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The Drifter

The Drifter

PCNintendo
Released

Release Date: July 17, 2025

Adventure, Point-and-click, Thriller, Detective, Indie Games, Side-scroll, Singleplayer

A point-and-click adventure game, made by the indie studio Powerhoof, also known thanks to Crawl. In The Drifter we play as a person who's been framed for murder and then killed. The protagonist is brought back to life and his new goals are to clear his name and solve the crime.

8.6

OpenCritic

9.8

Steam

Rate It!
Ratings
[1:10] - Launch Trailer Videos: 2
Screenshot Images: 11
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The independent development studio Powerhoof became known to players thanks to the game Crawl, released back in 2017. The production described here, titled The Drifter, is one of the next works of this team. This time, the creators have prepared a point & click adventure game, maintained in the convention of a thriller inspired by the works of Stephen King and John Carpenter, as well as the Australian grindhouse productions from the 1970s.

Gameplay

The Drifter allows us to follow the action from the side.

Down-to-earth adventure game

During the game, we explore locations, engage in conversations with characters, as well as solve puzzles and complete tasks that push the plot forward. Unlike in many adventure games, the puzzles here have a "down-to-earth" nature, requiring us to do things like breaking a window, digging up a grave in a cemetery, or setting spilled gasoline on fire. There are also more exciting events in which we participate, such as shootouts or interrogations.

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows July 17, 2025

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch June 22, 2026

Switch 2

Switch 2 June 22, 2026

Developer: Powerhoof

Publisher: Powerhoof

Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for The Drifter Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
CPU SSE2, 4 GB RAM, graphic card DirectX 10, 4 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for The Drifter Video Game.

8.6

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 96% of Critics. There are 66 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Nindie Spotlight: 9.2 / 10 by Justin Nation

Takes the classic point-and-click adventure and juices up the formula a bit with a tighter pace, well-implemented interface, and outstanding voice acting

Full Review

FingerGuns: 9 / 10 by Miles Thompson

Powerhoof deliver one of the most engaging and compelling tales you're likely to experience this year. Joining Mick on his journey filled with emotional stakes, peril and thematic intrigue is a pleasure, and one I'd encourage you to embark on for yourself. Aside from the occasional technical issue, The Drifter is a wonderfully crafted noir point-and-click adventure from start to finish.

Full Review

RageQuit.GR: 85 / 100 by Giorgos Dempegiotis

The Drifter is another adventure of merit, a "must play" for every fan of the genre. Especially those who have a soft spot for thrillers and the atmosphere of old horror movies will probably love it a little more.

Full Review
98%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (4,722)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Engaging Storytelling: The narrative is compelling, with many twists and turns that keep players hooked. Users praised the writing for its depth and emotional impact.
  • High-Quality Voice Acting: The voice performances, particularly of the main character, received widespread acclaim for their professionalism and emotional resonance.
  • Art Style and Animation: The pixel art is described as stunning, with effective use of lighting and animation that enhances the overall atmosphere.
  • Well-Designed Puzzles: Many players found the puzzles logical and well-crafted, avoiding the common frustrations of "moon-logic" that plague other point-and-click games.
  • Good Pacing: The game maintains a fast pace that keeps players engaged, with a structure that allows for manageable gameplay segments.
  • Controller Support: The game is optimized for controller play, making it accessible and enjoyable for players who prefer that setup.

The main cons of the game

  • Difficulty and Clarity of Puzzles: Some players felt that certain puzzles were either too simple or relied on obscure interactions, leading to moments of frustration.
  • Occasional Narrative Gaps: A few reviews noted that some plot points or character actions lacked clarity or satisfying resolutions, particularly in the later chapters.
  • Time Constraints: Some users expressed frustration with time-limited puzzles that forced them to rush, which detracted from the leisurely exploration typically associated with the genre.
  • Repetitive Gameplay: A few players felt that the gameplay could become tedious due to wandering and clicking without clear direction.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Hint System Customization: Users suggested that a setting to reduce the frequency or intensity of hints could enhance the puzzle-solving experience, allowing for more personal discovery.
  • More Complex Puzzles: Some players desired puzzles that offered greater challenge and complexity, arguing that the game could benefit from a few more difficult scenarios.
  • Expanded Narrative Elements: A few reviews mentioned a desire for more visual storytelling rather than relying on narration, particularly in certain scenes where the action faded to black.
  • Improved Interaction Mechanics: Suggestions were made for enhancing the item combination interface to make it easier to manage larger inventories and streamline gameplay.

Summary

  • Overall, "The Drifter" is celebrated as a standout title in the point-and-click genre, praised for its storytelling, art, and voice acting, while also receiving constructive criticism regarding puzzle design and narrative execution.

Summary generated on: