The Drifter Review – DANGER DOWN UNDER!

Crickey! Who would’ve thought that an Aussie-as game called The Drifter would feature the most outrageous, yet intriguing mystery thriller plot I’ve witnessed in 2025? Not this bloke, that’s for sure. The Drifter is a gritty, pixel-packed point & click adventure that somehow mixes supernatural shenanigans with the vibe of a Queenslander yelling “Got a ciggy, mate?!” And somehow, it works brilliantly.

She’ll Be Right

Right from the drop, protag Mick Carter is being hounded by something. Is it a bird? Is it a plane of armed kangaroos? I can’t say. Though each time Mick encounters a tough sitch and goes down… a lot, he’s immediately yanked back to reality, but still with all that gravity. Except this time, we’ve learnt something new. That’s what this game (and the story) is all about—trying different things and figuring out what’s going on in this old-school point & click with a contemporary touch.

Before you know it, you’ll master the nifty control scheme and be cycling through your inventory like a true modern gamer. Combining items, searching for clues and figuring out tricky set pieces that’ll really put that brainbox to the test. Though at points, certain puzzle solutions had me banging my noggin against a brick wall, but this only happened twice or thrice. Most of them have that bona fide, Sherlock seal of quality. Approved!

Sweeter Than a Meat Pie

Unlike our classical detective, Mick doesn’t have a place to call home—hence the title. So you’ll get to experience the whole kitten kaboodle of a noir-themed fictional Australia. Never thought I’d use those words in a sentence, but here we are! I have to say, the retro graphics look noice! It’s like someone poured King’s Quest, Monkey Island and Underbelly into a tinny and shook it up. Especially once all the fancy set pieces start poppin’ off, you might even let Mick die a few times over just to bask in those gritty pixels and synthsounds. Great stuff.

Now if there’s one part of the game that didn’t quite land with me, it would have to be how the story ends. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for ya. Albeit, since I was so invested in what was happening around Mick and how solid the voice-acting was, it was a tad disappointing that the ending felt so anticlimactic.

For me, it was a mix of characters lacking depth and the last act feeling rushed, as if something was missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it like big ol’ Sherlock, but it did sour what was one of the most interesting stories I’ve come across this year.

Decision

All in all, The Drifter is a uniquely Aussie mystery that’s dripping with style, tension and strong voice work. It’s a captivating ride that only stumbles in its final moments and a few puzzles here and there—but mate, what a bloody good ride it is.

By Anthony Culinas – Reviewed on PC

Excellent

Mick may not have a place to call home, but The Drifter has certainly found one in our hearts.

This game was reviewed using a download code provided by Powerhoof. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.