Hyper Light Drifter

Combat is quick. Your sword handles nearby enemies while a gun can reach a target farther away; a dash helps you cross gaps or slip past an attack. You are not meant to stand still and trade hits. Watch what an enemy does, move to a safer angle and use the space around it. As you explore, you can find equipment and learn new skills. The gallery shows the game’s different jobs: moving through dark ruins, a fight with several enemies, a broader view of the world, and a character/equipment screen. That last screen is important because exploration and upgrades are as much a part of progress as winning a fight.

Heart Machine developed and published Hyper Light Drifter on PC on March 31, 2016. Other platforms followed later. The studio describes it as an action adventure RPG with branching paths and secrets. It can be difficult, so a useful first habit is to revisit a route when your gear or understanding changes instead of assuming every visible path must be cleared immediately. This page covers the original game, not the later Hyper Light Breaker.