3.5/5 ★ – seekerofshade's review of Hyper Light Drifter.

Hyper Light Drifter is a game I wanted to love. Its combat is fluid and satisfying, the music is unforgettable (I can’t stress this enough—it’s stunning), and the world it builds is undeniably gorgeous. There’s a strong sense of history in its environment, but the world itself never felt truly alive. It was a place with a past, but I didn’t feel like I could connect with it. The villagers, though integral to the story, communicate through images, which left me wanting more. I longed for the kind of interactions you get in games like Children of Morta, where even a world in decline still feels like a home. Instead, Hyper Light Drifter felt more like a vacation—an incredible place to visit but not somewhere I wanted to settle. The game is beautiful and immersive in short bursts, but the absence of a deeper connection with the world and its people made it exhausting to return to. After completing three out of four dungeons, I felt the need to step away. As much as I admire its aesthetics and gameplay, I don’t feel the urge to keep pushing forward. It’s a great game, but there are so many other worlds to explore that Hyper Light Drifter just didn’t make me want to stay.