87
CRITIK
Kentucky Route Zero is a magical realist adventure game about a secret highway in the caves beneath Kentucky, and the mysterious folks who travel it. Gameplay is inspired by point-and-click adventure games (like the classic Monkey Island or King's Quest series, or more recently Telltale's Walking Dead series), but focused on characterization, atmosphere and storytelling rather than clever puzzles or challenges of skill. The game is developed by Cardboard Computer (Jake Elliott, Tamas Kemenczy, and Ben Babbitt), and features an original electronic score by Ben Babbitt along with a suite of old hymns & bluegrass standards recorded by The Bedquilt Ramblers.
Game analysis
Critik Scorecard
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Reviews
54 reviews found100
Nintendo Enthusiast
Feb 10, 2020
Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition is an overall landmark effort in the realm of video games. It explores various facets of the medium’s abilities with storytelling and evocatively shifts its gameplay and gorgeous visuals to keep things interesting. Paying dividends if you decide to input your own personality, it’s a work of art that I can’t recommend enough.
100
Gaming Age
Feb 4, 2020
Even if the typical story-driven adventure game isn’t quite your thing, I think the overall experience is so unique that there’s a good possibility you’ll see past the style of gameplay, and still manage to see what makes this game so affecting. So give it a shot on whatever platform you have access to, you won’t be disappointed.
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100
Slant Magazine
Feb 1, 2020
Kentucky Route Zero is about America in a way that few games aspire to be and fewer still succeed at, as its deceptively quiet story gives way to something odd, sad, and brimming with humanity. Though the game begins with Conway, an old man who drives a sputtering delivery truck for a floundering antique store, the cast gradually expands with each act.
100
Malditos Nerds
Feb 5, 2020
Summary and quote unavailable.
100
Windows Central
Feb 4, 2020
There are few other games like Kentucky Route Zero. The point-and-click/text-based adventure captures the economic anxieties and the loneliness of America in 2020, but it still manages to be hopeful amongst the tragedy. You don't want to miss this. For - Somber look into America in 2020 - Gorgeous art style - Haunting music - Really nails the landing - Plays around with interactivity beautifully Against - Movement can be janky Annapurna Interactive provided Windows Central with an Xbox One code for the purposes of this review. But what is Kentucky Route Zero about? It's tough to truly explain what Kentucky Route Zero is without spoiling it because it's absolutely worth experiencing without knowing much ahead of time.
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100
Screen Rant
Feb 3, 2020
Kentucky Route Zero isn’t a game for everyone, and as a piece of art it is bizarre and gives no clear answers. However, it doesn't have to, and instead allows its characters the room to breathe and push forward its themes in a way that very few games have been able to manage. Kentucky Route Zero has a finale well worth the wait, and a complete package that stands as one of the most interesting video games ever created. More: Neo Cab Review: An Excellent Tech Dystopia Deep Dive Kentucky Route Zero is out now for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
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100
TheGamer
Feb 2, 2020
What I can say, is that Kentucky Route Zero is a beautiful game. It is also a tragic game, a boring game, and perhaps not even a game at all. I love to have the discussion about art and entertainment, and I'm so happy for those who have found Kentucky Route Zero and how much it means to them.
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100
Digital Chumps
Aug 21, 2023
Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition from developer Cardboard Computer is still a work of art after all these years. The game is thick in story, choices, and interesting characters that you never want to ignore.
100
TheXboxHub
Feb 9, 2020
Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition on Xbox One is a one-off game. In fact, I doubt we will see a game like this for years to come. Lovers of action, frantic gameplay and lack of narratives won’t find much in here I’m afraid, however those who love stories and how narratives shape our lives will utterly adore this game. It’s strange, weird and bizarre but that’s the genius of it all.
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95
Gaming Nexus
Mar 31, 2020
Part point-and-click radio play, part adventure game audiobook, Kentucky route Zero is as much of a journey in sound as it is a meditation on surrealism. I’d nominate it for the Booker Prize in literature before I’d hand it a Keighley statue at the Video Game Awards. * The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company. Randy gravitates toward anything open world, open ended, and open to interpretation.
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