JDM: Japanese Drift Master Review- A Thrilling Ride with Some Bumps Along the Road

Gaming Factory’s Japanese Drift Master is a high-octane drift racing experience that builds upon the promise of flawless drifting mechanics and deep customization. It’s a game that caters to hardcore drift enthusiasts while attempting to appeal to a wider audience. With its free prequel, Rise of the Scorpion, released last year, it introduced the players to the world of JDM. And now, even though it’s finally out, it still doesn’t feel finished.

The game is expected to receive performance optimizations, additional content updates, and possibly multiplayer enhancements, as outlined in its 9-month future roadmap. While leaderboards are currently in place, direct online racing is not yet available, though a split-screen mode allows players to compete locally.

Japanese Drift Master was released exclusively for PC on May 21, 2025. It is available on Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. Gaming Factory has confirmed they will begin working on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S ports following the PC launch. However, there is no official timeframe for when these versions will be available.

True to its Core

At its core, Japanese Drift Master nails the essential elements of a drift-focused racing title. The physics feels precise, offering a satisfying sense of control that rewards skillful execution. Whether you’re sliding through tight corners or modifying your dream car, the game provides an excellent driving experience that feels authentic and exhilarating. The UI design and skills meter, however, appear to be quite similar to those in Forza Horizon.

The collision mechanics and off-road performance are rather lacking. That said, it’s an exhilarating experience if you stick to the roads, which play to its strengths. To cater to a variety of players, the game offers two difficulty modes: Simcade, designed for skilled drift enthusiasts, and Arcade, which is perfect for newcomers to the genre.

Customization is another highlight, allowing players to fine-tune their vehicles with extensive options, making each car a personal masterpiece. The various tracks and night-time Tokyo-esque streets add to the atmosphere, immersing players in a world where drifting reigns supreme. The maps and roads are possibly the best aspect of it all, as they closely resemble the life-like narrow streets of Japan that demand a sheer amount of precision.

Beyond Drifting

While it might just be a fleeting distraction, I enjoyed the game’s manga art style. The story, though a bit cliché, is undeniably charming and feels like a classic teenage fantasy, where the protagonist is incredibly skilled and has an equally lovable girlfriend. Together, they face challenges as her cartoonishly evil parents disapprove of their relationship, pushing him to prove himself in thrilling drift battles against relentless rivals determined to derail his racing dreams.

The story is in the form of manga chapters and pages, where you unlock a page or two after completing a story event. While this may not be a part of the current future roadmap, it would be great if we could get these pages animated, just the game’s opening anime intro. Even a voiced manga style similar to Max Payne 1 & 2 would go a long way.

There’s another major gripe I have, that is, the game never truly goes beyond drifting and deliveries. Almost all the events that you play are centered around the aspect of drifting. It would be great for the gam,e it it could be diversified in terms of its training and story missions. They don’t have to go full-on open world arcade racer style like Forza Horizon, but having a middle ground between drifting and driving would be cool.

Where it Stumbles

The most concerning part of the game is its visuals on budget hardware, and it’s the performance. While the game boasts impressive visuals, even high-end hardware struggles to maintain steady frame rates when playing on higher settings. Optimization problems make enjoying the best graphical experience difficult, forcing players to sacrifice visuals for smoother gameplay.

Additionally, no matter which graphical setting is chosen, some in-game assets still appear blurry or pixelated, particularly the texture maps on roads and signboards. Despite this, the game’s charming Tokyo streets manage to shine through at times. However, addressing low-resolution textures, micro stutters, blurry signboards, subpar reflections, and much-needed performance optimization should be the development team’s top priority.

Real Talk

Japanese Drift Master captures the essence of drifting through Japan’s scenic streets, which are beautifully modeled after their real-world counterparts. However, technical issues significantly hold it back, leaving room for improvement as outlined in the game’s promising future roadmap.

FINAL SCORE: 75/100