The Drifter
87
CriticDB
Rating

The Drifter

byPowerhoof•2025

The Drifter is a 2d point and click adventure in the classic style. Taking cues from the recent revival of the genre there is an emphasis on story, with puzzle solving being the glue that ties it together rather than the focus. Mick's a pretty practical guy, and so puzzles are down-to-earth, designed to be unobtrusive, and give an investigative fee...

Details

Released
July 16, 2025
Developer
Powerhoof
Publisher
Powerhoof
Platforms
PC · Switch

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The Drifter Reviews

Professional reviews from gaming critics

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.

Jul 17, 2025

The Drifter is a well-written, fast-paced point-and-click thriller that will keep you glued to your seat. It’s a must-play for those who love puzzlers, mystery, and adventure.

Jul 17, 2025

The Drifter has everything you want from a modern point-and-click adventure – a banging story, excellent characters that are unabashedly Australian, and expertly designed puzzles. It’s one of the best adventure games you’ll ever play and it feels like an evolution for the genre, and Powerhoof deserves all the acclaim about to come its way.

Jul 18, 2025

Step into a dark thriller and unravel a conspiracy while solving practical adventure game puzzles in The Drifter.

Jul 17, 2025

A point-and-click adventure with strong horror themes and a gorgeous pixel-art aesthetic, The Drifter is something of a lovechild between Twin Peaks and Wolf Creek. Developed by Melbourne-based studio Powerhoof (the team behind asymmetric multiplayer dungeon-crawler Crawl), this title is described as a “pulp adventure thriller” and has had the Checkpoint Gaming team shivering with anticipation since we first encountered it at PAX all the way back in 2019. A fascinating, action-packed take...

Jul 18, 2025

I’ve been playing point-and-click adventures since the glory days of Sierra and LucasArts. Classics like the King’s Quest and Monkey Island series are among some of my favorites from the late 1980s to early 1990s, and will always hold a special place in my heart. That said, there has been a wonderful resurgence of retro-inspired point-and-click adventures as of late, with games like Norco, The Case of the Golden Idol, and Unusual Findings being notable standouts. I was immediately in...

Aug 5, 2025

After tons of time squinting at my monitor trying to solve whodunits and twisting my iPad around to see if my puzzle will cooperate, The Drifter has been the refreshing and innovative experience I’ve been looking for. You’ll find me hard-pressed to find any glaring flaws, as it excels in its characters, writing, puzzling, and everything else. It’s a thrill ride from start to finish that I’d recommend to anyone.

Aug 13, 2025

The Drifter is an excellent adventure game with a fantastic story, excellent sound, and lovely pixel art, though sadly drags a bit here and there.

Jul 17, 2025

The Drifter is a great point-and-click adventure that keeps you engaged throughout, with smart puzzles and great characters.

Jul 22, 2025

The Drifter is a messy first attempt at the point-and-click genre from Powerhoof. The story can be frustrating at times, which can extend to the puzzles that leave you confused when returning after a long break. However, the story comes together beautifully, making the mess seem intentional and worth your time.

Jul 17, 2025

The Drifter is a gorgeous and moody point 'n' click adventure with impeccable art, but its pulp leanings undermine its best qualities.

Jul 17, 2025

Between the emotional core centering around Mick and his family, the B-movie batshit tinfoil sci-fi stuff, and the eventual revelations that tie everything together in both theme and plot, there are a lot of elements jostling for space and time in The Drifter. It's impressive that it manages to wrap things coherently, nevermind the satisfying and touching way it does. Ultimately, it's a good story, well told, that knows when to lay on the head scratchers and when to ferry you along with simpl...

Jul 17, 2025