KARMA: The Dark World is a first-person cinematic psychological thriller set in a dystopian world where the Leviathan Corporation is omnipresent. The year is 1984, the place is East Germany, and things are not quite what they seem.
The Leviathan Corporation is omnipresent. It monitors everything, controls everything, defines the reality of its citizens. Daniel McGovern is an investigation officer for Roam, a service tasked with probing the mental depths of suspect subjects. And what he discovers in the darkest corners of this dystopian world will call into question everything he thought he knew about himself and the society around him.
Developed by Pollard Studio and published by Wired Productions, KARMA: The Dark World is a first-person psychological thriller released in March 2025. It is a 6 to 7 hour cinematic experience that draws on the best of dystopian science-fiction cinema: the visual atmosphere of 1984, the psychological tension of Silent Hill, the layered storytelling of Control. The specialist press called it "a magnificent experience you should not miss if you love cinema and dystopian worlds".
We loved: The visual and sonic atmosphere. KARMA: The Dark World builds ambient oppression of rare effectiveness, with environments that seem to want to crush you, a desaturated colour palette and a soundtrack that oscillates between the subtly unsettling and the overtly nightmarish.
We liked: The narrative depth and work on identity. The game addresses fundamental questions about memory, manipulation and the definition of reality with rare ambition for a debut studio. The environmental storytelling is particularly refined.
Our highlight: The cinema-inspired art direction. KARMA: The Dark World looks like a high-level science-fiction film, with visually striking sequences that stay in the mind well beyond the session. Pollard Studio's work on lighting and shot composition is remarkable.
Our tip to help you: Take time to read every document and observe every environmental detail. KARMA: The Dark World rewards attention: many elements of the main plot are hidden in official reports, propaganda posters and architectural details that seem innocuous at first glance. Re-reading certain documents after key story revelations will make you see the game's first hours in a completely different light.
Who is this game for? KARMA: The Dark World is aimed at players aged 18 and over who enjoy psychological thrillers, dystopian science fiction and narrative games with strong cinematic identity. Particularly recommended for fans of genre cinema and games like Control, Disco Elysium or Layers of Fear.
