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 arrived on the scene. The time has come to see what Big Brother is up to.

Taking place in 1984 in an alternate reality, KARMA: The Dark World shows us a bleak, dystopian version of East Germany, where the omnipresent Leviathan Corporation controls all. We follow Daniel McGovern, a ROAM agent who uses special technology to enter the minds of potential suspects of the Leviathan Corporation, in order to enter their minds and uncover hidden truths. However, the further Daniel ventures into the memories of others, the more entwined he finds himself within the twisted reality that connects them.

For the most part, KARMA: The Dark World is a walking sim. That’s not a mark against it by any means, though, as exploring the dark, tortured world through the eyes of Daniel lends to an immersive and uncomfortable experience. Leviathan’s Thought Bureau controls and monitors everything, leaving the country in a horrendous and terrifying dystopia. As Daniel jumps into the memories of suspects, he navigates a series of Kafkaesque environments, and the lines between reality and the surreal blur together more and more. I haven’t felt this unsettled by a walking sim since Bloober Team’s Observer. 

Although, there’s more to KARMA: The Dark World than just walking down hallways. Throughout the game are various puzzles that need to be solved in order to progress, such a the usual finding codes to unlock something. That said, there’s also a surprising amount of changes to the gameplay depending on which mind you’re investigating.

Sometimes you’ll need to track down the correct ringing phone in order to escape an endless time-loop. Other times you’ll have to evade a chasing monster. Then there’s one particularly fun boss encounter that has you sneaking around hallways, attempting to lure a monster to a specific spot so you can sneak around and damage her from behind. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of gameplay diversity found within each section. 

They’re not all winners, with some of the sections being a bit confusing as to what exactly you’re supposed to be doing in order to move on, but I appreciate the variety to break-up what could potentially be monotonous gameplay. I even liked Rachel’s segments, which almost felt like they came from a completely different game, as they provided the chance to slow down and fully absorb the heart-breaking truth of her life. Each section feels vastly different from one another, which is even more fitting when you consider that everyone’s minds are so completely unique to the individual.

Visually, KARMA: The Dark World is stunning, looking like the world of 1984 as imagined by David Lynch. It’s a beautifully rendered game with some impressive and creative imagery. From dripping tubs filled with human test subjects, to mounds of tossed televisions, to a dark space between realities with giant stone hands erupting from the ground, KARMA: The Dark World delivers environments ranging from grotesque to picturesque. Even the character models move naturally, and have realistic looking skin, hair, and facial expressions to boot. 

The sound design is also strong, with the sounds of the humming TVs, buzzing flies, and ringing phones adding to the immersion. I also recommend playing with headphones, as some of the sections, such as the ringing phone puzzle and the boss encounter against Mother use spatial audio to give you clues as to where the sounds are coming from. KARMA: The Dark World also has some truly excellent and emotional vocal performances from the whole cast. It also has a haunting and tense soundtrack, which perfectly fits the tone for each section of the game.

KARMA: The Dark World delivers a mind-bending, unsettling, and utterly heartbreaking experience, the likes of which are rarely seen in the realm of walking sims. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. With a runtime of about six hours, it’s perfect for one or two sessions to see everything it has to offer. With a narrative full of twists, compelling mysteries, and a host of well fleshed-out, complex characters, KARMA: The Dark World will have you hooked until the final screen and pondering it long after it’s over.

 

Graphics: 9.0 A beautifully rendered game with some impressive and creative imagery.	Gameplay: 7.0 A walking sim with some fun, yet simple puzzles. A few of the minigames were somewhat confusing, but still a fun change-up to the gameplay formula.
Sound: 9.0 Wonderfully voice acted, with a haunting and tense soundtrack.	Fun Factor: 8.0 An intriguing take on Orwell’s !984, which lends itself well as a prime backdrop for some compelling mysteries. I truly cared about the characters and was left thinking about its narrative for a while after beating it.
Final Verdict: 8.0

KARMA: The Dark World is available now on PC and PlayStation 5.

Reviewed on PlayStation 5.

A copy of KARMA: The Dark World was provided by the publisher.