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 intrigued by the grittiness displayed in the trailer for Powerhoof’s The Drifter, and after playing it, I can fully attest to it being even more incredible than I was originally expecting.

“I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”

After years of hopping around from place to place and job to job, drifter Mick Carter is heading back home for his mother’s funeral. While on the train back to his old hometown, he witnesses the murder of another vagrant. Soon after, he’s killed by the same people he saw earlier… only to wake up with another chance of escaping his previously fatal situation. Confused as to why he was able to come back to life, as well as why he’s now being framed for the murder of his old friend, Mick sets out to find answers, stay hidden, and pay his final respects to his mom.

Ugh, they didn’t even capture my good side!

The Drifter stands out in the point-and-click adventure genre for a couple of reasons. First, the story is quite dark, highly bizarre (in great ways), and unexpectedly heartbreaking. There’s hardly any comedic undertones to be found in here, unlike most point-and-click adventures. The narrative is mysterious, suspenseful, and wholly unique. I was hooked immediately and was left guessing as to what was going to happen next the entire time. Parts of the story are off-the-rails bonkers, but other aspects are surprisingly deep and emotionally impactful.

The second way The Drifter stands out is with its gameplay. Yes, it is a point-and-click game, but where it does something different is with several of its puzzles being time-based. At certain points during the game, Mick will need to get past a specific obstacle or interaction quickly, or else he’ll die. Be prepared to die often! Some deaths are story-related and unavoidable, but others only occur when you don’t figure out what to do quite quickly enough. It’s worth mentioning that whenever Mick dies, he’ll be brought back to moments before the fatal incident takes place, essentially giving you unlimited chances to figure out what needs to be done to avoid death.

Oh god! Put the bag back over my head!

Even though I died many times, I never found the puzzles in The Drifter to be unfair. Most of the ways to progress make sense if you’ve talked to everyone you can and thoroughly investigated your surroundings, as it should be. There were only a few sections that had me scratching my head for a bit, but the solutions were never needlessly obtuse or complicated, which I greatly appreciate in these types of games. 

Not only is the gameplay in The Drifter impressive, but the visuals are stunning as well. The pixel art in The Drifter is highly detailed, from the character animations to the environments. This is also important for point-and-click games, as it’s easy to tell what everything is and what might be an important object or point of interest. Each character is expressive and distinct, and there are a surprising number of locations to visit, making this game a constant treat for the eyes. 

Mick can choose which dialogue topics he wants to engage in using the options at the bottom of the screen.

Even more impressive is the sound design. There is superb voice acting from the entire cast, with Mick’s voice actor, Adrian Vaughan, being an exceptional standout. The sound effects are spot on and help the feeling of immersion throughout the game. Also, The Drifter‘s synth-core soundtrack perfectly captures the time period and sets the mood with its broody, foreboding vibe.

I was optimistic about The Drifter just from seeing the trailer, but I was unprepared for just how remarkable the game truly is. From gorgeous pixel art, to fantastic vocal performances, to a truly bonkers and melancholy storyline, The Drifter is one of the most memorable and unique experiences I’ve had in a point-and-click adventure in a long time. If you’re a fan of the genre, The Drifter is undeniably a must-play.

The Drifter is available now on PC.

Reviewed on PC.

A copy of The Drifter was provided by the publisher.