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The Drifter

The Drifter

PC
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

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Ratings
[1:10] - Launch Trailer Videos: 2
Screenshot Images: 11
Screenshot
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Screenshot

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

Developer: Powerhoof

Publisher: Powerhoof

Age restrictions: 16+

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 95% of Critics. There are 44 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Gameffine: 86 / 100 by Farzeen K H

I’ve played a lot of point-and-clicks. Some innovate, some imitate. The Drifter does both, but with intent. It honors the classics while carving out its own identity. It doesn’t waste your time with obtuse puzzles or bloated dialogue. It delivers a tightly constructed mystery, grounded in human fear, and pushes it through sci-fi terror and gritty realism. Is it perfect? No. But it’s smart. It’s polished. And it’s interesting something I can’t say about half the games trying to cash in on ‘retro’ adventure nostalgia.

Full Review

Try Hard Guides: 10 / 10 by Erik Hodges

What I thought would be a quick review I’d check off the backlog turned out to be one of the most emotionally gripping and atmospherically rich games I’ve played in a long time. It’s got heart, horror, puzzles that actually made me feel smart without being frustrating, and a story that had me hooked from start to finish. Powerhoof has made something special here, and The Drifter absolutely deserves your attention.

Full Review

WayTooManyGames: 9 / 10 by Heidi Hawes

I was optimistic about The Drifter just from seeing the trailer, but I was unprepared for just how remarkable the game truly is. From gorgeous pixel art, to fantastic vocal performances, to a truly bonkers and melancholy storyline, The Drifter is one of the most memorable and unique experiences I’ve had in a point-and-click adventure in a long time. If you’re a fan of the genre, The Drifter is undeniably a must-play.

Full Review
98%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (2,596)

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: