It’s going for an ‘investigative feel’

The two-man team at Melbourne studio Powerhoof revealed their next game this week, and it’s worth a look for point-and-click fans who never stopped adventuring.The Drifter–coming to PC and Nintendo Switch “when it’s done”– is a pulpy thriller about a drifter who happens upon a murder. He’s spotted, killed, brought back to life “seconds before his death,” and framed for the whole sordid affair.

While Mick (good name for an adventure game protagonist, by the way) unravels the otherworldly conspiracy, he’s also “haunted by a feeling thatsomethingfollowed him back from the other side.”

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I gave this project a cursory glance because I really like Powerhoof’s use of lighting and color(and becauseCrawlwas neat in its own right),but I’m sticking around for that story premise.

The developers say they’re “drawing on King, Crichton, and Carpenter, with a dash of ’70s Ozploitation,” and add that puzzles inThe Drifterwill be “the glue that ties it together rather than the focus.”

The ghost at the end of the hallway

“Mick’s a pretty practical guy, and so puzzles are down-to-earth, designed to be unobtrusive, and give an investigative feel,” Powerhoof said. “We’re keeping the pacing is quick and lean.”

Picking up the smiley face post-it off the broken mirror

John and Molly sitting on the park bench

Close up shot of Marissa Marcel starring in Ambrosio

Kukrushka sitting in a meadow

Lightkeeper pointing his firearm overlapped against the lighthouse background

Overseer looking over the balcony in opening cutscene of Funeralopolis

Edited image of Super Imposter looking through window in No I’m not a Human demo cutscene with thin man and FEMA inside the house

Looking at the ghost of Jackie inside the lighthouse