Australian-made point-and-click adventure game The Drifter is officially set to launch for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on 22 June, inviting a whole new audience in following its PC-only release in mid-2025.
It’s a great next step for the game, following a year filled with accolades – critical acclaim from reviewers, major awards within Australia and nominations elsewhere, and news that it’s currently in discussion for a screen adaptation at a major studio.
The Drifter is a game that absolutely deserves to be played by more people, and with the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 currently being among the most affordable and widely used consoles, this should be an excellent chance for proliferation.
The Drifter launches for Nintendo consoles – quick links
What ScreenHub had to say about The Drifter
As we wrote in our review, The Drifter was one of the most successful Australian-made games of 2025, for its elaborate and winding story, its clever use of point-and-click puzzle mechanics, its fantastic voice acting, and its Australianism.
This is a game that doesn’t shy away from its nature as an Australian-made games, with many of the characters being Australian themselves, and the game taking place in a sci-fi-infused version of the country.
‘Between sharp, breathy voice acting, a tightly-written narrative, and well-designed puzzles, this game will have you desperately clawing onwards, searching for the bright light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the sort of game you’ll devour, given the chance, buoyed by such a grimy, richly-textured sense of personality and flair,’ we wrote.
‘By design, developer Powerhoof has taken a somewhat minimalist approach here, with a pixel art style of limited colour palette. But between sleek, fluid animations and clever use of lighting and contrast, the adventure feels much grander. In fact, the style typifies Powerhoof’s approach to maximising resources.’
‘Simple pixel art is transformed by a focus on darker colours and sharp contrasts, becoming creepy and gothic with twisting vines that frame the landscape. Bright sunsets are rendered in blocky colours that paint the landscape in vivid shades, creating a sense of vastness in blank spaces.’
The Drifter is a lush tale, with its ambitious story buoyed by every artistic aspect.
What to expect on Nintendo consoles
After a long wait to hear more news, it’s great to see The Drifter is set to launch on Nintendo Switch consoles imminently.
As announced, the Nintendo Switch version of the game will reflect a similar experience found on PC. The Nintendo Switch 2 version will be slightly improved from this version, with support for up to 4K at 120FPS while the console is docked, and Joy-Con 2 mouse sensor functionality added.
Anyone that missed out on The Drifter in its initial release cycle should absolutely make time for it when it lands on Nintendo consoles later this month.
Also on ScreenHub: Aussie game The Drifter reportedly set for a ‘major studio’ film adaptation
Australian-made point-and-click adventure game The Drifter, developed by Melbourne-based studio Powerhoof under the direction of developer Dave Lloyd, is rumoured to be getting a film adaptation, courtesy of an unnamed major studio.
The news was tucked into a new interview with production company and video game adaptation specialists Story Kitchen, with senior staff sharing the tale of its founding and growth with GamesIndustry.biz.
Read more …
