
Release Date: July 17, 2025
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.
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.
The Drifter allows us to follow the action from the side.
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.
The main character of The Drifter is Mick Carter. He is the titular drifter who, after witnessing a murder, is himself murdered and then framed for committing this crime. The protagonist's problems do not end there, because under unexplained circumstances, he is brought back to life a few seconds before his death. From now on, Carter's task becomes clearing his name, as well as discovering if something else didn't return with him to the world of the living...
The graphic design of the game was made in pixel art technique.
Platforms:
PC Windows
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System Requirements for The Drifter Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
CPU SSE2, 4 GB RAM, graphic card DirectX 10, 4 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.
Game Ratings for The Drifter Video Game.
GameLuster: 8 / 10 by Jess Clayton-Berry
The Drifter's storyline gets a little predictable and corny in its third act, but otherwise this is a fantastic game for point-and-click puzzle fans. It has pretty faultless point-and-click gameplay, an excellent voice cast, and the perfect narration to set the tone in this pulp thriller story.
GameSpew: 10 / 10 by Kim Snaith
Deserving of a place in the point and click hall of fame, The Drifter is a pulpy thriller with fantastic storytelling, excellent puzzles and truly stand-out voice acting. Undoubtedly one of the highlights of 2025, make sure this is on your radar if you're a fan of adventure games with unforgettable narratives.
Thumb Culture: 5 / 5
The hype I had from playing the demo was definitely not let down in the full release. Powerhoof really surprised me with the direction in which they took this story and I truly loved playing it. Mick is a really interesting character and learning more about why he was a drifter was a unique experience that I’ve not really had in a point and click game. I’m so glad I got the chance to sink my teeth into The Drifter and would recommend it to anyone that was already a fan of the genre or looking for a way to step into it. It wouldn’t be fair to give The Drifter anything other than the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
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