stunning.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; I haven't encountered any crashes or major bugs.”
- “Even during intense gameplay, the frame rate remains smooth and consistent.”
- “However, it is a little buggy with the audio delay in the cut scenes.”
- “Minor visual glitches – occasional rendering issues pop up, which stand out against the game’s generally polished atmosphere.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, with some moments feeling repetitive and time-consuming. The inability to skip previously seen scenes or speed up gameplay contributes to this frustration, leading some to feel that extensive grinding requires a significant time investment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The lack of options to skip previously seen scenes or move faster can make these moments tedious.”
- “There were a couple of moments that were a bit tedious, but I've honestly forgotten them already.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is viewed positively, as it is seen not as a cash grab but rather as a genuine tribute to classic mystery games, suggesting that players feel they are getting value for their investment.

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6h Median play time

6h Average play time

5-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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KARMA: The Dark World is a role playing game with horror, thriller and science fiction themes.

KARMA: The Dark World is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing KARMA: The Dark World.

KARMA: The Dark World was released on March 27, 2025.

KARMA: The Dark World was developed by POLLARD STUDIO LLC.

KARMA: The Dark World has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

KARMA: The Dark World is a single player game.

Similar games include REVEIL, The Medium, Observer, Layers of Fear 2, INSIDE and others.

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