Driftwood

About

Driftwood is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Wakagana and was released on August 8, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

Driftwood is a visual novel following Marcus Feick and his new life on Marthas Vineyard.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

54%

Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews

story5 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a compelling and atmospheric story with deep character arcs that encourage personal growth.
The music is charming and enhances the overall mood of the visual novel.
Despite being unfinished, the game offers a unique experience with memorable characters and engaging interactions.

The plot can feel slow and meandering, with some players finding it tedious and lacking a satisfying conclusion.
Inconsistent artwork and character designs detract from the overall visual experience, leading to confusion.
The writing is riddled with grammatical errors and awkward dialogue, making it difficult for some players to stay engaged.

story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
78%
8%
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the character development and engaging interactions, while others criticize the writing quality and lack of resolution, as many plot points remain unresolved. The narrative is often described as meandering, with excessive monologues and irrelevant details that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, comparisons to other works, such as "Katawa Shoujo," highlight a sense of unoriginality in the plot, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the story.
- “Story - it was easy to become attached to the characters and care about what happens with them.”
- “I feel like the characters have a very engaging storyline, and I feel like I'm really interacting with them.”
- “The story and game focus primarily on five main female characters that can affect Marcus’s life positively or negatively based on the player’s choices.”
- “The writing is unedited and quite odd in particular places (and the story abruptly ends in every route; no resolution, the story is simply incomplete).”
- “Instead all the plot points are left hanging, and I'm sure they are continued in the upcoming sequel.”
- “Story-wise, they waste too much time describing meaningless things and the prologue is dispensable.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
58%
18%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as a standout feature and noting that it often fits the scenes well, while others find it unremarkable or even distracting. There are 38 tracks available in the extras, allowing players to select their favorites, but some scenes lack background music entirely. Overall, while the music is generally described as soothing and decent, it does not consistently enhance the gaming experience for all players.
- “The best aspect of this game is definitely the music.”
- “The backgrounds are fairly well drawn and the music often fits the scenes very well.”
- “For music, not all of it stands out but there are more than a few really good tracks.”
- “I would rather play Duke Nukem Forever with the theme song from Manos repeating the whole time than this pile of trash.”
- “The only problem I had was that there are several scenes without any background music or sound effects.”
- “The only pros in this visual novel are to some extent the music and some decent sprites and CGs, but when they are mixed in with a plethora of other stylizations, it just bogs them down and makes them a stark contrast to the other lower quality assets.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics in the game are characterized by inconsistent artwork and a mix of styles, blending western and faintly anime influences. While some users appreciate the cute character designs and unique opening animation, many criticize the overall quality and coherence, noting that the visuals lack a unified art style and can be distracting. Despite these issues, the graphics are considered a secondary aspect to the storytelling in the visual novel genre.
- “The artwork is well drawn, featuring cute characters that enhance the overall experience.”
- “The opening animation looks great and showcases a unique art style that sets it apart.”
- “The artwork has a western style with faint anime inspiration, creating a distinctive visual appeal.”
- “I never considered the visuals to be important in the visual novel genre, but I have a few complaints here.”
- “But while reading, you'll find that the sprites are all over the place; there is no coherent art style, no shared quality level, and the colors and designs are so mixed that you would almost think each CG had new characters.”
- “Art style reminds me of rtil's (just realized the animation is by rtil. Go figure), and some characters have odd poses.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
Character development in the game is criticized for its inconsistency and lack of depth, with art styles varying significantly and failing to create a cohesive visual identity for characters. Reviewers note that the character designs are uninspired, and the narrative fails to provide meaningful insights into the characters, resulting in a lack of engagement. Overall, the aspect of character development is rated poorly, reflecting a missed opportunity for deeper storytelling.
- “The character development is engaging and adds depth to the story, making the characters feel more relatable and real.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations becoming clearer as the plot unfolds.”
- “The growth of the main character is well-crafted, allowing players to witness significant changes in personality and relationships.”
- “Art with little consistency and boring character designs.”
- “The idea is probably character development, but knowing that the main character ordered a turkey sandwich and only sort of enjoyed it doesn't develop his character at all.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky characters, such as Matt and May, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the visual novel. Many players find the game amusing, often describing its humor as unintentional yet entertaining, reminiscent of the comedic moments found in cult films like "The Room."
- “At his new school, Marcus meets plenty of interesting characters like Matt and May who greatly contribute to the game's humor, which honestly, is one of the reasons I liked the visual novel so much.”
- “I was going to finish this game and write a funny review about it because, in all honesty, it is a pretty funny game, albeit entirely unintentionally.”
- “It's bloody funny before that realization hits, though.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a disconnect between character experiences and emotional depth, with protagonists facing trauma yet appearing unfazed by significant events. The narrative struggles to convey genuine emotional resonance, often resorting to superficial observations rather than meaningful insights. Overall, the emotional aspect is perceived as lacking authenticity and depth.
- “After asking the girl of his dreams (childhood friend) out on a date, he finds himself caught in a catastrophic event that leaves him physically and emotionally wounded.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its enjoyable atmosphere, setting it apart from many other visual novels that often lack this engaging quality.
- “The game has an enjoyable atmosphere that most visual novels don't really have.”
- “The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel significant.”
- “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals, creating a truly captivating atmosphere.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is straightforward and lacks complexity, with users indicating that it primarily focuses on the core mechanics without additional layers or features.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates impressive stability, with users noting a lack of bugs or glitches, and it performs exceptionally well compared to titles from larger studios.