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Kentucky Route Zero (2013)

Cardboard Computer

Android · Linux · Mac · PC (Microsoft Windows) · iOS

3.71 from 440 ratings

2484 members have it in their collection · 125 playing now · 1462 backlogged · 509 wish listed

How long? Main story 10h · with extras 13h · 100% 20h (from 18 logged playthroughs)

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 … Read more
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 and Tamas Kemenczy). The game's soundtrack features an original electronic score by Ben Babbitt along with a suite of old hymns & bluegrass standards recorded by The Bedquilt Ramblers. Read less
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Details

Developers
Cardboard Computer
Publishers
Cardboard Computer, Netflix
Genres
Adventure, Indie, Point-and-click
Themes
Drama, Thriller
Event
Netflix Geeked Week 2022
Steam
View on Steam

Release dates

  • Jan 07, 2013 (Worldwide) Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
  • Dec 06, 2022 (Worldwide) Android
  • Dec 13, 2022 (Worldwide) iOS

Also available on

Related

Standalone expansions

Episodes

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Featured in lists

Vote on Grouvee's Favorite Game Stories! by shinespark · 47 games · 4
BMO’s All-time Favourites by BMO · 9 games · 3
migraine friendly <3 by sonflower · 35 games · 2
in my heart by sonflower · 22 games · 1
Top 10 Games Played in 2023 by felixm85 · 10 games · 0
Favourites Played in 2021 by BMO · 23 games · 0

Rating distribution

5 stars
151
4 stars
113
3 stars
95
2 stars
59
1 star
22
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Community All Reviews Statuses

DarkBeing

Status DarkBeing Mar 28, 2025

I finally finished Act I and it only took me 12 years.

I originally bought the game directly from the dev's website, when it was only 1 act. Played it for 20 minutes and quit. Then the dev gave anyone who bought the game the Steam version for free. Plated it again for around 20 minutes and quit again...

Now …

Read more

I finally finished Act I and it only took me 12 years.

I originally bought the game directly from the dev's website, when it was only 1 act. Played it for 20 minutes and quit. Then the dev gave anyone who bought the game the Steam version for free. Plated it again for around 20 minutes and quit again...

Now that game's on Netflix and I can play it in short bursts on my phone, I've finally got through the entire act.

Hooray for me!

Read less
2 Comment Permalink
spaceybirdie

Status spaceybirdie Feb 23, 2025

Tried to force myself to go to an open mic this evening... ended up with Kentucky Route Zero instead. This game rewarded my cowardice in droves, once again. So far, this game is absolute brilliance - it makes full, sprawling use of its medium. I don't know how I'm going to pick examples when the time comes to write my …

Read more

Tried to force myself to go to an open mic this evening... ended up with Kentucky Route Zero instead. This game rewarded my cowardice in droves, once again. So far, this game is absolute brilliance - it makes full, sprawling use of its medium. I don't know how I'm going to pick examples when the time comes to write my review. Every scene is striking. It's just so, so seamless. And how?! It has so much to sew together!

Read less
3 Comment Permalink
spaceybirdie

Status spaceybirdie Feb 22, 2025

Was hankering for something new, strange and depressing and remembered that this game has been sitting in my library for a while. I've just finished act 1 and I am so very on board. This is exactly the kind of poetic bullshit that gets me going. Very Night in the Woods adjacent so far, but more untethered and erratic. So …

Read more

Was hankering for something new, strange and depressing and remembered that this game has been sitting in my library for a while. I've just finished act 1 and I am so very on board. This is exactly the kind of poetic bullshit that gets me going. Very Night in the Woods adjacent so far, but more untethered and erratic. So far, the writing reminds me of Cultist Simulator - and I mean that with high compliments :)

Read less
3 Comment Permalink
BMO

Status BMO Nov 1, 2022

I'm really feeling an urge to replay some favourites to close out the year, rather than play anything new. I plan to play Sonic Frontiers when it drops next week, but I've started lining up games I want to replay after I'm done with that:

