another instant favourite. i adored the very empathetic, human exploration of varying personal impacts and experiences with capitalism, colonialism, and some of the displacement, dissatisfaction, and need for community as a means to survive that all accompanies these systems.

the haunting surrealism was more grounded in everyday reality than many other things i've encountered in media. i doubt there is anything truly like this game, visual novel, interactive fiction... however you'd like to describe it, the story feels incredibly intimate and it's worth your time. (as long as you, too, are happy to immerse in its meditative and dreamlike atmosphere)

honestly, my review of citizen sleeper, my now very much loved second favourite, fits here too. although, i feel the two games are quite different - kentucky route zero is far more gentle and consistent in its delivery yet left a deeper, yet more mundane, emotional impact on me because of its grounding in everyday life and loneliness. the review:

'the sort of game that leaves a deep ache in your chest; incredibly human and embodied, heartbreaking, woven with hope and compassion - the sort of writing i will never forget'

kentucky route zero left me with tears in my eyes and the reminder of how deeply i love being alive and having the possibility to build beautiful things with others

<3