Info about The Drifter:

Official game description:
*   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**.
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.

Release date: Jul 17, 2025

Categories: Point-and-click Adventure, Story-driven Gameplay, Puzzle Solving, Pixel Art Style, Choice-based Narrative, Mystery-solving elements

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Mixed User Experience; summary: The game receives praise for its voice acting and story, but many users report a high dependency on walkthroughs to progress through puzzles. The difficulty of the puzzles varies among users, with some finding them manageable and others needing occasional help from guides.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game has a native Linux build that works flawlessly according to multiple users. However, there are some reports of crashes on Linux, though these issues seem to be tolerated by users. Additionally, the game appears to be compatible with Steam Deck, as indicated by a user purchasing a device with Steam OS to play this game among others.
- Steam Deck: score 10; verdict: Highly Recommended; summary: The overall user feedback for the game on the Steam Deck is overwhelmingly positive. Users consistently praise the storyline, controller support, and graphics. The game is noted for its excellent narrative delivery, intuitive controller input scheme, and polished visuals. While there are minor complaints about puzzle logic and some technical issues, these do not significantly detract from the overall positive experience. The game is highly recommended for its engaging story, well-designed controls, and impressive graphics.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game exhibits performance issues across various hardware cohorts, with notable animation and rendering problems, particularly on systems with less than 8GB VRAM and those with 16GB+ VRAM.
  - Sample size: 31 (1% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 8 reports): Players report animation issues, including black screens replacing animations during key moments.
  - Windows 16GB+ VRAM (mixed, 5 reports): Despite high-end hardware, players experience rendering issues such as black screens during action sequences, though the overall experience is satisfying.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 5 reports): No specific performance issues reported, indicating a smoother experience on this hardware.
  - Caveats: 31 of 4295 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows a mix of opinions on the game's pricing. Some users feel that $20 is too cheap, indicating they would pay more. Others suggest that a fair price would be around $10 or recommend buying it on sale at a 30% discount or higher. Additionally, some users specifically mention that a price range of $18-$20 is reasonable for the content provided. These varied opinions suggest that while some users find the game worth the full price, others believe it should be cheaper, pointing to a fair price range that balances these perspectives.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 10.0h
  - Story completion: 8.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes direct mentions of playtime and general impressions of the game's length. The first quote mentions a playtime of 7-8 hours, adjusted for accidental idle time. The second quote suggests that the game can feel like a slog, indicating a potentially longer playtime. The third quote mentions a 'days worth of play time,' which, in the context of other reviews, suggests around 8-10 hours. The fourth quote mentions having 11 hours left to play, indicating a total playtime longer than 11 hours but not specifying the exact total.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The Drifter offers an engaging and intuitive start, particularly in the first two chapters, with a fast-paced story and satisfying puzzles. However, some players find the puzzles tedious, which can disrupt the game's momentum and immersion.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Completion of the first two chapters
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Tedious puzzles; Repetitive gameplay loops
  - Unlock drivers: Intuitive controls; Engaging story; Fast pacing
  - Conditions: Beautiful art style; Excellent soundtrack; Sarcastic humor; Controller support
- Player Archetypes:
  - Newcomer Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging story and accessible gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Casual, exploratory, and narrative-driven.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: new player; casual gamer
    - Reference games: Crawl
  - Nostalgic Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and love for classic adventure games.
    - Playstyle: Exploratory, detail-oriented, and patient.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old-school player; fan of the genre
    - Reference games: Monkey Island; Grim Fandango; Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
  - Story-Driven Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging and respectful storytelling.
    - Playstyle: Immersive, narrative-focused, and detail-oriented.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story lover; narrative enthusiast
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Relaxed Puzzle-Solver (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of a chill and thoughtful puzzle-solving experience.
    - Playstyle: Leisurely, methodical, and patient.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual player; puzzle enthusiast
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging and well-crafted story (weight 0.97): The game features a captivating and unique story with surprising twists, excellent voice acting, and a rich narrative that keeps players hooked. The storytelling is praised for its depth, pacing, and emotional impact.
- Classic point-and-click gameplay (weight 0.68): The game is a superb old-school point-and-click adventure with an improved interface compared to classic games. It offers a smooth and intuitive gameplay experience reminiscent of well-made point-and-click adventure games from the DOS era.
- Well-balanced and logical puzzles (weight 0.61): The puzzles in the game are challenging yet fair, logical, and not too difficult. They are designed to be intuitive and satisfying to solve, providing a good balance of difficulty.
- Excellent voice acting (weight 0.49): The game features masterful voice acting with talented voice actors delivering high-quality performances. The voice acting adds depth and color to the characters and story.
- Beautiful pixel art (weight 0.35): The game showcases beautiful and detailed pixel art with fluid animations and lighting. The pixel art style is praised for its quality and craftsmanship.
- Unique control scheme (weight 0.15): The game features a unique and innovative control system, including a dual-stick input system and controller-friendly mechanics. The controls are convenient and well-designed.
- Immersive atmosphere (weight 0.13): The game combines atmosphere, design, and narrative depth to create a mysterious and engaging environment. The ambience and atmosphere are praised for their quality.
- Fast-paced narrative (weight 0.13): The game offers a fast-paced and entertaining narrative with a well-paced plot. The story is snappy and keeps players engaged with its rhythm.
- Compatibility with Steam Deck (weight 0.08): The game runs perfectly on the Steam Deck, offering a seamless and enjoyable experience on the handheld device.

