《黑暗世界：因與果》（ KARMA: The Dark World）是由中國上海的月壤工作室（Pollard Studio）開發，並由Wired Productions與Gamera Games聯合發行的第一人稱電影式心理驚悚遊戲。以1984年的東德為背景，構建出一個喬治・歐威爾式的反烏托邦世界，主題圍繞記憶操控、社會監控與人性的崩塌。PC與PlayStation 5版本於2025年3月27日全球推出，而Xbox Series X/S版本則於同年9月10日上市。

故事圍繞著「利維坦公司」（Leviathan Corporation）展開，這是一個全能的極權企業，以思想控制、階級制度、心智藥物及對「忠誠者」的天堂承諾，構築出對社會的全面掌控。玩家將化身為思想局的「Roam幹員」丹尼爾·麥戈文（Daniel McGovern），他的職責是利用名為「腦潛」（Neuro-Dive）的先進技術潛入嫌疑人的記憶，從思想深處追尋真相。玩家將在他人的意識世界中重現犯罪現場，與記憶中的人物對話，拼湊被改寫的過去，並最終揭開一個充滿陰謀、背叛與悲劇的故事。

隨著調查的深入，現實與幻覺的界線逐漸模糊。玩家所見的景象可能並非真實，而潛意識中的恐懼與創傷則會逐步浮現。這場精神之旅不僅是一場偵查任務，更是一場關於理智與自我的考驗。丹尼爾在尋找真相的同時，必須直面自己內心的罪與罰。

採用虛幻引擎5打造，結合Lumen與Nanite技術，呈現出極具張力的電影級畫面。場景設計以冷峻的工業風格為主，輔以超現實的意識空間，從廢墟般的審訊室到變形的記憶迷宮，每一處都象徵著心靈的崩解。角色的動作捕捉與面部表情逼真細膩，搭配杜比全景聲的原創配樂，營造出強烈的沉浸感與心理壓迫感。音樂融合傳統交響與電子實驗音色，使玩家彷彿置身於一場冷酷卻詩意的夢境。

在玩法上，以敘事探索為核心，融合環境解謎、文檔搜集與心理互動元素。遊戲中期更引入類似《零》（Fatal Frame）的相機機制，透過攝影鏡頭觀察、驅逐潛藏在記憶世界中的幻影。部分章節採用意識流敘事手法，例如在「蕾切爾篇」中，整個場景被設計為黑白的精神迷宮，需在象徵性的畫面中尋找真相。謎題的設計兼具文化特色，其中甚至融入中國公務員考試常見的圖形推理題，強化「思想審問」的氛圍。

劇情結構採用非線性與碎片化敘事，過去與現在、現實與夢境不斷交錯。整體故事圍繞三位被利維坦體制所摧毀的普通人展開，透過他們的記憶，揭示出個體在極權社會下的掙扎與悲劇。主題探討愛、親情、階級、以及「人性在控制中的失衡」。運用大量隱喻與象徵手法，例如以顯示器取代人頭的設計象徵人格的泯滅，暗示現代人被制度與科技異化的現實。結局中，年老的丹尼爾與姐姐重逢擁抱，象徵著人類最終仍須回歸現實與愛的本質。

在市場評價方面，自曝光以來便受到玩家與媒體的高度關注。歐美媒體將其譽為「東歐風格與亞洲敘事融合的心理驚悚新典範」，認為其視覺呈現與敘事風格介於《控制》（Control）與《生化奇兵》（BioShock）之間。IGN與PC Gamer在早期試玩報告中稱讚其藝術指導與沉浸氛圍「達到電影級別」，特別是對反烏托邦世界的細節描繪與思想層面的反思令人印象深刻。不過，也有評論指出遊戲的節奏偏慢，部分謎題過於抽象，需要耐心與理解力方能體會其深層寓意。

總體而言，《黑暗世界：因與果》被視為中國獨立敘事遊戲在國際舞台上一次重要的突破之作。不僅在技術層面上達到高水準，更在思想與藝術表達上展現出獨特深度，成為2025年最受矚目的心理驚悚新作之一。

 KARMA: The Dark World is a first-person cinematic psychological thriller set in a dystopian reimagining of East Germany in 1984. Developed by Pollard Studio in Shanghai and published by Wired Productions and Gamera Games, the title will release for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 5 on March 27, 2025, with the Xbox Series X/S version scheduled for September 10, 2025.

The story unfolds in a society ruled by Leviathan Corporation, a totalitarian megacorp that enforces control through mass surveillance, social stratification, mind-altering drugs, and the promise of a “paradise” reserved for the obedient. Players assume the role of Daniel McGovern, an operative in Leviathan’s Thought Bureau, known as a Roam Agent. Using a neural technology called Mind Dive, Daniel can enter the memories of suspects, reliving events, interrogating their subconscious, and uncovering hidden truths buried beneath layers of deceit and manipulation.

As Daniel delves deeper into the minds of others, the boundary between reality and illusion begins to blur. Horrors, both psychological and supernatural, emerge from the recesses of memory. What begins as a simple investigation soon spirals into a descent into paranoia, love, loss, and betrayal. The narrative constantly challenges the player’s perception of truth and sanity—forcing them to ask: Can you trust what you see when the mind itself is compromised?

The game is powered by Unreal Engine 5, utilizing Lumen and Nanite technologies to deliver an astonishingly realistic and cinematic visual experience. The environments blend industrial decay with surreal dreamscapes, reflecting both the oppressive control of Leviathan and the fractured nature of human consciousness. Detailed motion-capture performances and atmospheric lighting heighten the sense of immersion. The original soundtrack, created in collaboration with Dolby Atmos, fuses orchestral and electronic elements, drawing players into the haunting, film-like world of Karma.

Gameplay is narrative-driven, focusing on psychological exploration, environmental puzzles, and investigative mechanics. Players gather evidence, examine documents, and experience memories through shifting perspectives. Midway through the game, a unique camera system—reminiscent of Fatal Frame—is introduced, allowing players to reveal and dispel hidden entities within the memory world. Several segments employ surreal and dreamlike techniques; one standout chapter features a monochrome “memory labyrinth,” where players navigate through internal monologues rendered as visual symbolism. Puzzles range from classic environmental interactions to logic-based pattern recognition inspired by civil service exams in China, adding a cultural layer to the game’s psychological themes.

The storytelling is nonlinear and fragmented, weaving together timelines and perspectives like a waking dream. It follows three individuals whose lives are destroyed by Leviathan’s regime, offering a poignant reflection on humanity under authoritarianism. Themes of family, love, class conflict, and personal freedom intertwine throughout, accompanied by striking metaphors—such as characters with monitors in place of heads, representing the loss of identity in a mechanized society. The game’s conclusion, featuring an elderly Daniel reuniting with his sister, conveys a deeply emotional message about reconciliation, forgiveness, and returning to reality after living too long in illusion.

Critically, Dark World: Karma has garnered significant anticipation in both Eastern and Western gaming circles. Early previews from IGN and PC Gamer praised its “cinematic artistry” and “haunting Orwellian atmosphere,” likening its tone to a blend of Control and BioShock. Reviewers highlighted its exceptional art direction and thought-provoking social commentary, noting that its slow pacing and abstract puzzles may demand patience from players who seek deeper psychological experiences.

Overall,  KARMA: The Dark World stands as a landmark achievement for Chinese narrative-driven games, combining technical mastery with philosophical storytelling. It explores the fragility of memory, the weight of surveillance, and the human yearning for truth and love in a world built on control—cementing its place as one of the most anticipated psychological thrillers of 2025.