A haunting journey through memory and madness
By Paul Hunter
Surreal horror and dystopian intrigue collide in Karma: The Dark World, a psychological thriller that warps reality at every turn. Developed by Pollard Studio, this first-person narrative-driven experience places you in the shoes of Daniel McGovern, a Roam Agent working for the Thought Bureau in an alternate 1984. Tasked with investigating a mysterious theft, Daniel uncovers far more than he bargained for, spiraling into a tangled web of surveillance, control, and existential dread. As memories bleed into one another and past and present intertwine, you must explore not only the truth of your mission but also the nature of reality itself.
Set in a chilling vision of East Germany where the Leviathan Corporation dictates every aspect of life, Karma builds an oppressive world that blends Orwellian themes with Lynchian surrealism. Every citizen is monitored, stripped of identity, and conditioned for obedience by an omnipresent AI known as MOTHER. The game expertly conveys this dystopian nightmare through its eerie, ever-shifting environments, cryptic storytelling, and constant sense of unease. Unlike many horror titles that rely on jump scares, Karma unsettles through psychological terror, manipulating your perception and leaving you questioning what is real.
At the heart of Karma is its unique memory-dive mechanic, allowing you to relive past events from multiple perspectives. As Daniel, you use this ability to interrogate suspects, but the deeper you go, the less reliable your findings become. With environments that subtly transform around you and puzzles that demand keen observation, the game forces you to think critically while drawing you into its mystery.
But does Karma: The Dark World succeed in delivering a gripping psychological horror experience, or does its cryptic nature hinder its impact? Lets dive in a take a look!
In Karma: The Dark World, reality is as unstable as the oppressive regime controlling it. As Roam Agent Daniel McGovern, you're tasked with investigating a theft, and quickly realize that the stolen object is tied to something far more sinister. As he delves deeper, his world fractures—both figuratively and literally—forcing him to question his past, his mission, and even his own identity.
The Leviathan Corporation controls every aspect of society, using MOTHER, an all-seeing AI, to enforce loyalty. Citizens are stripped of individuality, living in a bleak surveillance state where even thoughts are monitored. But Daniel’s case exposes cracks in the system, revealing disturbing experiments with a mysterious black substance called Dasei. What starts as a routine investigation turns into a fight for truth, survival, and possibly, free will.
A key element of Karma’s storytelling is its memory-dive mechanic, allowing you to relive past events—both your own and those of others. As Daniel revisits old cases, his memories become unreliable, manipulated by outside forces. This narrative device adds layers of psychological horror, making you second-guess what’s real. The deeper you dive, the more nightmarish the world becomes, with shifting environments and cryptic clues blurring the line between memory and illusion.
The story unfolds through environmental storytelling, surreal imagery, and scattered documents rather than traditional exposition. While this approach is effective, it demands patience. At first, the plot can feel disorienting, as perspectives shift and timelines blur. But if you embrace the ambiguity, Karma gradually reveals its chilling narrative, building toward a conclusion that challenges your perception of truth.
Turning our focus to Karma's gameplay, it blends psychological horror with first-person puzzle-solving, creating a tense, cerebral experience. Instead of traditional combat, you navigate eerie environments, piece together fragmented memories, and solve cryptic puzzles that challenge logic and perception. The game leans into exploration and environmental storytelling, requiring you to observe subtle details to uncover the truth.
Puzzles range from intuitive to mind-bending, with little guidance provided. Some solutions require unconventional thinking, like deciphering clock times from sound cues or manipulating a massive maze from two perspectives. The lack of hints can be frustrating, especially when progress grinds to a halt. But this design choice reinforces the game’s unsettling atmosphere—answers aren’t handed to you, and neither is the truth.
The memory-dive mechanic is Karma’s standout feature. Daniel’s ability to relive and alter past events adds depth to both gameplay and narrative. Jumping between different memories and perspectives creates an ever-shifting world, where rooms change shape, objects disappear, and logic bends. At one point, you revisit a case inside someone else’s recollection, layering memory upon memory like Inception. It’s a brilliant mechanic that fuels both the horror and mystery.