Common complaints:
- Frustrating and confusing gameplay (weight 0.17): Players experienced frustration due to confusing puzzles, frustrating action sequences, and misleading dialogue. Some parts of the game were particularly frustrating early on, and the gameplay could be confusing at times.
- Over-reliance on walkthroughs (weight 0.16): Players frequently needed to resort to walkthroughs to progress through the game. This indicates that the puzzles and gameplay mechanics might not be well-designed or intuitive enough, leading to a reliance on external guides.
- Narration over visual storytelling (weight 0.15): The game often uses narration to describe actions and events instead of showing them visually. This includes important plot events occurring on a black screen with text descriptions, which can be immersion-breaking and less engaging.
- Lack of animations and visual storytelling (weight 0.13): The game suffers from a lack of animations, particularly during action scenes and monologues. This includes the overuse of fade-to-black transitions and black screens during unanimated actions, which detracts from the overall visual experience.
- Underwhelming and rushed ending (weight 0.1): The ending of the game was criticized for feeling rushed and underwhelming. Players found it unsatisfying and lacking meaningful choices, which detracted from the overall experience.
- Poor pacing and linear gameplay (weight 0.1): The game's pacing was criticized for being inconsistent and taking hits, making the experience feel uneven. Additionally, the game was noted to be quite linear and too short, which might not appeal to players looking for a more expansive experience.
- Unlikable characters and poor character development (weight 0.08): The characters in the game were criticized for being unlikable and insufferable. Additionally, the characters were found to be forgettable, which detracted from the overall narrative experience.
- Lack of localization for non-English languages (weight 0.08): The game lacks official localization for certain languages, including Russian and Chinese. This can be a significant drawback for players who prefer or require gameplay in their native language.
- Excessive and over-the-top narration (weight 0.05): The game features excessive voice-over narration that can be over-the-top. This includes excessive voice acting that some players found to be too much, detracting from the overall experience.
- Heavy backtracking and repeated dialogue (weight 0.04): Players experienced heavy backtracking and repeated dialogue after failed attempts. This could make the gameplay feel tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- Unsatisfactory resolution of mysteries (weight 0.04): The game introduces many mysteries but fails to provide satisfactory resolutions. This left players feeling unsatisfied with the overall narrative and plot development.
- Tedious fetch quests (weight 0.04): The game includes tedious fetch quests that players found to be boring and repetitive. This detracted from the overall gameplay experience.
- Frustrating pixel hunting (weight 0.04): Players reported getting stuck due to pixel hunting, where they had to search for small, hard-to-see items or clues. This could be frustrating and detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Lack of tension in final chapters (weight 0.04): The final chapters of the game were criticized for lacking tension and losing momentum. This made the climax of the game feel less impactful and exciting.

