Calum Petrie reviews Karma: The Dark World…
Karma: The Dark World is an ambitious psychological horror title that provides a narrative-heavy experience. It’s a title that aims high, blending surreal dystopian themes with experimental storytelling but unfortunately, its reach far exceeds its grasp.
The game opens with your character waking up in what appears to be a hospital room, recovering from a mysterious and horrific procedure. From there, the story slowly unravels, though saying “unravel” may be generous as it often feels like it tangles further the deeper you go. The plot revolves around entering the memories of others using a cassette player (yes, really), leading to a layered, Inception-style dive into multiple consciousnesses. While creative, this concept quickly becomes convoluted and difficult to follow.
Visually, the game is striking. It provides an oppressive atmosphere, bold design choices and disturbing character visuals, such as government agents with televisions for heads (baffling), and these all help create a world that’s as memorable as it is confusing. The art direction is commendable, but without strong narrative support, it sometimes feels like style over substance.
Gameplay-wise, it’s a glorified walking sim with light puzzle-solving and pseudo-combat elements that lack real consequence. You can be “caught” or “killed,” but it doesn’t impact progression, making these mechanics feel more like set dressing than meaningful gameplay. Some sequences become repetitive and unclear, with vague objectives that can leave players frustrated.
There are brief moments of the game showing a lighter side, such as the addition of novelty achievements, and the game attempts to incorporate haptic feedback in clever ways, though the payoff is minimal. The sound design is uneven, with inconsistent audio levels that required frequent adjustment. Visually, the graphics are solid, they’re not AAA quality, but this isn’t a AAA title with a AAA budget.
The story itself veers wildly in tone, especially in a baffling second act that morphs into an unexpected love story. It left me genuinely wondering if I was still playing the same game. The story tries to be profound and philosophical, but sadly comes across as muddled, with too many threads competing for attention and few of them actually landing to make an impact.
Despite its flaws, the game’s controls are responsive, movement feels tight, and although the sprint feature is underwhelming, there’s no doubt the game’s mechanics are pretty solid. Ultimately, Karma: The Dark World feels like a passion project from a visionary team that might have benefited from more focus and narrative clarity.
I may not be what the developers feel is the “core audience”, but I don’t feel this is a game for the average player. Even for fans of niche horror or abstract storytelling, it may prove more frustrating than fulfilling. There is potential here, buried under layers of metaphor and overwhelming ambition, but it’s a difficult game to recommend.
Rating – 4/10
Calum Petrie – You can follow me on X @Cetrie
