Karma: The Dark World - Review
Sublime horror
André Ramos
4/1/25, 8:28 PM
Atualizado a
Horror is another one of my passions — this game makes me want to keep loving the genre
We all have that guilty pleasure we enjoy indulging in from time to time. For me, it's horror content. I'll admit that when I was younger, it never really drew me in, but nowadays, it's one of my passions. Karma: The Dark World is a game developed by Pollard Studio LLC and published by Wired Productions and Gamera Games. I had never played anything from these studios before, but from now on, I'll be keeping an eye on them.
Karma: The Dark World takes place in 1984, in a dystopian Germany controlled by a corporation called Leviathan Company. At first glance, its gameplay and story don’t seem too different from other titles available today. However, as the narrative unfolds, Karma reveals itself as something both beautiful and terrifying.
We wake up in a hospital room, in the body of a young man who doesn’t appear entirely human. His body features biotech modifications, reminiscent of H.R. Giger’s work — tubes attached to his skin, for example. As we wander the hallways, we soon realize that this isn’t exactly a hospital, but rather some kind of research facility. We're captured and strapped to a chair by a man who puts us in some sort of a trance, leading us to explore the memories of a young worker named Daniel McGovern, an employee of Leviathan. From that moment on, we experience the events of the story through his eyes.
The narrative is built upon the exploration of various people's memories — some good, some bad, and some... Well, you'll have to see for yourselves. Karma: The Dark World does not shy away from tackling heavy and uncomfortable themes. Through these memories, we face the harsh reality of families torn apart by the imbalance between work and personal life, as well as issues like sexual abuse and human trafficking, among others. These subjects are handled seriously, adding emotional weight to the narrative and making the experience all the more intense and unforgettable.
You don't need complex mechanic for good gameplay
Many will describe Karma’s gameplay as a walking sim. I get it, but depending on the context, a game doesn’t need overly complex mechanics to tell a great story or keep players engaged.
In this title, the way we interact with the world and its objects is very similar to what we see in the Amnesia franchise — for example, you have to manually grab and open doors, the same goes for drawers. Additionally, there are puzzles to solve, chase sequences, and even moments where you must figure out how to escape a time loop. On the downside, I found the sprint to be extremely slow, which feels odd in chase sequences. Also, at times, the controls can be a bit janky when interacting with multiple objects close together.
Throughout the game, you’ll come across toys that contain puzzles to unlock collectibles. But be careful — you only get one attempt.
In short, while simple, Karma’s gameplay keeps you immersed and engaged, which is ultimately what matters most.
I didn't expect to feel this emotionally connected to the game
Visually, Karma: The Dark World is stunning — not because of an expansive open world or grand fantasy elements, but because of its grounded and realistic environments. Character models are highly detailed, with incredibly lifelike animations.
Of course, the game features the expected horror settings: dark rooms, blood-soaked laboratories, decaying bodies, and grotesque enemies. But it also surprises with breathtakingly beautiful locations. There are moments of intimate dialogue and sequences that forge a deep emotional bond with the characters. Some cinematics stand out with a distinct aesthetic, feeling almost like a work of art. At times, the game even shifts genres in a truly fascinating way.
The soundtrack is phenomenal — reminiscent of Romantic and Neo-Classical compositions. Honestly, Karma’s OST could fill a concert hall, and I have no doubt it would sell out. The voice acting is equally outstanding, elevating the entire experience.
I never expected Karma: The Dark World to take the direction it did, and for that, I’m truly grateful. Experiencing this game in all its terror — and, as I’ve said countless times, its beauty — was unforgettable, even with its relatively short runtime.
I won’t dwell too much on this, but I truly believe everyone should give this game a chance. Even if horror isn’t your thing, I promise you won’t regret it.
I can’t end this review without mentioning how well the game runs. Karma is impressively optimized, offering multiple settings to tailor the experience to your system. You can choose between NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel anti-aliasing, and enable or disable frame generation. Even with frame generation off, I maintained a steady 180 FPS at max settings (RTX 3080, Ryzen 9 3900X, 32GB RAM). The only minor issue I noticed was brief stuttering when loading new areas, but nothing game-breaking.
As for a sequel? Karma: The Dark World could go either way. But its ending is fantastic, and whether or not a follow-up happens, I feel completely satisfied with how it concluded.
Pros:
- Effective horror, balancing tension, emotion, and beauty
- Unique and immersive art direction
- Incredible and memorable soundtrack
- High-quality voice acting
- Simple yet engaging gameplay
- Well-designed and integrated puzzles
Cons:
- Sprinting feels too slow
- Minor interaction issues with objects
- Occasional stuttering when loading new areas