Tag: The Drifter

Noob’s Top 10 Demos played in 2024

Demos have not only made a comeback, they have firmly solidified their place in the gaming world.

Sometimes playing a demo will show that a game is not what you expected, is not for you, or simply that your device cannot handle what is required to run the game smoothly. However, sometimes you stumble upon a demo so excellent that sells you on the experience so well, that you would wishlist it 10x over if you could.

I have been covering Steam Next Fests and other festivals for years, but at this point in time, even without anymore festivals, I have so many demos to check out that I could play a new one every week and still have plenty left over for 2026. Not to mention that rarely a week go by that I am not alerted to at least one more demo that catches my interest, be it a game that I missed or a brand new release.

In 2024 I played somewhere around 80 game demos, writing impressions posts about 23 of them! Below is a list of my favourite 10 demos that I played in 2024.

The list is in order finishing up with my favourite, but all of them are worth checking out if you think they could be up your street.

Going into 2025 I still have demos of 2024 releases to play, as well as games from a few years back, and games that don’t have release dates yet. I hope to continue making my way through, highlighting the gems that I uncover along the way.

Other Demo Impressions

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The Drifter – Demo Impressions

I can’t think of a better set up for a point & click adventure.

The Drifter

Developer: Powerhoof, Dave Lloyd

Release Date: To be announced

A Pulp Adventure Thriller – A murdered drifter awakens. Alive again, seconds before his death. Hunted and haunted, help him untangle a mad web of conspiracy in this fast-paced point ‘n click thrill-ride.

The Drifter is a demo that I tried for the first time around 2019, back in one of the early Steam Next Fests. It left such an impression that it has been on my Wishlist ever since. I was thrilled to see the game in the LudoNarraCon line up and delighted that I enjoyed it just a much the second time around as I did all of those years ago.

The first thing that immediatly stands out to me is the presentation of the game. The pixel art and animation is fantastic, the colours immediatly setting the gritty tone that will continue throughout the entirety of the chapter contained within the demo. The game is fully voice acted, including narration from the main character himself which in my opinion, elevates The Drifter from a typical point and click adventure to a more unique cinematic experience.

The demo can be played in less than 30 minutes and even in such a short space of time manages to establish two excellent story hooks. One is more realistic, setting the tone in what immediatly feels like a very down to earth game. However, the other is a science fiction twist that has the potential to allow for some very stressful, suspenseful, intense story and puzzle scenarios, or even hilarious ones if they want to. One of these hooks would have been enough but together, along with the entire aesthetic, this is the set up for a narrative that I am itching to see play out.

Demo Length – 30 minutes
At a glance
+ Lovely pixel art and animations.
+ Great story hooks.
+ Narration.
+ Writing feels good so far.
+ Drama.
+ Nice, clear, time saving UI.

More from Ludonarracon 2024

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