Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 73 | 110 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 91% | 85 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 49 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 89% | 83 | 1611 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (May 22, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 1611 total reviews in window · weighted 172.8 up / 31.3 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (74)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Karma: The Dark World is less about what you do and more about what it makes you feel. It’s a game built on mood, metaphor, and meaning, not on combat or action. And for those willing to let it pull them under, it delivers a rich, unsettling experience that lingers long after the credits roll. This isn’t horror by convention. It’s horror by erosion, of self, of memory, of trust in the systems around you. And that makes it far more chilling than anything with a shotgun or a monster in a hallway.”
read full review ↗ - 73
“A bewildering story is content to leave players floundering in the dark, but KARMA’s commitment to nonstop weirdness provides some gloriously unhinged nightmare fuel. ”
read full review ↗ - 75
“KARMA: The Dark World is a love letter to David Lynch. While its framing narrative is a little too straightforward, its dream sequences craft nightmarish spaces that linger in the player’s imagination. KARMA won’t be for everybody, but neither are its inspirations. I hope to replay the game soon, revisiting the textual and puzzle box collectibles for additional hints at the future story that Pollard Studio seemingly wants to tell.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Karma: The Dark World is a compilation of popular movies and games, which in its desire to copy got too carried away, losing its own identity.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Karma: The Dark World is a cinematic adventure that raises several questions in a dystopia that doesn't need cheap tricks to make us feel terror. Pollard Studio offers a slow-paced, cerebral adventure. It's no surprise that its developers took certain elements from quite complex sources with the aim of carefully crafting their project. The atmosphere achieved through its visuals and sound is superb, highlighting the nuances of powerful and delicate musical pieces that only serve to increase the uncertainty.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Karma Dark World isn't a game for everyone. But if you do love experiencing a strong narrative and cinematic gameplay, you owe it to yourself to experience this gem.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Finishing KARMA: The Dark World leaves a lasting, visceral impression- a psychological weight that persists beyond the credits, compelling reflection on the game’s themes. The experience does not cater to instant gratification or easy approval; it aims to leave a profound and enduring mark, even if that means discomfort or unease. The game stands out for its rare artistic cohesion and the courage with which it sustains an uncompromising auteur vision. Its combination of fragmented, ambiguous narrative, oppressive world-building, and minimalist gameplay creates an experience that transcends conventional entertainment, leaning toward introspective and conceptual engagement. Players often feel more like observers than participants; yet this apparent passivity is integral to the work’s message, amplifying the intended sense of helplessness and alienation. Limitations, such as occasional visual repetition or a restricted range of interactions, are secondary to the overall impact. KARMA: The Dark World demands attentiveness, patience, and emotional sensitivity. It rewards those who embrace its slow, contemplative rhythm, immersive observation, and reflective engagement. Its power lies in evoking psychological tension and unease without resorting to cheap tricks or gratuitous visual shocks, relying instead on atmosphere, sound, and symbolism. It is an imperfect work, perhaps, but profoundly honest and raw, expressing something deeply personal and authentic. The final sequence is particularly memorable, capable of unsettling, moving, and resonating on an intimate emotional level. In an increasingly homogenized gaming landscape, KARMA: The Dark World stands out as a rare, intense, and indispensable experience for those seeking not just entertainment, but meaningful engagement.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Karma: The Dark World is a game where action is almost nonexistent. On the other hand, it offers a surprising and disturbing journey through the psyche of an individual and the system that pulverises them to the ground. If you enjoy games like SOMA or Observer, look no further, this game is for you!”
read full review ↗ - 70
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The game is distinguished by its deep and symbolically charged story, which discusses existential human issues and psychological conflicts that touch the player on a personal and emotional level. It is an experience that leaves an unforgettable inner impression, and embodies the ability of video games to be a sophisticated means of artistic expression.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“KARMA: The Dark World is one of the best walking simulators I've played in recent times, purely because of its visual identity, its themes and the way it builds its universe.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“KARMA: The Dark World is an ambitious debut from Pollard Studio that lingers in the memory despite its weaknesses, the first hours rank among the best the genre has to offer, disturbing, intelligent and visually stunning, even if it can't maintain that level across its full runtime.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
The Punished Backlog
GameMAG
La Orden del Pixel
Seasoned Gaming
Indie Games Devel
EmuGlx.org
Cubed3
ReGame It
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gamefinity…and 62 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks 1.0 Launches on SteamMay 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Free Filter Mode Update Out Now!May 13, 2025
- KARMA: First Post Launch Patch!Apr 3, 2025
- KARMA: The Dark World Demo UpdateMar 21, 2025
- Demo Update and New Trailer!Oct 24, 2024
- Karma Next Fest Activities UpdateOct 16, 2024