Another piece of third person pixel art point-and-click, The Drifter has a more retro look than some other such games, but it doesn't detract from the goings-on. Indeed, on the strength of the two or so hours I have played thus far it promises to deliver a heap of thrilling adventuring.

You play Mick Carter, homeless and wandering from place to place. Having received a call from his sister about the death of his mother, he jumps a train to make his way back for the funeral. But a murder intervenes, one which, as the Steam page says, sucks him "headfirst into a lunatic web of shadowy corporations, murder, and the thousand-year obsession of a madman."

The last of those I haven't yet confronted, but the others have made their presence felt. Along with black-ops soldiers, bodies in the reservoir and something called a Mulindji.

And death. Mick has died, but more than that he knows it. Which makes for some interesting musings as you work to prevent it from happening again.

Mick narrates much of what is going on, but you can also converse with other characters and the mouse will reveal information about environmental objects. The cursor will indicate whether you can interact, look or talk, and the latter might pop up a row of pictograms bottom of screen indicating topics you might ask about. Top of screen is the inventory, from which you can click items and then seek to use them in the game world. Revelations or insights are up there as well.

Everything is voiced, there are ambient sound effects and a soundtrack, and you can save at will. If you die, the game just lets you try again.

I didn't realise it was Australian-made until I started playing and heard the accent. It's nice to hear those familiar tones :-)

Much more than that though, this is fast-paced move it along find and use the right item and ask the right questions adventuring. So far so very good.

Thanks flotsam (and Drac)! The game does seem to be well liked. Despite the graphics, I do have it on my wishlist.

I have heard good things about this game. Thank you for the first look, flotsam!

And thank you for your help, Drac.

Thanks, flotsam (and Draclvr) 👍

Thanks so much for your thoughts, flotsam!

Thank you as well Drac!

Ana

Thank you Flotsam. I played this when it was just released (like maybe day-of). At first I stuck with it, but by the time the Drifter was in the hospital I'd had it with the ultra dark themes, outdated pixel art, blood and gore. My two cents...

KatieB, although this one is getting rave reviews, I just have a hard time getting past the pixel art. It's just not for me.