Karma: The Dark World

“Karma: The Dark World is a haunting and visually breathtaking psychological thriller. With stunning presentation, top-tier voice acting, and a deeply emotional narrative, it stands as one of the most memorable and meaningful gaming experiences in years. While its slower pace and heavy story focus may not appeal to everyone, for fans of atmospheric and narrative-driven adventures, it’s nothing short of remarkable.”

“Karma: The Dark World is a horror experience that's not about gore or jump scares - a haunting atmosphere is the base for a psychological, dread-filled journey.”

“A surprisingly touching cyberpunk thriller that will stick with you long after the credits roll”

“KARMA: The Dark World is the kind of game that will stick with you long after you complete it. Far from perfect, with a disappointing third act and some major performance issues, thankfully the pros outweigh the cons.”

“Karma: The Dark World is a psychological horror game that counts the works of late director David Lynch among its influences. So much so that one sequ...”

“There’s something magnetic about Karma: The Dark World's unhinged ambition. It's a debut that dares to be weird and weighty, even if it trips over its own complexity. Karma is a flawed and very interesting gem, a game that’s as haunting as it is stupefying. Xbox Series X|S owners, beware of the atrocious stuttering. Anyone who is drawn to narrative-driven horror with a cerebral bent, it’s a journey worth taking, but don’t expect every step to feel steady.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“KARMA: The Dark World presents a wonderfully horrifying alternate history world to become enveloped in, thanks to its superb visuals, excellent soundtrack and engrossing themes. Its story is perhaps overly ambitious with plenty of confusion and its light gameplay elements may have some lamenting what could have been, leaving a mostly positive but somewhat diminished sense of karmic balance.”

“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.”

“Karma: The Dark World strives to be art, drawing on some genre classics and for the most part, it succeeds quite well, delivering an immersive and, above all, creepy experience for players. There are moments when the game is a bit too transparent and lacks deeper gameplay, but overall, these criticisms are ultimately overshadowed by the game's many virtues. I definitely had a good time and hope we'll see more from this team in the future.”

“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".”