First of all I just love how there is no answer to the town's true nature, it's a:
A physical space
A living organism
A magical construct
A theatrical performance
A children's game
A giant bull's body
All of these at the same time. Some characters refer to themselves as actors in a play, others break the fourth wall to talk to you directly, you see somebody else interpret the Haruspex every night at the theater, at one point there is even somebody following your steps because he claims to be your future replacement. If there's anyone who played the first game, you can even see that particular duo of children at certain points, observing you...
The unique folklore and culture that it's perfectly nailed into every aspect of the city, down to the way that the buildings are constructed to the rituals that you must follow to receive Kin's approval, this is something that I cannot think of a single game matching, not even close. Stuff like: random woman being accused of being a shapeshifting golem, the town refusing to install pipes because it would mean digging under the earth, Capella randomly sending you a telepathic message to visit her through the map's screen...
The grim, almost apocalyptic nature of the plague leaves me speechless: people jumping from roofs, covered up victims shambling towards you while moaning in pain, the Termitary having gigantic bags full of corpses hanging form the ceiling, the streets being filled up by robbers at first and later with actual flamethrower teams trying to clean up the endless piles of bodies, it all truly screams about the world itself dying in real time.
I noticed how the guy that arrives with you on the train exits a coffin, later is responsible for the dead shop that only accepts death-related stuff, and leaves exactly when everything ends.
Ths story is fascinating, how it starts as a thriller but evolves into a full on end of times story as you try to keep the children alive while fighting the local's murderous tendencies. There is no grandiose resolution, just one man's attempt to fix what his home is becoming. And regardless of your choice, Soviet Russia seems to be looming in the horizon all the same.
Some of the characters are totally underdeveloped, this is by design since each of the protagonists is supposed to interact with different npcs. Although, more than one time I found myself wondering why can't I ask more questions. Like the architect guy who created the Polyhedron, he has basically nothing to say through the entire game? His creation is one of the most important parts of the setting.
The music? Otherworldly and spooky at equal rates, the Steppe's theme it's my favorite.
Gameplay... it's complete bullshit. The only way of actually saving everybody is by extreme amounts of savescumming, which I refuse to do. In my latest playthrough, Notkin decided to get infected every single goddamn time he had the chance, had to use 3 fucking schmoders on him alone. The Abbatoir sequence is complete bullshit too, having to fight a line of enemies without items is pure pain, specially when they can just kill you in 2 punches. And the punishment over dying is just a huge middle finger.