Combining traditional point-and-click gameplay with interstitial text-based sequences not unlike adventure games of old, Kentucky Route Zero is as surreal as it is enigmatic, approaching a tonal spectrum that is almost Lynchian. The game's superbly concise writing, rudimentary but muted visual style and sporadic though no less deliberate use of audio coalesce to create a palpable atmosphere of isolation and uncertainty, punctuated by player choices that feel less preordained by the almost imperceivable current of the underlying narrative and more organically introspective -- every soul you meet has the aura of a troubled past, and if you play your cards right you may find yourself privy to a story or two.

Despite the game's strong first showing, it's hard to recommend at $25 considering it's still several months away from being a complete package, so those of you on the fence may wish to wait for the Summer Sale before tuning in.