Japanese Drift Master

JDM: Japanese Drift Master has the potential to be the best drift experience out there. It embodies the lifestyle and uniquely showcases it.

When I first heard of JDM: Japanese Drift Master, I just immediately expected it to be one of the many cheap simulators on Steam that were completely focused on a single feature – in this case, performing drifts on Japanese mountain roads. How glad I am to say I was completely wrong. After being in development for so damn long, the game is out, and instead of being a cheap cash grab, as initially expected, it actually ended up being the closest to a love letter to Need for Speed Underground...

Bursting with ideas, enthusiasm, and a solid physics model, but JDM seems more preoccupied with throwing another idea in than polishing what’s already there.

Since the 1970s, drifting has created a subculture within the automotive culture. There’s a ton of media featuring the technique, like Initial D and Tokyo Drift. And that’s not stopping anytime soon, as JDM: Japanese Drift Master is the newest drifting game. In JDM, you’ll be stepping into the shoes of Touma, a foreigner from Poland, who wants to mark his spot on the drifting map. Throughout the game, you’ll take on challenges and even try your hand at delivering sushi. Just make sure...

Japanese Drift Master is worth checking out if you’re looking for a quick arcade racing fix, especially if you’ve got the hardware to handle its demanding visuals. But if you’re searching for something with more variety and staying power, this one is going to leave you wanting more.

There are some potholes, sure. That story is borderline insufferable, tutorials don't do a great job of explaining things, and there's some bugginess. I only got a fraction of the cash I was supposed to earn from some missions, for example, which made it difficult to progress up that ladder of nice vehicles. But even so, I'm left with the impression of a racing game punching far above its weight and landing an impressive number of blows. If I knew more about drifting as a motorhobby, I might ...