Traverser is a hand-drawn 2D adventure game from Gatling Goat Studios, published by Adult Swim Games for PC. It follows Valerie Bennett, a young Traverser who can move between Brimstone’s Upper and Lower cities, as she uncovers the Raven Corporation’s control over the city’s air. The game mixes puzzle-solving with exploration across a divided society.
Trailer, via Adult Swim.
Brimstone and Its Divided Society
Brimstone is the last human settlement, a city split into an Upper City and a Lower City. The sun has died, forcing humanity to retreat toward what little heat remains beneath the planet’s surface. The wealthy elite live above ground, while the poor labor below. Raven Corp runs everything, including the breathable air, which is rationed heavily in the Lower City. Valerie joins the Traversers, a new peacekeeping force with the power to cross between the two worlds.
Valerie Bennett’s Mission
Valerie passes the test to become a Traverser at the start of the game. Her job is to expose Raven Corp’s secrets, break through years of lies and propaganda, and find the truth about Brimstone. The game frames this as a search for the most dangerous thing in the city: the truth itself.
Hand-Drawn Art Style
The game uses hand-drawn art throughout, giving Brimstone a distinct visual identity. The contrast between the sunlit Upper City and the dim, cramped Lower City is striking. Each area has its own color palette and sense of place.
Puzzles and Exploration
Traverser blends puzzle-solving with open-world exploration. Players move between districts, solve environmental puzzles, and talk to characters to gather information. The puzzles often require thinking about the game’s central themes of class and resource distribution.
Single Player Only
Traverser is a single-player game only. There is no multiplayer mode, and the story is built around Valerie’s journey through Brimstone.
Themes of Class and Control
The game’s central theme is control, specifically how Raven Corp holds power over Brimstone. Raven Corp controls the city’s breathable air, with the wealthy Upper City getting far more than its fair share. This creates a stark divide between the two worlds.
Gameplay Structure
Traverser is structured around a series of missions and side quests. Players move between districts, solve puzzles, and complete objectives to advance the story. The game also includes collectibles and hidden areas for completionists.
| Activity | Focus |
|---|---|
| Missions | Main storyline |
| Side quests | Additional lore |
| Puzzles | Environmental challenges |
| Exploration | Finding new areas |
Where Traverser Falls Short
Traverser is not without flaws. Some puzzles feel repetitive, and the pacing can slow down in later chapters. The game’s writing leans heavily on exposition, which means the world is described rather than shown.
Final Word
Traverser succeeds as a thoughtful, visually distinct adventure game. Its themes of control and division are relevant, and its hand-drawn art style sets it apart from other games in the genre. The puzzles are clever, and the story builds steadily toward its conclusion.
- The hand-drawn art style gives Brimstone a strong visual identity.
- The exploration of class and control is handled with care.
- The puzzles are inventive and tied to the game’s themes.
- The heavy exposition limits some of the world’s depth.
- Later chapters slow down due to repeated puzzle types.
Traverser is a solid, ambitious game that occasionally stumbles on pacing and repetition. It is worth playing for its vision, even if it does not always deliver on its promise. The game earns an 8 out of 10.
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