The Nerdy Type

When it comes to point-and-click games, it’s a given that you’ll wind up fully absorbed into the story as the main character. One dark and gritty upcoming point-and-click adventure game, The Drifter, is capable of not only dragging you in, but between the plot and the voice acting, it feels like a twisted and fast-paced bedtime story. 

With that said, it’s definitely not a bedtime story I’d recommend reading to the kiddos if you want them to get anything close to resembling a good night’s sleep. The Drifter is packed with violent moments, dark themes, and gritty storytelling. But, for a more mature audience (and let’s face it, most point-and-click fans are on the more ‘mature’ side of life, even if just in age alone), The Drifter is well worth checking out.

Drift through life and the plot

The Drifter centers around Mick Carter, a drifter who has spent years going from place to place, job to job, and not putting down any roots. He’s made his way back to his hometown for a funeral by hopping on a train, but his arrival does not go as smoothly as he’d hoped. In fact, it goes the opposite of smoothly, when his fellow traveler ends up brutally murdered by an unknown masked group. 

What follows is a wickedly fast-paced story featuring murder, betrayal, more than a little confusion, and some heartwarming meetings with old friends. Just as Mick is a drifter, the pace of The Drifter manages to pull you along at an impressive speed. While it may seem difficult at times to dwell on what has already happened, every moment is important, managing to be both memorable and impactful despite flashing by very quickly. 

Less puzzling, more gripping

As a point-and-click game, The Drifter features some puzzles that need to be solved. However, unlike other point-and-clicks in which you need to decipher codes or figure out passwords, The Drifter’s puzzles are more practical and blend seamlessly into the surrounding story. 

You’ll still need to figure things out, of course, but there is rarely a time when you’re wondering what you’re supposed to be doing. With the handy drop-down menu that reminds you of your purpose in the moment, combined with the fact that every puzzle feels like part of the story rather than a roadblock against progressing it, the answers are usually easy to figure out. 

An interactive audiobook

It’s hard to explain how perfectly executed the voice acting of The Drifter is without experiencing it for yourself, but it genuinely manages to feel like you’re listening to an audiobook reading of an incredible thriller novel while you control the main character. 

Adrian Vaughan’s talented voice acting is, alongside the stunning pixel art, the heart of The Drifter. The game would still be incredibly good if it were not voice-acted based on the story and experience alone, but Vaughan manages to bring Mick to life in a way that makes the character unforgettable. Choosing to narrate his inner dialogue as well as the words he speaks is an inspired choice by developer Powerhoof. 

I think that’s what I mean when I say that The Drifter feels like an interactive audiobook. Because of the energy projected by Vaughan and his fellow voice actors, as well as the inclusion of that inner dialogue that we usually only ever get to read in fiction stories, there’s something really special about The Drifter. 

And if that doesn’t make sense, I can only suggest that you go and play it for yourself to understand what I mean. 

Gritty in every sense

With murder, deception, mystery, and more than a little conflict involved, The Drifter has a dark and gritty plot that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Whether you’re meeting old friends or confronting new enemies, the story is compelling and memorable in every sense. 

This darkness is backed up by the stunning pixel art. With grungy, earthy tones only broken up by occasional light sources or the deep red of blood spatter whenever it occurs, you view the story of The Drifter through a green-tinted, dirty lens that perfectly reflects the story you’re there to witness. 

I also can’t write this without noting that these characters have eyes that are perhaps two pixels, and yet there’s no doubting the expressions upon their faces. It takes some serious talent to pack that much detail into so few pixels, and it’s done impressively well here.

The inventory and discussion interface follows this same theme while managing to be more immersive than other point-and-clicks. The inventory menu appears from the top of the screen with small blue icons for each item that you’re currently carrying, reducing distraction. The discussion interface features no words, but instead appears with icons depicting the things you can discuss. 

One thing that’s always present in point-and-click games is reading and while it’s necessary, it also can drag you out of the story temporarily. By choosing to use these icons and reducing the amount of reading necessary, playing The Drifter truly feels as though you’ve been sucked into the world of the game. 

The Drifter has been developed by Melbourne-based development duo Powerhoof and is set for release on July 17, 2025. If you’re impatient and want to experience the first chapter right now, there’s a gorgeous demo available to download and play through Steam while you wait for release day.