The tension escalates through stealth encounters with grotesque, Dasei-infused creatures. These monstrosities are relentless, requiring you to hide and move strategically. The fear of being hunted, coupled with the game’s oppressive atmosphere, keeps your nerves on edge. In one particularly harrowing sequence, you sneak through a dimly lit corridor, only to hear distorted whispers behind you—turning around, the walls have shifted, trapping you in a nightmare that wasn’t there moments ago.
While Karma avoids action-heavy gameplay, its psychological horror elements and intricate puzzles demand patience and problem-solving. It’s an experience that rewards curiosity, but only if you’re willing to embrace the unknown.
Karma: The Dark World excels visually, using Unreal Engine 5 to craft an environment that is both beautiful and unsettling. The game’s design strikes a perfect balance between realism and surrealism throughout its dystopian world. From the haunting reflections in windows to the detailed textures on characters and environments, the attention to detail pulls you deeper into its eerie atmosphere.
The lighting and shadows are masterfully employed, casting long, dramatic shadows that add to the sense of dread. In one scene, you enter a room dimly lit by flickering lights, where a faint glow highlights eerie, twisted figures. The environment shifts subtly as you explore, with rooms morphing between memories, further enhancing the game’s sense of disorientation. These visual changes are seamless, adding a layer of psychological horror that keeps you constantly on edge.
Sound design is just as impactful. The ambient noises—soft whispers, distant footsteps, the hum of malfunctioning machinery—create a palpable tension that lingers throughout the experience. The haunting soundtrack complements the visuals, with eerie, atmospheric tracks that intensify during moments of suspense. When things go quiet, the game uses silence to its advantage, allowing your imagination to fill in the gaps.
Character animations are lifelike, and the motion capture adds a layer of authenticity to the performances. The voice acting conveys the emotion and fear of the characters convincingly. Karma is a great example of how presentation can elevate a psychological horror experience. Every aspect of its design—from the eerie environments to the evocative soundscape—enhances the unsettling atmosphere that defines the game.
Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
Developer: Pollard Studio
Publisher: Wired Productions, Gamera Games
Genre: Horror
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Surreal horror and dystopian intrigue collide in Karma: The Dark World, a psychological thriller that warps reality at every turn. Developed by Pollard Studio, this first-person narrative-driven experience places you in the shoes of Daniel McGovern, a Roam Agent working for the Thought Bureau in an alternate 1984. Tasked with investigating a mysterious theft, Daniel uncovers far more than he bargained for, spiraling into a tangled web of surveillance, control, and existential dread. As memories bleed into one another and past and present intertwine, you must explore not only the truth of your mission but also the nature of reality itself.
Set in a chilling vision of East Germany where the Leviathan Corporation dictates every aspect of life, Karma builds an oppressive world that blends Orwellian themes with Lynchian surrealism. Every citizen is monitored, stripped of identity, and conditioned for obedience by an omnipresent AI known as MOTHER. The game expertly conveys this dystopian nightmare through its eerie, ever-shifting environments, cryptic storytelling, and constant sense of unease. Unlike many horror titles that rely on jump scares, Karma unsettles through psychological terror, manipulating your perception and leaving you questioning what is real.
At the heart of Karma is its unique memory-dive mechanic, allowing you to relive past events from multiple perspectives. As Daniel, you use this ability to interrogate suspects, but the deeper you go, the less reliable your findings become. With environments that subtly transform around you and puzzles that demand keen observation, the game forces you to think critically while drawing you into its mystery.
But does Karma: The Dark World succeed in delivering a gripping psychological horror experience, or does its cryptic nature hinder its impact? Lets dive in a take a look!
In Karma: The Dark World, reality is as unstable as the oppressive regime controlling it. As Roam Agent Daniel McGovern, you're tasked with investigating a theft, and quickly realize that the stolen object is tied to something far more sinister. As he delves deeper, his world fractures—both figuratively and literally—forcing him to question his past, his mission, and even his own identity.
The Leviathan Corporation controls every aspect of society, using MOTHER, an all-seeing AI, to enforce loyalty. Citizens are stripped of individuality, living in a bleak surveillance state where even thoughts are monitored. But Daniel’s case exposes cracks in the system, revealing disturbing experiments with a mysterious black substance called Dasei. What starts as a routine investigation turns into a fight for truth, survival, and possibly, free will.
A key element of Karma’s storytelling is its memory-dive mechanic, allowing you to relive past events—both your own and those of others. As Daniel revisits old cases, his memories become unreliable, manipulated by outside forces. This narrative device adds layers of psychological horror, making you second-guess what’s real. The deeper you dive, the more nightmarish the world becomes, with shifting environments and cryptic clues blurring the line between memory and illusion.
The story unfolds through environmental storytelling, surreal imagery, and scattered documents rather than traditional exposition. While this approach is effective, it demands patience. At first, the plot can feel disorienting, as perspectives shift and timelines blur. But if you embrace the ambiguity, Karma gradually reveals its chilling narrative, building toward a conclusion that challenges your perception of truth.
Turning our focus to Karma's gameplay, it blends psychological horror with first-person puzzle-solving, creating a tense, cerebral experience. Instead of traditional combat, you navigate eerie environments, piece together fragmented memories, and solve cryptic puzzles that challenge logic and perception. The game leans into exploration and environmental storytelling, requiring you to observe subtle details to uncover the truth.
Puzzles range from intuitive to mind-bending, with little guidance provided. Some solutions require unconventional thinking, like deciphering clock times from sound cues or manipulating a massive maze from two perspectives. The lack of hints can be frustrating, especially when progress grinds to a halt. But this design choice reinforces the game’s unsettling atmosphere—answers aren’t handed to you, and neither is the truth.
The memory-dive mechanic is Karma’s standout feature. Daniel’s ability to relive and alter past events adds depth to both gameplay and narrative. Jumping between different memories and perspectives creates an ever-shifting world, where rooms change shape, objects disappear, and logic bends. At one point, you revisit a case inside someone else’s recollection, layering memory upon memory like Inception. It’s a brilliant mechanic that fuels both the horror and mystery.
The tension escalates through stealth encounters with grotesque, Dasei-infused creatures. These monstrosities are relentless, requiring you to hide and move strategically. The fear of being hunted, coupled with the game’s oppressive atmosphere, keeps your nerves on edge. In one particularly harrowing sequence, you sneak through a dimly lit corridor, only to hear distorted whispers behind you—turning around, the walls have shifted, trapping you in a nightmare that wasn’t there moments ago.
While Karma avoids action-heavy gameplay, its psychological horror elements and intricate puzzles demand patience and problem-solving. It’s an experience that rewards curiosity, but only if you’re willing to embrace the unknown.
Karma: The Dark World excels visually, using Unreal Engine 5 to craft an environment that is both beautiful and unsettling. The game’s design strikes a perfect balance between realism and surrealism throughout its dystopian world. From the haunting reflections in windows to the detailed textures on characters and environments, the attention to detail pulls you deeper into its eerie atmosphere.
The lighting and shadows are masterfully employed, casting long, dramatic shadows that add to the sense of dread. In one scene, you enter a room dimly lit by flickering lights, where a faint glow highlights eerie, twisted figures. The environment shifts subtly as you explore, with rooms morphing between memories, further enhancing the game’s sense of disorientation. These visual changes are seamless, adding a layer of psychological horror that keeps you constantly on edge.
Sound design is just as impactful. The ambient noises—soft whispers, distant footsteps, the hum of malfunctioning machinery—create a palpable tension that lingers throughout the experience. The haunting soundtrack complements the visuals, with eerie, atmospheric tracks that intensify during moments of suspense. When things go quiet, the game uses silence to its advantage, allowing your imagination to fill in the gaps.
Character animations are lifelike, and the motion capture adds a layer of authenticity to the performances. The voice acting conveys the emotion and fear of the characters convincingly. Karma is a great example of how presentation can elevate a psychological horror experience. Every aspect of its design—from the eerie environments to the evocative soundscape—enhances the unsettling atmosphere that defines the game.
The Verdict
Karma: The Dark World is a captivating psychological horror experience set in a dystopian world controlled by the oppressive Leviathan Corporation. Its slow-burn narrative, challenging puzzles, and surreal visuals create a haunting atmosphere that keeps you questioning reality. While the puzzles can be a tad frustrating without much guidance, the solid worldbuilding, emotional voice acting, and thought-provoking themes make it a must-play for fans of dystopian thrillers and psychological horror.Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
Karma: The Dark World details
Platform: PS5, PCDeveloper: Pollard Studio
Publisher: Wired Productions, Gamera Games
Genre: Horror
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.