When I got the review key for this game, I had no clue what it was, but from the moment I stepped into “Karma: The Dark World,” I knew I was in for a psychological ride unlike any other. Pollard Studio’s latest first-person thriller throws you into a dystopian East Germany where the Leviathan Corporation keeps a vice grip on society, and trust is as fragile as a flickering neon sign. It’s a game that oozes atmosphere, blending philosophy, horror, and sci-fi into a heady cocktail of paranoia and intrigue. But while its narrative and visuals are undoubtedly gripping, its gameplay sometimes feels like an afterthought, leaving me wishing for a deeper level of interactivity.
Set in an alternate 1984, “Karma: The Dark World” thrusted me into the role of Daniel McGovern, a Roam Agent working for Leviathan’s Thought Bureau. Your job? Dive into the minds of the accused, unravel crime scenes, and report your findings. But as you explore the twisted memories of your suspects, reality begins to unravel, and you quickly realize that what you see cannot always be trusted. It’s a fascinating premise that echoes classics like “Blade Runner” and Bloober Team’s “Observer,” delivering a world steeped in surveillance, societal control, and psychological manipulation. Right away, the game’s use of Unreal Engine 5 is nothing short of breathtaking. Lumen and Nanite technology bring the dystopian world to life with eerie precision, with light flickering ominously in grimy corridors, shadows stretch unnaturally, and every environment is packed with unsettling detail. The motion-captured performances lend an extra weight to the game’s storytelling, making every interaction feel a bit more cinematic. Pollard Studio didn’t just craft a game; they built a world that pulses with tension and dread.
But as mesmerizing as the setting is, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my role in it was more passive than I’d hoped. The game leans heavily into its narrative, often feeling more like an interactive film than a fully-fledged adventure. You explore environments, uncover hidden memories, and piece together a compelling mystery, but the actual gameplay mechanics are limited. While investigating crime scenes and interviewing suspects are engaging in their own right, I often found myself wanting more agency or more opportunities to influence the unfolding story beyond simply observing it.
That’s not to say “Karma: The Dark World” doesn’t deliver in other ways. Its psychological horror elements are really well crafted, throwing gamers into surreal, mind-bending sequences that challenge perception and test sanity. At times, it reminded me of “SOMA” or being in some kind of David Lynch experience where the horrors you face are as much about existential dread as they are about the grotesque. And the game’s themes of family, love, loss, and control are explored with an intelligence that lingers long after the credits roll. Still, I can’t help but feel that “Karma” stops just short of greatness. It introduces so many compelling ideas, both narratively and visually, but never fully capitalizes on them in terms of gameplay. The experience is haunting and memorable, but in a sea of psychological horror games, it struggles to carve out its own unique identity.
All of that being said, if you’re a fan of narrative-driven experiences and don’t mind a more passive approach to interaction, “Karma: The Dark World” is absolutely worth exploring. It’s an engrossing, visually stunning descent into a dystopian nightmare, one that may make you question reality itself. But if you’re hoping for deep mechanics or more player agency, you might walk away feeling like this is a beautiful dream that you could never quite touch.
7/10
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Related: Reviews by Nick Navarro
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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