Who / What
Hyper Light Drifter is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Heart Machine. The player controls a character known as the Drifter, who explores a mysterious, ruined world while battling enemies.
Background & History
The game was created by game designer Alx Preston through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013. It was first released for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and OS X in March 2016, with console versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One following in July 2016. A Special Edition featuring additional content was later released for Nintendo Switch in September 2018, for iOS devices in July 2019, and for Android devices in June 2024.
Why Notable
Hyper Light Drifter is notable for its distinctive pixel art style, atmospheric world-building, and challenging combat mechanics. It received critical acclaim for its visual design, music composed by Disasterpeace, and emotional narrative. The game has been praised as a significant indie title that helped popularize the modern resurgence of top-down action-adventure games.
In the News
Recently, Hyper Light Drifter expanded its availability with a release on Android devices in June 2024. This marks the latest platform release for the game's Special Edition, making it accessible to a broader mobile audience.