The Karaoke | ヒトカラ is a Japanese horror game about a high school girl at a Karaoke.
The game focuses on exploration, atmosphere, and narrative in a first-person perspective. Players navigate a realistic Japanese karaoke bar environment, interacting with objects and characters to uncover the unsettling story.
Players start by attempting to score a basketball shot, which sets the high school tone. The more prominent minigame is the karaoke singing challenge, where players must rhythmically match the lyrics to the music. Many reviewers praise this unique addition, though some found the controls slightly awkward.
Players must carefully explore the karaoke bar, searching for clues and items that unlock different narrative paths. The game features multiple endings, rewarding experimentation and replayability as players make choices to alter the story.
Reviewers highlight the game's ability to craft a tense, unsettling atmosphere despite the lack of supernatural horror elements. The realistic setting and human antagonist contribute to a grounded, relatable dread, enhanced by the effective use of sound design, lighting, and environmental cues.
In certain segments, players must engage in stealth and evasion, hiding from the antagonist and making split-second decisions to avoid detection. This adds an additional layer of gameplay and challenge.