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Syntheses generated by statistical aggregation of player reviews.

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Steam specs (min / recommended)

Minimum: Système d'exploitation et processeur 64 bits nécessaires Système d'exploitation : Windows 10 Processeur : Intel i3 @ 3.0GHz or AMD equivalent. Mémoire vive : 8 GB de mémoire Graphiques : ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series, Nvidia GeForce 8800GT or greater

Recommended: Système d'exploitation et processeur 64 bits nécessaires

The Making of Karateka

Hidden gem
⚔️ Compare View on Steam ↗
Released August 29, 2023
sample: 135 reviews posted after launch (111 AI-classified)
96/100
Player Score — positive reviews weighted by volume · Steam history: 99 % · 135 reviews (« Very Positive »)
Critics' score : 90/100 (Metacritic)
19,50€🛒 Compare on Instant Gamingaffiliate link

The Making of Karateka is a highly praised action game with a unique focus on storytelling and preservation. With a near-perfect reception, players are immersed in its nostalgic and interactive documentary format, offering an engaging experience.

What it's about: Découvrez les coulisses de Karateka, le jeu phare de Jordan Mechner, dans ce documentaire interactif de Digital Eclipse incluant des archives, des vidéos et plus encore. Profitez de versions de ce jeu légendaire reproduites au pixel près et de fonctionnalités inédites.

In-game

Screenshot The Making of KaratekaScreenshot The Making of KaratekaScreenshot The Making of KaratekaScreenshot The Making of KaratekaScreenshot The Making of KaratekaScreenshot The Making of Karateka
« The new standard for digital game preservation »
👍 anonymous review · Aug 2023 · 0 h played1
« This is the future of commercial game preservation. This is the ludic Criterion Collection. Hats off! »
👍 anonymous review · Jan 2024 · 2 h played1
« now THIS is game preservation at its best digital eclipse please make more of these i will give you so much money »
👍 anonymous review · Apr 2024 · 5 h played1
« Never played Karateka, but there's so much detailed information in this docu-game and it's presented in such a compelling way that you can't help but explore everything. A Golden Standard, seriously. »
👍 anonymous review · Aug 2023 · 4 h played
« There's a lot of relatively uninteresting documents. Instead of the detailed mail exchanges between Mechner and Broderbund, I would appreciate some in-depth look on the source code of Karateka. I appreciate the analysis of the music. »
👎 anonymous review · Sep 2024 · 10 h played
« This interactive documentary is well-executed. It's also important for preservation. Please don't wait until it's on sale: support the developers so they can keep making great things! »
👍 anonymous review · Sep 2023 · 15 h played1
« Makes every Namco Museum look like a pile of old roms in comparison »
👍 anonymous review · Nov 2023 · 4 h played1
« I played Karateka back in 1985, both in an Apple II and a C64. I spent hours in this game, finished it many times. I love that this interactive documentary exists. It is indeed a triumph of game preservation and we need more like it! »
👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 1 h played

In players' words

« The new standard for digital game preservation »
👍 anonymous review · Aug 2023 · 0 h played1
« There's a lot of relatively uninteresting documents. Instead of the detailed mail exchanges between Mechner and Broderbund, I would appreciate some in-depth look on the source code of Karateka. I appreciate the analysis of the music. »
👎 anonymous review · Sep 2024 · 10 h played
« This is the future of commercial game preservation. This is the ludic Criterion Collection. Hats off! »
👍 anonymous review · Jan 2024 · 2 h played1
« This interactive documentary is well-executed. It's also important for preservation. Please don't wait until it's on sale: support the developers so they can keep making great things! »
👍 anonymous review · Sep 2023 · 15 h played1
« now THIS is game preservation at its best digital eclipse please make more of these i will give you so much money »
👍 anonymous review · Apr 2024 · 5 h played1
« Makes every Namco Museum look like a pile of old roms in comparison »
👍 anonymous review · Nov 2023 · 4 h played1
« Never played Karateka, but there's so much detailed information in this docu-game and it's presented in such a compelling way that you can't help but explore everything. A Golden Standard, seriously. »
👍 anonymous review · Aug 2023 · 4 h played
« I played Karateka back in 1985, both in an Apple II and a C64. I spent hours in this game, finished it many times. I love that this interactive documentary exists. It is indeed a triumph of game preservation and we need more like it! »
👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 1 h played

Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.

What players say, by aspect

Positive Mixed Negative
Story / writing
99 % pos · n=88
Content / longevity
99 % pos · n=85
Gameplay
98 % pos · n=40
Performance
96 % pos · n=27
Graphics / art
100 % pos · n=9
Audio / music
71 % pos · n=7
Value for money
67 % pos · n=6
Interface / UX
80 % pos · n=5
Stability / bugs
100 % pos · n=1
Detailed data (table)
AspectMentionsPositiveMixedNegative
Story / writing888710
Content / longevity858401
Gameplay403901
Performance272601
Graphics / art9900
Audio / music7511
Value for money6402
Interface / UX5401
Stability / bugs1100

Positive reviews by playtime

<2h
100 % (n=21)
2-10h
100 % (n=96)
10-25h
88 % (n=17)
>25h
100 % (n=1)

💶 Price history

€3.81€8.24€12.67€17.10€21.54€5.85

Steam price tracked automatically since Aug 27, 2026 · All-time low: €5.85 (Aug 27, 2026)

100% completion difficulty ("platinum")

0,5 % Hardcore

of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 19 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 8,5 % of players.

What creators say (YouTube)

No indexed video for this game yet.

See The Making of Karateka videos on YouTube →

This game on Twitch

Strengths

  • Storytelling dominates the praise: 87 positive mentions out of 88, highlighting the game's immersive and nostalgic narrative.
  • Gameplay receives 39 positive mentions out of 40, indicating a well-received and engaging experience.
  • Performance and graphics are appreciated by players, with 26 positive mentions for performance and 9 positive mentions for graphics, suggesting a visually appealing and smooth experience.
  • Content is a strong point, with 84 positive mentions out of 85, indicating a rich and satisfying game world.

Weaknesses

  • Audio has mixed reviews, with only 5 positive mentions out of 7, potentially indicating some issues with sound design or implementation.
  • Price is a concern for some, with 2 negative mentions out of 6, suggesting that the game's value may not align with its cost for all players.
  • UI could use some refinement, as indicated by 1 negative mention out of 5, possibly pointing to navigation or interface issues.

Who is it for?

This game will appeal to players seeking a unique, interactive documentary experience. With its focus on storytelling and preservation, it offers a nostalgic journey through the development of Karateka, providing an engaging and immersive adventure.

Is The Making of Karateka worth it in 2026?

Overall yes, the community is won over: 99% of 135 Steam reviews are positive (player score 96/100). Most-praised strength: Storytelling dominates the praise. Current price: 19,50€.

Verdict

The Making of Karateka is a near-perfect experience, praised for its storytelling, gameplay, and immersive content. While some minor issues with audio, price, and UI have been noted, the overall reception is exceptional, making it a must-play for fans of interactive documentaries and action games alike.

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The Making of Karateka: 96/100 by players — Gamer Reviews

Most frequent keywords

préservation (39)histoire (36)documentaire (26)nostalgie (22)rétro (10)format (9)interactif (8)développement (7)innovation (6)création (6)remaster (6)design (5)

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