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  • January 21, 2026

Karous

Karous Game Cover
59%Game Brain Score
music
gameplay, graphics
93% User Score Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Karous Game Cover

About

Karous is a single player action game. It was developed by RS34 and was released on January 21, 2026. It received very positive reviews from players.

ーThis is a story from another Earth, another universe... Originally released for Dreamcast and arcades in 2007, this vertical shoot 'em up makes a comeback on PC. Karous was made an orphan during a war between sky dwellers and humans. With only her father's dying words to guide her, she descends to Earth in search of the Sanguis Dei. What will she see there? What will she lose? Enjoy atmospheri…

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Karous screenshot
Karous screenshot
Karous screenshot
Karous screenshot
Karous screenshot
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93%
Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews
music4 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions
  • The game features great visuals and a remixed soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making it feel like playing a comic book.
  • The gameplay is addictive and offers a unique scoring system that encourages players to master their skills, with different difficulty levels catering to various skill levels.
  • The English translation is well done, capturing the nuances of the original text, and the addition of online leaderboards adds to the game's longevity.
  • The port lacks essential features such as a practice mode and stage select, which makes it difficult for players to learn and master the game.
  • There are visual glitches and issues with the pause screen, indicating a lack of polish in the port, which feels like a rushed Unity release.
  • Some players have reported performance issues, particularly on certain hardware, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • music
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received high praise, with both the original and remixed soundtracks being described as "badass" and "magnificent." Players appreciate the aesthetic integration of the soundtrack with the game's visuals, enhancing the overall experience. The remixed soundtrack, in particular, has been highlighted as a significant improvement, contributing to the game's addictive and fun nature.

    • “The soundtrack is badass, the stages are fun and challenging.”
    • “Both soundtrack options are lovely, and the visual presentation is extremely solid.”
    • “Karous has one of the most magnificent soundtracks my ears have ever been part of the audience for.”
    • “There's no new content other than the new soundtrack, and there are no improvements other than higher internal rendering resolution.”
    • “Okay, now that we're done with preamble, this port is the Dreamcast version with shiny new graphics, online top-ten leaderboard, English translation, arranged soundtrack, and that's it.”
    • “The game is definitely great, and fairly priced as is for what is an extremely fun shmup with a lot of mastery to work towards (with online leaderboards!) and a banging remixed soundtrack.”
  • gameplay
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay is characterized by a mix of core mechanics that encourage player experimentation, though the lack of a tutorial or practice mode can hinder understanding. While some aspects are left intentionally mysterious for players to discover, this design choice may lead to confusion, particularly for newcomers. Overall, the mechanics are accessible but may not appeal to everyone due to their unconventional nature.

    • “There are many aspects of the game left purposefully mysterious, but the core mechanics are well-defined and engaging.”
    • “The gameplay allows players to experiment with the mechanics freely, making it accessible for younger players and those with disabilities.”
    • “While the mechanics may not be perfect, they offer a unique experience that encourages player exploration and discovery.”
    • “There are many aspects of the game left purposefully mysterious; some are explained via in-game messages, while others are left up to player discovery, but the above paragraph is the totality of the core mechanics.”
    • “While the mechanics aren't exactly groundbreaking, they are off-centered enough that many players found them unappealing.”
    • “The lack of a tutorial or practice mode really hurts the gameplay, and I had to figure out some mechanics on my own.”
  • graphics
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are praised for their aesthetic appeal, featuring shiny new visuals that enhance the overall experience, likened to playing a comic book. The updated graphics, combined with an arranged soundtrack, contribute to a fun and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The game itself is aesthetically cool with great visuals and soundtrack (it feels like you're playing a comic book), cleverly constructed, super addicting, and (most importantly) a whole lot of fun.”
    • “This port is the Dreamcast version with shiny new graphics, an online top-ten leaderboard, English translation, and an arranged soundtrack.”
    • “This port is just the Dreamcast version with shiny new graphics, an online top-ten leaderboard, English translation, an arranged soundtrack, and that's it.”
    • “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from a modern release.”
    • “Despite the new graphics, the overall visual experience is underwhelming and doesn't do justice to the original game's art style.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with occasional visual glitches occurring when returning to the main menu; however, these issues do not significantly impact gameplay or make the game unplayable.

    • “Sometimes there are visual glitches when quitting back to the main menu, but nothing that makes the game unplayable.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress.”
    • “I've experienced several freezes during gameplay, which disrupts the overall experience.”
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Karous remaster launches for PC this month

January 19 on nichegamer.com
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Frequently Asked Questions

Karous is a action game.

Karous is available on PC and Windows.

Karous was released on January 21, 2026.

Karous was developed by RS34.

Karous has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its gameplay.

Karous is a single player game.

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