Gameplay feedback:
- Chapter-based storytelling (weight 0.16): The narrative is structured in chapters, similar to a season of television, with each chapter filled with action and plot twists.
- Fast-paced thriller narrative (weight 0.15): The game offers a high-paced thriller experience with gripping stories and quick, lean pacing.
- Death as a narrative component (weight 0.1): Death is integrated into the story and puzzle-solving mechanics, adding a unique element to the gameplay.
- Pixel art style (weight 0.1): The game employs a pixel art style, giving it a distinctive visual aesthetic.
- Sci-fi adventure with twists (weight 0.08): The game is a sci-fi adventure filled with twists and turns in the story, keeping players engaged.
- Timed action sequences (weight 0.07): The game includes timed action sequences and quick time events, adding urgency and excitement.
- Narrative with integrated puzzles (weight 0.05): Puzzles are seamlessly blended into the narrative, enhancing the overall storytelling experience.
- Mix of action and detective work (weight 0.05): Gameplay combines action sequences with investigative detective work, providing a varied experience.
- Time travel and death mechanics (weight 0.05): The game features time travel and death mechanics, which are integral to the puzzle-solving and narrative.
- Real-time narrative (weight 0.05): The narrative is told in real-time, enhancing the immersive experience.
- Death-loop puzzles (weight 0.05): Puzzles often involve death-loop mechanics, where players must use death as part of the solution.
- Mystery and psychological elements (weight 0.05): The game incorporates mystery and psychological elements, adding depth to the narrative.
- Trial and error mechanism (weight 0.05): Some puzzles require a trial-and-error approach, challenging players to think creatively.
- Pulp adventure thriller style (weight 0.04): The game has a pulp adventure thriller style with a touch of 70s Aussie grindhouse, giving it a unique flavor.

Performance notes:
- Excellent Steam Deck Performance (weight 0.17): The game runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, with players reporting smooth performance and great compatibility. Many reviews highlight that it plays perfectly on this device.
- Controller Support and Controls (weight 0.09): The game has great controller support and is fully playable on the Steam Deck or with any controller. However, there are mentions of issues with distinguishing item icons on the Steam Deck, which might affect gameplay.
- Steam Deck Screen Issue (weight 0.03): Some players have reported that the screen lights up with a bright white flash every time they die while playing on a Steam Deck. This could be a potential bug or visual issue specific to this device.
- CRT Experience Setting (weight 0.03): For an optimal CRT-like experience, players recommend setting the in-game resolution to the lowest setting. This suggestion aims to enhance the visual experience to mimic older CRT displays.
- Lack of Animation (weight 0.02): Some reviews mention a lack of animation in the game. This could refer to missing or insufficient animations that affect the overall gaming experience.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for point-and-click fans (weight 0.22): The game is highly recommended for fans of point-and-click adventure games, especially those who enjoy pixel art, synthwave, and dark, mysterious stories. It is praised as one of the best modern point-and-click adventure games.
- Highly recommended by reviewers (weight 0.12): Many reviewers highly recommend the game and suggest giving it a shot. It is described as well worth your time and totally recommendable.
- Recommended for story-driven games (weight 0.07): The game is highly recommended for fans of story-driven games. It is suggested for those who enjoy a good story and narrative depth.
- Worth the price (weight 0.06): The game is considered worth the full price, although some suggest buying it on sale. It is seen as a valuable addition to any game library.
- Worth adding to adventure collection (weight 0.05): The game is worth adding to a collection of adventure games, especially for fans of LucasArts classic adventures.
- Looking forward to more (weight 0.04): Players are looking forward to more games from the same development team, indicating a positive reception and anticipation for future projects.
- Full recommendation (weight 0.04): The game receives a full recommendation, suggesting it is highly enjoyable and worth playing.
- Game of the Year award (weight 0.03): The game has received a Game of the Year award, highlighting its exceptional quality and appeal.
- Worth every minute (weight 0.03): The game is described as worth every minute, indicating a high level of enjoyment and engagement throughout the gameplay experience.
- Well-written and memorable (weight 0.03): The game is described as well-written, gorgeous, and memorable, indicating high-quality storytelling and visuals.
- Recommended for thrill-seeking veterans (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for veterans who want to experience something more thrilling and intense.
- Worth checking out (weight 0.03): The game is worth checking out for fans of the genre, indicating it has appeal and value for its target audience.
- Recommend on deep discount (weight 0.02): Some reviewers recommend getting the game only when it goes on a deep discount, suggesting it may not be worth the full price for everyone.
- Worth a shot (weight 0.02): Reviewers suggest that the game is worth a shot, encouraging players to try it out.
- Play this game (weight 0.02): A straightforward recommendation to play the game, highlighting its appeal and enjoyment factor.
- Multiple endings (weight 0.02): The game features more than one ending, adding to its replay value and narrative depth.
- More tense moments (weight 0.02): The game includes more tense moments, enhancing the overall thrill and excitement of the gameplay experience.
- Official Korean language support (weight 0.02): The game offers official Korean language support, making it accessible to a wider audience.
- More gritty sci-fi point-and-clicks desired (weight 0.02): Players express a desire for more gritty sci-fi point-and-click games, suggesting a niche interest in this sub-genre.

