Here and there... you get those games that come along and catch you completely off guard.
You launch it thinking, Okay, let's see what this is about, and... before you know it, you're sitting there thinking, Wait a minute... this is kinda awesome! That has been my experience with... LIFTED (not to be confused with a church or a smoke shop).
Developed and published by Adventure Works, LIFTED is a cinematic 2.5D puzzle-platforming adventure that sends players jumping through history aboard an elevator that doubles as a time machine. It launched on PC on July 22, 2026, and will run you... $19.99. PS5 and Switch 2 versions are also in development, and honestly (with no extras on it)... this indie game is something special.
Back to the Future Meets Tomb Raider... With a little LEGO-ish Comedy
Trying to explain the personality of LIFTED is almost as much fun as playing it. It's literally like... Back to the Future decided to take a detour through Tomb Raider (or Indiana Jones), tossed in some LEGO-ish comedy, gave its characters that Rayman-style makeover, and then said, "You know what would make this even better? Let's get them to travel... Bill & Ted-style."
Except there's no phone booth. There's an elevator, but it's still... excellent!
To be more specific, Professor Raventhorpe created an... Anytime Elevator, a machine capable of traveling through both time and space. The elevator's floor numbers correspond to historical years, allowing Ari and the professor to jump into different periods of history in pursuit of a priceless magical tiara. Naturally, because this is a time machine created by a slightly eccentric professor, things don't always go according to plan. But... that's where the adventure gets good.
You play as Ari Buktu, a student who gets swept into the professor's harebrained scheme. What starts as an attempt to help his professor with a mission... quickly turns into a time-traveling treasure hunt filled with ancient ruins, pirates, puzzles, dangerous environments and plenty of things trying to make sure Ari... doesn't make it home. Yikes!
Lifted has this wonderful Saturday-morning-adventure-meets-1980s-blockbuster energy... and I am absolutely here for it. Want to see if you get that adventurous spark? Let's play!
LIFTED isn't just about watching the adventure unfold (although I enjoy the cutscenes greatly). You're doing the work. Ari can run, jump, climb and swing his way through environments while dodging hazards thrown at him... but trying to figure out the puzzles will stop and make you think. They aren't the hardest puzzles I've ever come across, but... they will challenge a number of gamers as each correct move gets you back on the trail of the tiara.
That's something I really appreciate about this game. It doesn't treat us like we're incapable of figuring things out. There are moments where you actually have to look around, understand what's happening in the environment and work out your next move. There's an easy mode that gives you wider platforms, puzzle hints, and easier timings... if needed. It's all about fun times at the end of the day, so... do you.
Then, right after solving a puzzle, the game will turn around and throw some action at you.
The developers describe it as a mixture of wholesome platforming and high-stakes discovery, and... that description fits surprisingly well. We can't forget about the cast though.
LIFTED has an amusing cast of... likeable characters
A game's characters can make or break an adventure, and LIFTED has a cast that's easy to get attached to. Ari has that likeable, slightly reluctant... protagonist energy. He didn't exactly wake up one morning thinking, Today I'm going to travel through history and steal an ancient artifact.
He just wants to get home. Unfortunately for him, getting home isn't exactly going to be easy.
And then there's Professor Raventhorpe, who is one-track minded... but he's complex and entertaining at the same time. He provides the vision, while going back and forth with his crew. Ari does the heavy lifting, but the way it's set up is plus... because he doesn't feel like a brainless NPC just running behind you. He pops up when he pops up by way of taking his own route (the easier route), and they play on that via their comedic interactions. The dynamic is enjoyable... funny, and makes you want to stick around for the comedy just as much as the adventure.
There's also Julius (the chinchilla of the crew), who somehow manages to add even more personality to an already entertaining group. That feels like Back to the Future + 1, and what drove that home even more is Joe Gaudet (the voice of Ari). He totally sounds like... Michael J. Fox, and even had me investigating to see who the voice was behind the reluctant adventurer. I was literally like, "Hold on... is that Michael J. Fox?"
Clearly it wasn't but... the resemblance in his delivery is crazy. So, if you're a fan of that classic Michael J. Fox style of energetic, slightly sarcastic, likable protagonist, you're probably going to notice it too. And honestly, it works beautifully for Ari.
One Performance Tip Before You Start
Now, before you jump headfirst into this adventure, I have one little recommendation based on my experience.
If the trees on the title screen are lagging, don't just accept it.
Take a pause for the cause... and go into the settings.
I recommend the following:
- Turn Vertical Sync OFF
- Set the Frame Rate Limit to 60 FPS (or 30 FPS if the lag is still there)
That little adjustment made a difference for my experience, and it's worth doing before you really get into the adventure.
$19.99? That's a Steal! Frfr
For an adventure with time travel, platforming, environmental puzzles, cinematic cutscenes, voice acting, multiple historical settings and enough personality to keep you legitimately amused... that is a very attractive price. I could see it being priced between $24.99 to $29.99, so $19.99 is a steal and really cranks up the appeal!
My experience with the game so far has been absolutely amazing and I immediately thought about my daughter. I can't wait for her to try this one.
Rated E10+, the developers themselves describe LIFTED as an experience intended for everyone, with accessible gameplay for younger players and a nostalgic sense of adventure for older players. It's a great bonding opportunity because you can fill them in on different elements that make it nostalgic.
That's exactly the kind of family-friendly gaming experience I like seeing. And... don't worry, the antagonists are just tough enough to fill their role, but it's all in fun.
Overall, if you grew up loving movies like Back to the Future, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Indiana Jones, or that general era of big, ridiculous, fun adventure stories from LEGO, there's a good chance LIFTED is going to hit the right button for you.
Adventure Works knocked this one out of the park, and it could be a flagship IP for the developer.
Anyway, I'm jumping back into the action... and you can to on Epic Games Store and Steam, game on!
