Mick Carter steals a ride in a freight train’s cargo car. He witnesses a brutal murder when he and another vagabond are caught. Mick escapes into an encampment under a bridge.
There, he learns the murder was part of a recent pattern of attacks and disappearances. By the demo’s end, Mick fights for his life as he gets a taste of what is really going on. Australian indie duo Powerhoof describe The Drifter as a mix of “classic horror with a dash of ’70s Ozploitation.” The 20-30 minute demo leans heavily on the John Carpenter side of things.
It exudes a Lovecraftian aura similar in tone to the horror master’s In the Mouth of Madness. This indicates the game’s narrative could become even more supernatural. The Drifter plays like a typical point-and-click adventure.
Players investigate their surroundings, collect key objects, and piece together puzzles to progress the gripping story.
Horror-infused investigation techniques
Voice actor Adrian Vaughn stars as Mick.
His performance is as textured as the art style. Powerhoof’s invocation of Stephen King feels right too. The internal monologuing is sharp enough to stand up to King’s own first-person writing.
Adding to the intrigue is the frictionless play. I demoed the game on my Steam Deck using the game’s wheel of interactions to navigate the opening chapter’s dimly lit alleyways. Powerhoof intends to port the game to Nintendo Switch later this year.
In at least the first 20 minutes, everything I needed to find was intuitive enough that I did not run into my biggest point-and-click problem: being unable to find the necessary items. The Drifter presents a few welcome challenges without too many tall hurdles. The Drifter arrives on July 17.
I am eager to uncover more of what Mick is dealing with in this chilling mystery.
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