  • Sable
  • Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Kentucky Route Zero
  • Minute of Islands
  • Death's Door

One of …

Read more

I'm really feeling an urge to replay some favourites to close out the year, rather than play anything new. I plan to play Sonic Frontiers when it drops next week, but I've started lining up games I want to replay after I'm done with that:

  • Sable
  • Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Kentucky Route Zero
  • Minute of Islands
  • Death's Door

One of the incentives to replay the titles above, aside from a deep desire to return to their worlds, is that I can play them all handheld. That opens the door to playing in various cozy setups rather than in front of the TV.

Read less
2 Comment Permalink
Jeslie

Status Jeslie Apr 12, 2022

Well, KRZ appears to be one of those games that's a masterpiece to 90% of the world and then there's me off to the side going "I don't get it."

1 Comment Permalink
BMO

Status BMO Mar 14, 2022

Maybe I need to replay Kentucky Route Zero and remember what it means to love a video game experience.

1 Comment Permalink
BMO

Status BMO Dec 1, 2021

I was clearly in a mood this year:

Spotify Year in Review: my Top Genres

  1. Video Game Music
  2. Synthwave
  3. Experimental Rock
  4. Video Game Soundtrack
  5. Ambient

Spotify Year in Review: my Top Artists

  1. Ben Babbit
  2. Power Glove
  3. Radiohead
  4. scntfc
  5. DJ Shub

Spotify Year in Review: my Audio Aura was ecstatic and wistful

Read more

I was clearly in a mood this year:

Spotify Year in Review: my Top Genres

  1. Video Game Music
  2. Synthwave
  3. Experimental Rock
  4. Video Game Soundtrack
  5. Ambient

Spotify Year in Review: my Top Artists

  1. Ben Babbit
  2. Power Glove
  3. Radiohead
  4. scntfc
  5. DJ Shub

Spotify Year in Review: my Audio Aura was ecstatic and wistful

Read less
1 Comment Permalink
cwknight

Status cwknight Jun 25, 2021

People say they love this game but if the gaming community at large actually did love this game as much as they say they do, there would be a helluvalot more memes featuring the closing scene of the game and Parks and Rec 5,000 Candles In the Wind

1 Comment Permalink
BMO

Status BMO Feb 18, 2021

I finished chapter five last night and I’m still digesting this game. I have a lot of feelings about it. A lot of them quite strong. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced anything you can call Real public interaction and this game was like experiencing life again, cold turkey. It was something and I’m still processing that something.

I …

Read more

I finished chapter five last night and I’m still digesting this game. I have a lot of feelings about it. A lot of them quite strong. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced anything you can call Real public interaction and this game was like experiencing life again, cold turkey. It was something and I’m still processing that something.

I can tell you one thing. Right about now I have a strong desire to go back to the Lower Depths and watch Junebug and Johnny perform. It’s real powerful strong.

enter image description here

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3 Comment Permalink
BMO

Status BMO Feb 12, 2021

I received my copy of the Kentucky Route Zero TV edition from iam8bit today. Now I have a dilemma. I was going to play Paradise Killer after finishing Sunset Overdrive, but maybe I should play Kentucky Route Zero instead.

enter image description here

2 Comment Permalink
itamar

Status itamar Aug 22, 2020

So, I've now played the final act. It is more of a dreamy interactive art display than game, even more so than the previous parts. Also, more boring. While meticulously built, with great visuals, especially lighting and animation, this time around the exploration is all verbal. Truth be told, I think I'd enjoy it better as a book or article …

Read more

So, I've now played the final act. It is more of a dreamy interactive art display than game, even more so than the previous parts. Also, more boring. While meticulously built, with great visuals, especially lighting and animation, this time around the exploration is all verbal. Truth be told, I think I'd enjoy it better as a book or article to read than running around a soon-to-be- deserted town.

Read less
1 Comment Permalink