Other player notes:
- Skip walking animations (weight 0.03): Players have expressed a desire for an option to skip walking animations, likely to save time and improve gameplay efficiency.

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.17): Players are excited about the game's unique control scheme, engaging and thrilling story with twists and cliffhangers, and the anticipation for future games from the developers. The game's high-quality narrative, voice acting, and challenging puzzles also contribute to this excitement.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoyed the game's story, voice acting, and overall narrative, along with its beautiful pixel art and engaging gameplay mechanics. The combination of these elements created a fun and immersive experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Players found satisfaction in the game's intelligent and well-designed puzzles, the overall story and voice acting, and the game's performance on different platforms. The satisfying experience was also attributed to the game's atmosphere and the sense of accomplishment from completing the game without guides.
- Frustration (weight 0.07): Players experienced frustration due to game bugs, confusing and illogical puzzles, and issues with controls and mechanics. Some also found the story's developments and the need for frequent walkthroughs frustrating.
- Excited (weight 0.06): Players are excited about the game's innovative control system, fun gameplay, and interesting story. The overall enjoyment of the game, including its great puzzles and engaging narrative, contributes to this excitement.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Players felt disappointed due to a nonsensical plot, lack of animation, and unmet expectations based on positive reviews. The game's ending and overall execution also contributed to this disappointment.
- Engagement (weight 0.05): Players were engaged by the game's well-written story, intriguing narrative, and gripping plot. The gameplay and characters also contributed to keeping players deeply engaged.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Players admired the game's beautiful art direction, pixel art, and overall quality. The voice acting, narrative, and puzzle design were also highly praised.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Players are enthusiastic about the game's story, characters, and overall quality. The strong recommendation to play the game and the positive experience with its various aspects contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciated the game's voice acting, captivating plot, and art style. The solid writing, great music, and overall production quality were also highly valued.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Players felt nostalgic due to the game's homage to classic point-and-click games, reminiscent of LucasArts classics and the golden age of adventure games. The authentic Aussie vernacular and references to past games evoked feelings of nostalgia.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Players experienced joy from the humorous and well-written dialogue, charismatic characters, and the overall magical experience of the game. The enjoyment led to multiple playthroughs and a deep appreciation for the game's elements.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Players were surprised by the game's ability to captivate and impress, exceeding their expectations. The depth and detail of the storyline, along with interesting genre transitions, contributed to this surprise.
- Happy (weight 0.02): Players felt happy due to the great story, good plot, and voice acting. The enjoyable style and overall game experience contributed to their happiness.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players were impressed by the story's ability to write itself out of jams and the overall quality and execution of the game. The superb voice acting and engaging sci-fi point-and-click adventure elements also left a strong impression.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Players felt sadness after becoming invested in the mysteries and characters, and experiencing the emotional journey of the protagonist. The sense of loss after completing the game also contributed to this sadness.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players loved the game's plot, characters, and overall positive experience. The voice acting, twists and turns, and the combination of story, puzzles, visuals, dialogue, and gameplay were deeply appreciated.
- Engaged (weight 0.01): Players were engaged by the fascinating story, great presentation, and the big mystery with its breadcrumbs. The gripping story and straightforward puzzles kept players hooked.
- Hooked (weight 0.01): Players were hooked by the game's engaging story and pacing, as well as the tense parts of the story. The overall experience kept players completely hooked.}