Karma: The Dark World may be set in a dystopian version of a 1984 East Germany, but I couldn’t help but relate to it. The grind of the job. The monotony of a mediocre existence. Trying to break away from the restrictions of the things you feel like you can’t control. It is that human element that drives the story of Daniel McGovern, but there is also a terrifying tale that bleeds into the reality we find ourselves in. Pollard Studio has built such a smart game with some mind-bending visuals and intelligent puzzles, all wrapped up in a mature and terrifying story.
As a Roam Agent, you work for the Leviathan Corporation. They rule their employees with an iron fist where freedom is absent. You work, you die. While a family might seem like a sustainable option outside of a job, the stresses of working for them always finds a way to grind you down and turn you into nothing more than a grunt. Follow orders. Don’t ask questions, Don’t have a life. It’s hard when you have to start investigating employees because you can instantly see the oppression cast upon them by Leviathan, making you feel guilty for carrying out your job.
Being set in 1984 is no coincidence, reminding you of George Orwell’s masterpiece. There’s an overwhelming similarity here, expect Karma: The Dark World makes you feel every chokehold and restriction through the minds of those struggling to exist within the confines of Leviathan’s rule. The horror elements are more than monsters and jump scares. They come from the juxtaposition of deranged encounters and the eeriness in the calm. David Lynch would have been proud of how the developers manage to create a surreal and experimental world that changes when you don’t expect, and surprises you when you’re just starting to get used to it.
From the first investigation, you feel uncomfortable as a voyeur in the employees you are tasked to learn about. These ‘crimes’ don’t have ends that justify the means, and having to uncover personal memories to discover the truth never feels right. It’s such a clever concept that continually impressed me. That balance of doing your job for Leviathan amidst being at peace with your conscience is a fascinating concept. As you are exploring the minds of the employees, the puzzles you are solving follow familiar tropes of the survival horror genre akin to the likes seen in Silent Hill. Although, Karma manages to do so in refreshing ways.
Items are scattered around that may have something relating to a later puzzle. Sequences of numbers and words need to be paid attention to and learned. Everything that looks like it has a purpose probably does. Investigating crime scenes needs to be as thorough as it can be, and it never gets boring. Finding passwords, unlocking doors, and all those familiar challenges make up a large part of Karma: The Dark World, always dragging you deeper and deeper into a story that slowly starts to blow you away with every discovery. When locations are manipulated visually, things get even better.
It reminded me of Layers of Fear in the way subtle changes and grander ones open up the environment. Never can you get used to your surroundings as there is always something to keep your heartrate above normal. One of the earlier areas reminded me a lot of Twin Peaks and the Red Room, and I was always enamoured by the design choices of Pollard Studio. The lighting is fantastic, the creepiness is always on point, and the omnipresence of Leviathan is threaded into every facet of the locations you are tasked with exploring.
While it is a psychological horror at its core, Karma: The Dark World makes you answer questions about what the real threat is. Monsters are lurking in the shadows, but are they really the enemy? Humanity’s need to control in search of greed and power is just as terrifying as some bloodied monstrosity, and the terror comes in the time after playing when you’re left thinking about some of the powerful story moments that weigh heavy on your mind. It’s a darkly fascinating game that fulfils all the things I want out of a horror title, and while some of the puzzles are tough and getting around is slow at times, there’s no denying this is definitely one of the best horror titles of the year so far.
