Okay, maybe it’s not such a hidden gem after all, but at least personally, in my usual search for games, releases, and news, it’s the first time I’ve come across this beauty. The Drifter is an action and sci-fi adventure with a pixel-art style and point ‘n click controls, in the style of the classic graphic adventures we all know, though not officially part of that genre. Beyond its appealing look, what really catches our attention is that there’s hardly any time left until its release: July 17th of this year! We’re talking less than a week, and as if that weren’t enough, there’s already a free demo you can download right now from its Steam page!
This game defines itself as a mix of genres and more than interesting elements, and while it doesn’t fully commit to being a graphic adventure per se, it does have many aspects of the genre. Still, according to those who have tried it, it goes a step further in everything related to narrative, gameplay, puzzles, and even voice acting and user interface, raising a bar that has remained fairly static for decades to new and unexpected heights. Can you imagine it? Well, don’t! Just take a look at its Release Date Trailer, straight from the official YouTube channel of its developers:
A Pulp Adventure Thriller
Mick Carter‘s been drifting a while now- moving from job to job, never staying one place long. Jumping a box-car to his old home town, he witnesses a violent murder, is pursued by hi-tech soldiers, thrown in a reservoir and drowned. And that’s just the start of Mick‘s problems! His consciousness ripped away, thrust back into his own body seconds before his death… Framed for the killing he witnessed, tormented by his own past, and haunted by the feeling that something followed him back from the other side…
Follow Mick as he’s sucked headfirst into a lunatic web of shadowy corporations, murder, and the thousand-year obsession of a madman.
“The Drifter is our take on a classic 2d point and click adventure, with the brake-lines cut. The focus is on fast-paced storytelling, with puzzle-solving being the glue that ties it together. Mick’s a practical guy, and so puzzles are down-to-earth too, designed to be unobtrusive, and give an investigative feel.”
“We’re keeping the pacing quick and lean, you’ll never be wandering around lost or confused- Mick is propelled through the story at a good clip, from one situation to another, with barely a moment to catch his breath. One minute you’ll be crafting a Molotov cocktail from a bottle of over-proof rum, the next interrogating a crooked neurosurgeon before swinging from a high-rise window by a fraying extension lead.”
Features
- A Pulp Adventure Thriller from the minds that brought you Peridium and Crawl.
- An engrossing roller-coaster of a story – Drawing on King, Crichton and Carpenter, with a dash of 70s Aussie grindhouse.
- Point ‘n Click or Controller – Unique twin-stick controls make The Drifter as comfy to play on the couch as at your PC.
- Bursting with raw crunchy pixel art and high-impact animation.
- Professionally voice acted, with a brooding dark-synth cinematic score.
So…
The Drifter has been in development for a few years now, and while it will officially launch this upcoming July 17th, it’s already picked up several awards and mentions since 2023. As we mentioned, this indie gem features a free demo you can download right now from its Steam page, which of course you’ll find just below. Now then, while you download the demo and add this beauty to your Wishlist, scroll down to the comments and tell us what you think of this proposal! You know gamer, we’ll be reading you! 🙂
Images Source: PowerhoofTV Official YouTube Channel, The Drifter on Steam
