The Making of Karateka
Released Aug 2023
Play the history. Go behind the scenes of Jordan Mechner's landmark game Karateka in this interactive documentary from Digital Eclipse, with archival materials, video features, and more. Experience pixel-perfect versions of this legendary game, with all-new features.
98% positive · 136 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam Lowest $5.99 $19.99 −70% IndieGala Steam key $19.99
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Evaluation
The Making of Karateka is an interactive documentary released on August 29, 2023. The store description presents it as a comprehensive, self-contained package: an exhaustive archive of design documents, playable prototypes, video features, pixel-perfect versions of the original games, two remastered titles (Karateka Remastered and Deathbounce: Rebounded), and director's commentary. The language throughout — "comprehensive package," "exhaustive archive," "one comprehensive package" — is consistent with a finished, curated product rather than one designed to receive ongoing additions. There are no unreleased DLC listings, no developer roadmaps, and no post-launch news posts indicating additional content. Digital Eclipse positioned this as a Gold Master Series release, which is a format designed to be a definitive archival product from the outset. The game launched complete and there is no indication of planned post-launch content.
Evidence
Store description presents the game as a comprehensive, self-contained interactive documentary package including archival materials, playable originals, prototypes, and two remastered games — language consistent with a finished product
Short description frames the game as a complete experience with all content included at launch
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Digital Eclipse
Achievements
19
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player
About this game
Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner was a college student when he created one of the biggest-selling games of 1984: Karateka. Now, in a new interactive documentary from Digital Eclipse, the story of how a teenager with an Apple II created one of the most groundbreaking, influential games of all time.
THE ORIGIN STORY OF A LEGENDARY GAME CREATOR
Discover how Karateka was made through an exhaustive archive of design documents, playable prototypes, and all-new video features. Like walking through a museum, you can explore the interactive timelines at your own pace.
PLAY THE ACCLAIMED ORIGINALS
Enjoy pixel-perfect versions of the original Karateka games and a variety of never-before-seen early prototypes, with rich quality-of-life features like save anywhere, rewind, chapter select, and director's commentary.
TWO REMASTERED GAMES
Karateka Remastered is an all-new version of the original game featuring cutting-room-floor content, commentary, achievements, and more. Deathbounce: Rebounded is a fast and frantic twin-stick shooter based on Jordan's unpublished prototype.
A GROUNDBREAKING MASTERPIECE
Discover how Karateka became one of the first games to include cinematic scenes, a moving original soundtrack, rotoscoped animation, and a Hollywood-style love story, influencing the decades of games that followed.
THE GOLD MASTER SERIES
New from Digital Eclipse (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration), the Gold Master Series presents iconic games in an innovative "interactive documentary" format, putting the shared history of games and their creators into one comprehensive package.
THE ORIGIN STORY OF A LEGENDARY GAME CREATOR
Discover how Karateka was made through an exhaustive archive of design documents, playable prototypes, and all-new video features. Like walking through a museum, you can explore the interactive timelines at your own pace.
PLAY THE ACCLAIMED ORIGINALS
Enjoy pixel-perfect versions of the original Karateka games and a variety of never-before-seen early prototypes, with rich quality-of-life features like save anywhere, rewind, chapter select, and director's commentary.
TWO REMASTERED GAMES
Karateka Remastered is an all-new version of the original game featuring cutting-room-floor content, commentary, achievements, and more. Deathbounce: Rebounded is a fast and frantic twin-stick shooter based on Jordan's unpublished prototype.
A GROUNDBREAKING MASTERPIECE
Discover how Karateka became one of the first games to include cinematic scenes, a moving original soundtrack, rotoscoped animation, and a Hollywood-style love story, influencing the decades of games that followed.
THE GOLD MASTER SERIES
New from Digital Eclipse (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration), the Gold Master Series presents iconic games in an innovative "interactive documentary" format, putting the shared history of games and their creators into one comprehensive package.
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 25, 2026
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