KARMA: The Dark World Preview

Will you embrace the truth of reality or succumb to the whispers?

Soon we will be getting a glimpse into a harsh and downtrodden world, where oligarchy has taken hold and the government is controlled by a single corporation. This is a reality where citizens are monitored by AI and live in constant fear of the iron fisted regime taking away what little they hold dear. And no, I’m not talking about current events, although this all sounds disturbingly similar to fears that many of us are currently harboring about the future. In actuality, this is the universe you will find yourself cast into in KARMA: The Dark World, the upcoming cinematic psychological thriller game currently in development by Pollard Studio and published by Wired Productions.

As I strap in for KARMA: The Dark World, I click “Start” and immediately my entire reality is awash with the grim atmosphere of this alternate universe 1976 (the game officially takes place in 1984, but the story is told across a range of years). I am now Agent Daniel McGovern, an investigator for the Leviathan Corporation, the company that governs and surveils every aspect of life here in East Germany. I roll steadily down the street in the backseat of a company car, driven by two employees who are ostensibly human, although it’s hard to tell from the CRT monitors they wear on their heads, almost like helmets. We arrive at the Winston Institute, where I will begin my investigation into the crimes suspected of the clerical office employee Sean Mehndez.

KARMA: The Dark World

I say I’m doing all these things, even though my hands have hardly touched a button on the controller at this point, because KARMA’s graphics and sounds pull me in immediately into this moment. Every crease in the car’s leather seats, every spec on the old photo that Agent McGovern pulls from his wallet, every wheel turn through the rain-covered streets consumes my senses from the very beginning. When Pollard Studio boasts their next generation graphics, it’s not for nothing.

As I step into the research facility to begin my investigation, Fred Ebert, the Head of Section for the organization, saunters down the stairs to greet me. His slimy but placating demeanor met with McGovern’s stern, demanding orders reminds me in a bit of a jolt that I am a physical extension of this dystopian regime right now. It brings up an alarming thought: what might I do next? In this psychological horror game, how many of the horrors will I be responsible for?

KARMA tells us a tale of not only a dark world, but a profoundly sad one, where pleasure is rationed out and joy is savored in brief, secret moments.

KARMA tells us a tale of not only a dark world, but a profoundly sad one, where pleasure is rationed out and joy is savored in brief, secret moments. I find the sadness dripping from every corner of the facility as I poke around to learn more about Mehndez’s alleged theft. Upon finding a pack of sugar cubes in an employee’s desk drawer, Agent McGovern comments that someone must have been secretly snacking during work hours. I feel my stomach drop thinking about the caution and care that this poor employee surely put into smuggling this tiny treat into their office.

As I direct Agent McGovern through the dim and shabby halls of the facility he’s investigating, I encounter large curious-looking computer terminals at fairly regular intervals. At these stations, a mere swipe of McGovern’s access card unlocks video footage of every moment of employee indiscretion caught on camera by the CCTV system. These terminals do double duty in providing excellent opportunities for cleverly designed puzzles and hidden information, while also increasing the suffocating feeling of existing under Leviathan’s watchful gaze. 

KARMA: The Dark World Trailer

I scroll through employee citations for infractions like prolonged time away from their work station, applying makeup during work hours, and accidentally dropping something near an off-limits area. Posted notices indicate that such violations will result in demotions of social class and even disqualification from social class promotion. I find myself thinking that I hope Agent McGovern had remembered to straighten his tie and polish his shoes before clocking in. What other possible infractions might be on the list?

All this said, it quickly becomes clear that the horrors in this game aren’t limited to the many awful details of daily life under dystopian authoritarianism. Haunting sounds and otherworldly echoes start to thrum in my ears as Agent McGovern presses on in his investigation. And without spoiling anything more, it seems that Sean Mehndez left more than just evidence behind in this facility. 

Every new taste we get of KARMA: The Dark World has me anxious to learn more of the disturbing truths behind Agent McGovern’s backstory and Leviathan’s cruel reign. Pollard Studio and Wired Productions have yet to announce a set release date for the title, but it’s suspected we’ll get our hands on the full game sometime in 2025.

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No Small Games is an indie game recap and review podcast brought to you by hosts Kate and Emily! They became friends while streaming on Twitch and bonded over their love of indie video games. In each episode of No Small Games, the two will discuss an indie game they both played independently. They’ll compare their experiences: the good, the bad, their most memorable moments of their playthroughs.

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