The Drifter

This year was great for adventure games. Slender Threads, Old Skies, Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer and now we get The Drifter. Every pixel of this game is just filled with style.

It’s hard not to give 5 stars to a game that’s clearly a labor of love from a small team. While it’s not without flaws, it absolutely captivated me from start to finish — and I’m grateful it exists. The presentation is the highlight: striking color choices and beautifully crafted pixel art that leaves just enough to the imagination. It’s clear every detail was made with purpose, and it shows. Sound design is great, though the music didn’t stick with me. The synthwave style felt a bit overused and sometimes flattened the mood rather than enhancing it. Voice acting fits well — not mind-blowing, but never distracting. A few moments made me wonder if I’d prefer imagining the voices myself, but I never felt the need to turn them off. Controls are tight and responsive, keeping the pace smooth and modern. Gameplay-wise, it leans more toward an interactive story than a traditional point-and-click. Chapters are small, puzzles are nearby, and hints are clear. It makes for a seamless experience, though at times it felt more like watching a great series than solving a game. Still, I never got stuck — and that’s a strength too. A harder mode could be nice in the future. The second half does ease off the mystery and depth a bit, and I’d have loved to see it lean further into those early themes. Some ambiguity would’ve made it linger longer in my mind. But despite that, it completely hooked me until the credits. What truly won me over were the themes — especially in the first half, where the story hinted at deeper, darker undercurrents and left space for interpretation. I loved the gritty tone, the sense of something uneasy just beneath the surface. Even if the second half eased off that mystery a bit, the journey was still compelling all the way through. It’s rough in spots, sure, but the heart behind it shines through clearly. Congrats, and please keep going. I’ll be watching for whatever you make next!

A lovely point-and-click adventure that's worth every buck you spent on it. If you're at my age and played so many games like I did, it may not have the most original story or a lot of surprises; but it nevertheless has a nice story, and - what is most important in my opinion: it has heart and soul. The love and effort put into it was perceptible. My thanks to the developers for it. I had two great evenings with it.

It's beautiful, deep, and great-sounding. It is essential for developers to think about every little nuance of the gameplay, and Powerhoof nails it. It is a joy to play. At this point, there is no chance of getting better than this, and I mean not just new point and click adventure games, but classics also. Best regards!