Karma: The Dark World Reviews
Karma: The Dark World is a compilation of popular movies and games, which in its desire to copy got too carried away, losing its own identity.
Review in Russian | Read full review
An horror adventure with a strong cinematic flavour, with aesthetics and themes reminiscent of the works of Lynch, Cronenberg and Nolan. The gameplay is reduced to a minimum and there are a few too many bugs, which however do not compromise the enjoyment of an extremely 'atmospheric' experience with adult content.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A beautifully rendered but ultimately familiar adventure game, Karma: The Dark World is neither scary nor thrilling. Meticulously build and gorgeous to look at, the gameplay is nonetheless a slow roll through a pre-rendered Kafka-inspired story, with little in the way of interaction beyond some environmental puzzle solving. I can appreciate the artistry at work here, if not the final product.
A fantastic soundtrack and handful of excellent scenes aren't enough to give Karma: The Dark World an identity greater than the number of sci-fi and horror classics it bluntly references throughout its story.
Despite an obtuse overarching narrative and minimal gameplay, Karma: The Dark World continually swings for the fences. Pollard Studio's debut heavily leans on artistic direction that will linger with the player long after the story fades from memory.
Karma: The Dark World is a fun interactive story that has you explore the darkest reaches of the human psyche with excellent surreal horror and an interesting story to uncover.
KARMA: The Dark World cannot be called a masterpiece: the gameplay is uneven, and the metaphorical plot is interrupted quite suddenly, as if the story is not told to the end. But it is definitely a worthy psychological thriller, which keeps you in suspense until the very end and cleverly plays with emotions, so much so that you get an uncomfortable feeling of being in this monstrous dystopia.
This kind of came out of nowhere for me but it's really right up my alley. A dystopian world with a well developed story… a splash of sci-fi and stunning visuals. A very tolerable amount of horror (don't get me wrong… some of those moments if played in VR would probably require a pants change)… puzzles that are a challenge but manageable. Not to mention a moving soundtrack (even if I did have trouble making out what the words were in the song near the start of the game). Highly recommended for anyone who likes things a bit weird and thought provoking!
The stylistic choices and the intention to offer a game that challenges the conventions of the sci-fi horror genre are commendable, but the overall feeling is one of a missed opportunity. If you're a fan of the genre and looking for an experience that challenges your perceptions, KARMA: The Dark World is still a title worth exploring, but with the awareness that it never fully reaches the potential greatness it could have.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Bizarre, unfiltered and mind-blowing. The experience in KARMA: The Dark World is insane, just the way I like it and the way a psychological horror game should be. Although it has some technical issues, it manages to deliver tension without the need for overdoing the famous "jump scares".
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
There are games that make you think - about the universe, the meaning of life, what is important and where we are going, the consequences of our actions. This psychological thriller evokes anything but indifference.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
KARMA: The Dark World builds fear through disorientation, uncertainty, and mental manipulation. It’s a game that forces you to piece together a reality that refuses to stay still, all while questioning whether you are uncovering the truth, or simply losing your mind. KARMA delivers gripping psychological horror through mind-dives, oppressive world-building, and a haunting soundscape. While occasional technical hiccups detract slightly, they don’t overshadow the game’s unsettling atmosphere and strong narrative ambition.
Karma: The Dark World is less about what you do and more about what it makes you feel. It’s a game built on mood, metaphor, and meaning—not on combat or action. And for those willing to let it pull them under, it delivers a rich, unsettling experience that lingers long after the credits roll. This isn’t horror by convention. It’s horror by erosion—of self, of memory, of trust in the systems around you. And that makes it far more chilling than anything with a shotgun or a monster in a hallway.
KARMA: The Dark World is a high-quality horror title that will please all fans of the genre and is one of the best horror games that has come out in recent years.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Karma: The Dark World is a narrative thriller set in a 1984-inspired dystopia. In it, the player takes on the role of an agent investigating deviant minds amidst fragmented memories and the occult. Despite the simple gameplay, the engaging story, stunning visuals, and immersive audio stand out. Ideal for those seeking an intense, narrative-driven experience with a dark and thought-provoking atmosphere.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Karma: The Dark World could be regarded as a little gem that managed to give me some great moments, but unfortunately something bounced around and failed to capture me. I would have liked a title that was a little less linear and a little more exploratory, but that's okay too.
Review in Italian | Read full review
KARMA: The Dark World is a love letter to David Lynch. While its framing narrative is a little too straightforward, its dream sequences craft nightmarish spaces that linger in the player’s imagination. KARMA won’t be for everybody, but neither are its inspirations. I hope to replay the game soon, revisiting the textual and puzzle box collectibles for additional hints at the future story that Pollard Studio seemingly wants to tell.
Despite its limited gameplay mechanics, Karma: The Dark World manages to elevate its experience with its atmospheric storytelling and stunning visuals. It is a thought-provoking journey that challenges perceptions and leaves a lasting impression. For fans of psychological horror and dystopian narratives, Karma: The Dark World is a must-play.
Karma: The Dark World is a game where action is almost nonexistent. On the other hand, it offers a surprising and disturbing journey through the psyche of an individual and the system that pulverises them to the ground. If you enjoy games like SOMA or Observer, look no further — this game is for you!
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Karma: The Dark World exhibits impressive world design with an unrivalled Orwellian setting that is layered with intrigue. It explores the darker machinations of a totalitarian regime with an iron grip on a helplessly captive society. However, Karma: The Dark World disappointingly fails to deliver on its initial premise and potential by neglecting to expand upon the engrossing themes, setting, and narrative showcased during its opening hours. The unnerving world and atmosphere that Pollard Studio has created in Karma serve as the backdrop for an artistic masterpiece that never fully forms on the canvas, as Karma inexplicably elects to all but abandon any dystopian focus during its second half, instead replacing its ostensibly marvellous setup with new characters and narrative threads that squander the game’s incipient masterclass in world-building and sowing intrigue. While Karma easily could have been a masterpiece, as evidenced by all of the chilling artistry of its opening act, it results in a mess of a game that lacks sufficient design cohesion or narrative focus. Karma: The Dark World is ultimately an amalgamation of richly intriguing and uncannily evocative ideas that never mesh together in a cohesive narrative or consummate gameplay experience.