Kentucky Route Zero, a point-and-click adventure game made by independent game studio Cardboard Computer, consists of five acts that are individually released in an episodic fashion, with Act I released in January 2013 and Act IV released in July of this year. The fifth and final episode currently has no scheduled release date.
In Kentucky Route Zero, you play as Conway, an old man delivering an antique shipment. He soon learns that his destination is on the mysterious highway Route Zero.
As the player delves into a sci-fi thematic experience with ghosts, giant eagles and many other strange things ready to be discovered, the game quickly becomes more than simply delivering a package.
Void of gameplay mechanics, Kentucky Route Zero uses only a point-and-click system, which allows you to talk to people and observe items in the world. You do have dialogue choices, but they are inconsequential.
Usually having inconsequential choices would be a negative, but here, it’s a positive. The dialogue choices allow you to characterize the main character instead of changing the plot.
In this game, you are not the main character, but merely seeing from the perspective of the main character. The difference is that you are along for the ride, feeling more like an actor in a play than a main character in a game.
We are given no background for Conway, so the player can create his persona through dialogue choices.
For better or worse, you will spend a lot of time reading dialogue. It’s not on the verge of a visual novel, but you will have to enjoy reading to enjoy this game.
Having next to zero gameplay mechanics is fine for me because the value of this game is in its story and setting.
The sci-fi narrative has a unique feel with an Americana or Southern Gothic aesthetic. The beautiful, minimalist art style, with its vague, shadowy landscapes and detailed characters, complements the story nicely. Kentucky Route Zero does an amazing job with simple cinematography and framing.
From the chugging of your truck’s engine to the sounds of owls at night, the sound design, though mostly silent, adds to the game’s tension. Each act also has its own song, all of which are satisfying.
Through the first four acts, I enjoyed the story immensely. Kentucky Route Zero deals with themes ranging from spirituality, debt and finding and losing oneself to the struggles of working class citizens.
If you are looking for a rich narrative with strong thematic elements, compelling visual storytelling and a distinctive storyline, I highly recommend checking out Kentucky Route Zero.

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Courtesy of Cardboard Computer.

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