Karma. Incarnation 1 similar games & best alternatives

Karma. Incarnation 1

Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One • 2016

Should you play it?

This multi-award winning adventure game explores a love story between two beautiful souls through ingenious humour, mind bending puzzles and a bizarre, hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animation style.

What works
  • Unique psychedelic art style
  • Engaging moral choice system
  • Beautiful music and sound design
  • Relaxing and immersive atmosphere
  • Good value for price
Things to keep in mind
  • Short game length
  • Slow and unskippable animations
  • Some puzzles can be confusing or illogical
  • Lack of language or textual guidance
  • Only first part of planned trilogy with no confirmed sequels

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

  • Sam & Max Save the World

  • Fatum Betula

  • Wytchwood

  • The Journey Down: Chapter Two

  • Moral Dilemma: The Interview

  • Demetrios - The BIG Cynical Adventure

  • Rusty Lake Hotel

  • Monument Valley
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

  • Fatum Betula

  • The Journey Down: Chapter Two
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Karma. Incarnation 1: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players can make choices that affect story outcomes and character relationships, indicating some control over actions and decisions."

    Capsule for Dreamland Dreamland

    "Players can make moral choices (good or evil actions) affecting the story and character appearance, indicating some control over decisions."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    1

    "Puzzles are generally easy and straightforward, with some minor challenge; gameplay is simple point-and-click with limited skill demands."

    Capsule for The Descendant The Descendant

    "Puzzles are generally easy and casual with some occasional challenge; gameplay is simple point-and-click with some minor frustrations."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on individual exploration and puzzle solving."

    Capsule for Firmament Firmament

    "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on individual exploration and puzzle solving."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report being engaged and wanting to replay for multiple endings despite some frustrations."

    Capsule for Spirit Hunter: Death Mark Spirit Hunter: Death Mark

    "Many players report being engaged for multiple hours and wanting to replay for alternate endings, though the game is short."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative features."

    Capsule for What Remains of Edith Finch What Remains of Edith Finch

    "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative features."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    5

    "Highly creative and unique art style, surreal and psychedelic visuals, and inventive puzzle design."

    Capsule for Happy Game Happy Game

    "Highly creative psychedelic art style, unique world design, and visual storytelling with no text."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No social dominance or power dynamics; interactions are individual and non-competitive."

    Capsule for Melody's Escape Melody's Escape

    "No social dominance or power dynamics; interactions are equal and non-competitive."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    5

    "Strong escapism through surreal, psychedelic, and dreamlike storytelling and atmosphere."

    Capsule for Critters for Sale Critters for Sale

    "Strong escapism through surreal, psychedelic visuals and immersive atmosphere."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -5

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and curiosity, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for The Hex The Hex

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and curiosity; no obligation or external pressure noted."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players explore different endings and moral paths, experimenting with choices and strategies."

    Capsule for Papers, Please Papers, Please

    "Players explore different moral choices and alternate endings, encouraging experimentation."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Exploration of multiple distinct and surreal environments is central to gameplay and story progression."

    Capsule for Fran Bow Fran Bow

    "Exploration of multiple distinct, colorful, and surreal environments with hidden details and astral sight."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Character appearance changes with items, allowing some degree of self-expression."

    Capsule for The Binding of Isaac The Binding of Isaac

    "Character appearance changes based on karma choices, allowing some self-expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Highly imaginative, surreal, and psychedelic fictional world with spiritual and mythological themes."

    Capsule for Disillusion Disillusion

    "Highly imaginative and psychedelic fantasy world with surreal creatures and story."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player."

    Capsule for Mafia: Definitive Edition Mafia: Definitive Edition

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    1

    "Some learning involved in puzzle solving and understanding game mechanics, but limited."

    Capsule for SCP: Daybreak SCP: Daybreak

    "Some learning through puzzle solving and understanding game mechanics, but mostly casual."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of point-and-click adventure games."

    Capsule for Syberia: The World Before Syberia: The World Before

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of point-and-click adventure games."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires player attention throughout; some slow pacing and loading screens but no background play."

    Capsule for Silence Silence

    "Requires player attention; slow animations may cause some waiting but not background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing."

    Capsule for Pumped BMX + Pumped BMX +

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements."

    Capsule for High On Life High On Life

    "No leadership or group management elements."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Some character customization and story choices provide a sense of progression, but no item accumulation."

    Capsule for The Artful Escape The Artful Escape

    "Some progression through collecting items and karma-based character changes, but limited complexity."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    4

    "Relaxing and immersive with calming music and visuals, though some find motion unsettling."

    Capsule for Senza Peso Senza Peso

    "Relaxing and immersive experience with calming music and smooth animations."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    4

    "Vivid, colorful psychedelic graphics and electronic music provide strong sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Cosmic DJ Cosmic DJ

    "Vibrant psychedelic visuals and unique sound design provide strong sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems."

    Capsule for Alan Wake Alan Wake

    "No social recognition or status systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Narrative is linear but engaging with multiple endings and character interactions."

    Capsule for Dark Messiah of Might & Magic Dark Messiah of Might & Magic

    "Narrative told visually with moral choices affecting endings; story is abstract but engaging."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    1

    "Some puzzle solving and logical thinking required but overall straightforward gameplay."

    Capsule for Adam Wolfe Adam Wolfe

    "Simple puzzle solving with some logical thinking but mostly straightforward gameplay."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    0

    "Little evidence of suspense or thrill; experience is calm and steady."

    Capsule for Locked In Mind Locked In Mind

    "No strong evidence of suspense or thrill; experience is more contemplative and relaxed."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players widely report excellent value for money given game length, quality, and replayability."

    Capsule for Dollmare Dollmare

    "Players report excellent value for money given the art, music, and unique experience despite short length."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    1

    "Combat against pests and predators present but not emphasized; violence is mild and cartoonish."

    Capsule for The Mims Beginning The Mims Beginning

    "Some choices involve killing or harming creatures, but violence is mild and part of moral system."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival or threat mechanics; stable, low-risk environment."

    Capsule for The Talos Principle The Talos Principle

    "No survival or threat mechanics; stable, low-risk environment."

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Last update: 01/06/2026