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The Drifter is a good fit for Nintendo Switch if you want a story-driven, 2D point-and-click puzzle adventure with a pulp-thriller tone that you can play in handheld mode. It is a poor fit if you dislike violent or adult-oriented fiction, or if you prefer puzzle games with open-ended solutions and little retrying. This guide draws on Nintendo’s UK store listing, Powerhoof’s official materials, and one independent review of the European Nintendo Switch 2 edition. It is not based on hands-on testing by this site, and it does not treat the Switch 2 review as a test of the Switch 1 version.
What kind of game The Drifter is
The Drifter follows Mick Carter, a drifter who is murdered, revives moments before death, and is drawn into a murder and conspiracy. Nintendo’s listing describes him as someone who witnesses a killing, is framed for it, and is pursued as he is pulled deeper into the conspiracy. The game is a fast-paced 2D point-and-click adventure. Nintendo classifies it under Puzzle and Adventure and says the puzzles are practical and grounded, with each one tied to the story rather than sitting apart from it.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Hyper Light Drifter - Special Edition - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41V5eblPKSL._SL160_.jpg)
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Hyper Light Drifter - Special Edition - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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DRAGON BALL FighterZ - Nintendo Switch | $24.16 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - US Version | $52.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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In practice, play is investigation: you move through scenes, interact with highlighted points, and solve puzzles that move the plot forward. The pixel art is deliberately old-fashioned in look, but the controls and interface are modern, a contrast the Nintendo Life review singles out as one of the game’s strengths.
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The fields below come from Nintendo’s UK product listing for the Switch version. Storefront details can differ between countries, so check your own region’s eShop page before buying.
| Listing field | Nintendo UK listing (Switch) |
|---|---|
| Release date | 22 June 2026 |
| Publisher | Powerhoof |
| Category | Puzzle and Adventure |
| Play modes | Handheld, tabletop, and TV |
| Players | One player, single system |
| Languages | English, Spanish, French, German, Italian |
| Download size | 654.0 MB |
| Age rating | PEGI 16, with strong violence and strong language flags |
| Controller | Nintendo Switch Pro Controller listed as compatible |
The Pro Controller is an option, not a requirement. The listing also supports handheld and tabletop use, so handheld play does not depend on it.
Which version the reviews cover
The Drifter has two release windows, and they are easy to confuse. The PC version came first, and newer console coverage refers to a different release.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
| Version | Release date (per Powerhoof’s press kit) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steam and GOG (PC) | 17 July 2025 | The original release. Some reviews cover this launch. |
| Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 | 22 June 2026 | Announced together in Powerhoof’s launch post. Nintendo lists the Switch version on the UK store. |
The one independent review cited here, by Nintendo Life’s Roland Ingram, was published on 25 June 2026 and covers the European Nintendo Switch 2 edition in both handheld and docked play. The reviewer notes that the game is also available on Switch 1, but the review does not report testing on Switch 1 hardware. Its control observations, score, and play time should be read as Switch 2 findings. The sources do not establish the technical differences between the Switch 1 and Switch 2 versions, so this guide does not claim any.
Handheld, tabletop and TV play
Nintendo lists handheld, tabletop, and TV modes. Powerhoof developer Dave Lloyd wrote on the studio homepage on 23 June 2026 that he had designed the game to be playable on Switch from the early days and loved how it feels and looks on the handheld. That is the developer’s stated intent, not an independent measure of performance.
Rank #3
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Nintendo Life’s reviewer captured both handheld and docked play on the Switch 2 edition and describes an interface that highlights interactive points on screen. The reviewer also describes two ways to interact: Joy-Con mouse mode and controller-based interaction. Both are observations about the Switch 2 edition under review. Because Nintendo lists the Pro Controller as compatible, it is a reasonable option if you prefer a stick and buttons in tabletop or TV play.
What critics say
Nintendo Life gave the Switch 2 edition 9/10. The review praises the pulp story and atmosphere, the distinctive art, the adaptable controls, and the streamlined interface. Its conclusion reads: “The Drifter might hark back to 20th-century point-and-clicks with its pixel visuals, but its smart controls, streamlined interface and smooth scrolling place it firmly in the modern world.”
Rank #4
- Nintendo Switch features: Simplified controls for single Joy-Con play. More features to be announced.
- Spectacular fights: Experience aerial combos, destructible stages, and famous scenes from the Dragon Ball anime reproduced in 60 FPS
- 3VS3 TAG/SUPPORT: Allows players to train and master more than one fighter/style, which brings deeper gameplay.
- HIGH-END ANIME GRAPHICS: Using the power of the Unreal engine and the talented team at Arc System Works, DRAGON BALL FighterZ is a visual tour-de-force.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Cartoon violence, mild language, mild suggestive themes
The review’s criticisms are specific. Puzzle progression is linear, so a puzzle usually has one intended route. Some trial-and-error moments can become frustrating. There are also brief timed sections. The reviewer reports roughly 10 hours of play for that run. That figure is one person’s experience and is not a guaranteed completion time.
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Nintendo’s description and the independent review agree on the story-and-puzzle focus. The review goes further on mood, calling the tone adult-oriented, violent, and grotesque. That matches the content flags in the table above and should be the first thing to weigh.
Best Value
- A variety of playable characters are available, some with unique attributes that affect gameplay and platforming physics.
- Younger and less-experienced players will love playing as Toadette, who is brand new to both games, and Nabbit, who was formerly only playable in New Super Luigi U. Both characters offer extra assistance during play.
- Multiplayer sessions are even more fun, frantic, and exciting thanks to entertaining character interactions. Need a boost? Try jumping off a teammate’s head or getting a teammate to throw you.
- Features a wealth of help features, like a Hints gallery, reference videos, and a Super Guide in New Super Mario Bros. U that can complete levels for you if they’re giving you trouble.
- Three additional modes—Boost Rush, Challenges, and Coin Battle—mix up gameplay and add replayability, while also upping the difficulty for players who want to try something harder. Players can use their Mii characters in these modes.
- Likely to enjoy it: players who like noir and pulp crime stories, enjoy point-and-click investigation, and want a handheld-friendly adventure.
- Likely to struggle: players who want open-ended puzzle solutions, dislike retrying failed attempts, or find graphic violence and strong language hard to take.
- Check first: anyone sensitive to violent content, or who is buying for a younger household member, should read the age rating and content flags before starting.
Buying notes
- The Switch version is a digital download, with a listed size of 654.0 MB on the UK store. The sources do not establish a physical cartridge or boxed release, so do not plan around one.
- The Pro Controller is optional and is listed as compatible. It is not required for handheld play.
- Powerhoof’s launch post mentions The Drifter Original Soundtrack as Steam DLC. No Switch-specific soundtrack release is confirmed in the sources.
The Drifter’s Switch version suits players who want a noir-style puzzle story they can finish in handheld mode, provided the violence and strong language are not a barrier.
Quick Recap
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