PCGame

Hyper Light Drifter

Difficult pixel-art action RPG built around combat and hidden paths

Heart Machine · Released Mar 31, 2016

ActionAdventureIndieRPG

Reviews
Very Positive
93% of 17K
Recent reviews
Very Positive
91% of 100 in 30 days
Players
43
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Verified
Last update on Steam
3 years ago
Apr 4, 2023
Minimum PC
512 mb memory
4 GB RAM · 2 GB disk
Full requirements

Metacritic: 84/100 (critic reviews)

What is Hyper Light Drifter?

This 2D action-adventure RPG follows an ill Drifter searching the lands of Buried Time for a way to quiet the disease. You fight enemies, avoid hazards, explore branching paths for secrets, and upgrade weapons, skills, and equipment.

For you if...

  • +you enjoy difficult combat and searching branching areas for secrets
  • +you prefer stories conveyed through images rather than dialogue
  • +you value pixel art, animation, and atmospheric music

Not for you if...

  • −you want a relaxed, low-difficulty adventure
  • −you prefer straightforward progression with little backtracking

What players say

93% of 16,599 reviews are positive · 91% of 100 in the last 30 days

Players most often praise the pixel art, music, atmosphere, and story told through imagery. Common complaints focus on the hard-to-read map, repeated searches for hidden routes, and finicky aiming and chain-dash controls.

Players over time

▼ -52% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 84 players on Oct 3, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 202643
Nov 6, 202630
Nov 5, 202629
Nov 4, 202626
Nov 3, 202636
Nov 2, 202638
Nov 1, 202634
Oct 31, 202633
Oct 30, 202638
Oct 29, 202622
Oct 28, 202633
Oct 27, 202638
Oct 26, 202629
Oct 25, 202637
Oct 24, 202642
Oct 23, 202640
Oct 22, 202631
Oct 21, 202644
Oct 20, 202643
Oct 19, 202645
Oct 18, 202643
Oct 17, 202639
Oct 16, 202638
Oct 15, 202645
Oct 14, 202643
Oct 13, 202648
Oct 12, 202665
Oct 11, 202647
Oct 10, 202667
Oct 9, 202665
Oct 8, 202679
Oct 7, 202673
Oct 6, 202662
Oct 5, 202672
Oct 4, 202676
Oct 3, 202684
Oct 2, 202662
Oct 1, 202657
Sep 30, 202674
Sep 29, 202668
Sep 28, 202683
Sep 27, 202683
Sep 26, 202673
Sep 25, 202657
Sep 24, 202662
Sep 23, 202646
Sep 23, 202661
Sep 22, 202671
Sep 21, 202671

How many players finish Hyper Light Drifter?

14% of Steam players have unlocked «Bully», the achievement for finishing the main story.

Share of everyone who owns the game on Steam, including those who barely played it. Updated weekly.

Screenshots and trailer

Hyper Light Drifter screenshot 1

Hyper Light Drifter system requirements

Minimum: 512 mb memory, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Hyper Light Drifter?

Tell us your graphics card once and every game page will answer this for you.

Set up my PC →

Minimum

OS
Windows 7 and above
Processor
1.2 ghz
Graphics
512 mb video memory
Memory
4 GB RAM
Storage
2 GB available space
DirectX
Version 10

Does Hyper Light Drifter have co-op or multiplayer?

Yes: co-op split-screen; PvP split-screen. It also has a single-player mode. With Remote Play Together, one copy is enough to play the local modes online with friends.

Does Hyper Light Drifter run on Steam Deck?

Verified Yes, Verified by Valve: it works on Steam Deck out of the box.

  • All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
  • Shows Steam Deck controller icons
  • In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Full controller support
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Achievements
23
Steam features
Family Sharing, Trading cards
Languages
Text only: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Japanese.

Does Hyper Light Drifter use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Oct 27, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

Tags

Recent updates

1 DLC available.

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