JDM: Japanese Drift Master

In Need for Speed Underground, drifting was just one part of the game. Many other racing games today also include drifting, but usually as part of the overall experience. JDM: Japanese Drift Master, by Gaming Factory and co-publisher 4Divinity, aims to change that.

In JDM: Japanese Drift Master, players take on the role of Touma, a Polish drifter who moves to Japan in search of redemption and a fresh start. This single-player, narrative-driven racing game follows Touma's journey as he rises through the underground racing scene. With the help of new friends, Touma rises through the underground racing scene by earning street cred through racing events, personal rivalries and challenges. There are three types of races: drift, grip (classic non-drifting racing), and drag (racing in a straight line). The story unfolds through a blend of open-world exploration and mission-based events. The story is told through in-game events and a manga comic. Each time the player takes part in an event, more pages of the comic will reveal what is to come next — and some of it is a bit cringe, too.

At the start of each session, players begin in the garage and can then cruise the streets of the fictional Guntama Prefecture. Main missions are marked on the map and can be activated at any time. There are also other challenges, ranging from making sushi deliveries to being chased by enemies. But variety is not JDM's strong point. Although Guntama is a fictional Japanese prefecture, the real-world references are clear. With over 250 km of drivable routes ranging from bustling streets to winding mountain roads and tourist landmarks, it's clear that the developers are fans of Japanese car culture.

The game features fully licensed cars from Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Subaru. Players can upgrade each car mechanically and visually with additions such as bumpers, spoilers, rims, and body kits. Players can install a new ECU, for example, or add an over-the-top bōsōzoku exhaust. Every car in the game can be adjusted to become a grip or drift beast, or an all-rounder depending on the player's preference. However, it would be even better if you could save and quickly switch between custom presets rather than preparing several cars for different purposes. The game provides players with plenty of virtual currency, so tuning and improving the vehicle is a major motivating factor. There are also two distinct driving modes: arcade and simcade. "The realistic physics backbone ensures that each car has its unique handling, allowing you to feel its weight as you take corners or brake at high speeds. The arcade layers added on top help with managing the car at high speeds and ease cornering," the devs said. In Arcade mode, ABS, ESP, Drift Assist and Brake Assist are all activated. In Simcade mode, however, only ABS is activated.

"JDM: Japanese Drift Master is a simcade racer, with a solid simulation backbone and arcade layers added on top for a fun and enjoyable experience. Expect each car to behave differently on the street, to feel the weight of it when going into a corner or trying to break at a high speed. Driving physics were very important for us from the beginning and we believe we found a perfect balance between fun and challenge coming from driving a car in real life. (...) We're continuously adding presets for a wide range of racing wheels and sim-driving hardware to ensure a seamless experience. Additionally, we're developing a robust key binding system that allows you to customize virtually any device connected to your PC—perfect for hardware without a dedicated plug-and-play preset." - Gaming Factory about arcade and simcade

Drifting feels good and controllable in Arcade Mode, too — even with indicators and the need to change gear. Although a driving school tutorial is helpful, it could provide a more in-depth explanation of drifting. Nevertheless, aside from the good core gameplay with drifting and the like, the game has some areas for improvement. For example, the AI-controlled traffic often behaves poorly, the navigation system could display the route more clearly, collisions with the environment don't feel quite right, and the performance and loading times of the Unreal Engine 5 could be optimised. Because a roadmap with several upgrades was announced shortly after launch, releasing the game in Early Access might have been a better option.

Gaming Factory is responsible for developing JDM: Japanese Drift Master. Founded in Poland in 2017, the company has released games such as Electrician Simulator, Zoo Keeper, Bakery Simulator and Castle Flipper. They also provide publishing services for other teams. 'Back in 2023, when we released the first demo of JDM: Japanese Drift Master, none of us expected the project to grow this much. Our amazing community played a huge role in that - your constant support kept us going," wrote the developers. JDM: Japanese Drift Master is their biggest project to date, which is why they are working with 4Divinity on the worldwide release. 4Divinity is a digital and retail games publishing company that focuses on bringing games from around the world to Asia and introducing Asian content to a global market.

"Our goal was to create a racing game for everyone, with two modes to choose from - arcade or simcade - so you can all drift your own way. Now, get your engines running! We're especially excited to watch how creatively you’ll tune and customize your machines!" - Mateusz Bilko, Head of Sales and Marketing

JDM: Japanese Drift Master was released on 21 May 2025 for PC (Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store) for €34.99. No further ports have been announced yet, but they are not unlikely.

Conclusion

Although JDM: Japanese Drift Master might have benefited from launching in Early Access, its focus on drifting in a Japanese setting is truly unique.

Features

• Single-player, narrative-driven racing experience focused on drifting
• Blends Simulation and arcade elements
• Open-world experience inspired by the blend of tradition and modern car culture in Japan