Night Shift for Windows

Find the sun in this retro driver

Night Shift is a paid indie adventure game where you try to literally find the sun using your trusty vintage car. Developed by Brandon Brizzi, this game brings back to life the goodness of pixelated graphics from old video games plus a unique music playlist on your dashboard.

Night Shift feels like Miami Vice, evening edition, with a gaming experience that feels somewhere between Road 96 and Murder House. Be warned, however, as this game will test your sense of direction: drive aimlessly and you might end up where you started.

Drive away the darkness

While the premise for Night Shift is unique, there is not much to the game’s story. The sun has disappeared, plunging the world into darkness. You’re tasked to find it back. There’s no more explanation available as to how it even happened. Even after finishing the game, these plot holes remain unanswered, leaving a sense of frustration for story-driven players.

The graphics are actually reminiscent of old games from the 90s, with the pixelated view from your car windshield showing pitch-black darkness aside from the range of your headlights. This creates a feeling of the world being larger than it actually is. Additionally, it adds suspense, despite its retro and simplified graphics. Enemies and friendly spectres who’ll help you on your journey are only visible when light hits them.

In this game, the most commendable aspect is the music. Provided by music duo Dance With The Dead, the metal and synth-wave elements in the soundtrack really brings to life 80s horror such as those created by John Carpenter. It makes you want to speed off into the unknown, although for the purposes of the game, is ill-advised. Lastly, the game has an auto-save feature, keeping your progress safe.

Good for nostalgia trips

While it has no story to properly explain what’s happening in Night Shift, it remains a great experience down memory lane. With the fast-paced, suspenseful tracks from Dance With The Dead and the pixelated visuals from your car’s windshield, this game will definitely remind you of old-school video games or those late-night long drives along the highway. If you’re looking for nostalgic experiences with a bit of suspense, this one’s for you.