Karma: The Dark World

Impulse GamerChris O'Connor

If you took the novel 1984, added a splash of Terry Gilliam (leaning heavily towards Brazil), a smidge of David Lynch, maybe a splash of Salvador Dali...

GameLusterNairon Santos de Morais

9/10

Karma: The Dark World rises above the crowd of psychological horror indie games thanks to outstanding imagery that showcases endless creativity and technical execution that punches way above its weight class.

WayTooManyGamesHeidi Hawes

8/10

Walking simulators might be a dime a dozen, but I have an appreciation for those who try to offer something different to the experience. Games like What Remains of Edith Finch , Layers of Fear, and The Stanley Parable being some of the most noteworthy examples of successful walking sims. When I found out there was a walking sim based off of George Orwell’s 1984, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. KARMA: The Dark World, the first game from Chinese indie developer Pollard Studio, has finally ar...

GamingBoltJoelle Daniels

8/10

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.

The Punished BacklogClint Morrison, Jr.

7.5/10

In our KARMA: The Dark World review, learn whether this Remedy-esque, David Lynchian horror game lives up to its incredible inspirations.

CGMagazineJordan Biordi

7/10

KARMA: The Dark World tells a mildly interesting story, but it squanders a lot of good potential with simplistic gameplay and obvious symbolism.

Gaming NexusEric Hauter

7/10

A beautifully rendered but ultimately familiar adventure game, Karma: The Dark World is neither scary nor thrilling. Meticulously built 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.

Steam Deck HQNoah Kupetsky

7/10

KARMA: The Dark World is an intriguing and beautiful experience that falls a bit short when telling its story and its simple gameplay, and it is just playable on the Steam Deck.

GameSpewRichard Seagrave

7/10

With a story full of twists and turns, Karma: The Dark World will equally draw you in and confuse you. Still, it's an interesting game on the whole, which tries to pack in a wide variety of gameplay elements and tackle some dark themes, though it doesn't always do so with finesse.

NoobFeedMichael Nicolosi

65/100

Karma: The Dark World fails to impress as a psychological thriller because of its uninspiring gameplay. Despite its fine visuals, nods to classic horror, and motion-captured actors, it's hard to recommend at full price due to a lack of player agency.

PCGamesNReid McCarter

4/10

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.

GamesticDaRmaZat

Unscored

Despite these flaws, the game offers many powerful moments. Through its abstract storytelling, deep themes, and seamless transitions between moods and visual styles, it largely succeeds in delivering a unique experience with emotional impact. In short, KARMA: The Dark World lacks the consistency in finesse needed to truly excel, but it may still leave a lasting impression.