JDM: Japanese Drift Master offers a visually impressive, Japan-themed open-world racing experience with licensed cars and a unique manga-style narrative. The game’s map and sound design, particularly the soundtrack and car audio, receive consistent praise for immersing players in the drifting culture. The driving physics lean towards a simcade style, providing intuitive drifting especially on controllers, and the customization options add depth.
However, the game suffers from significant issues including frustrating AI behavior, inconsistent and punishing progression systems, and a drift scoring mechanic that rewards gimmicky driving over skillful technique. Performance problems, especially related to Unreal Engine 5 optimization, and frequent loading screens disrupt immersion. Wheel users report poor support and handling frustrations. The story and mission design feel disjointed and sometimes immature, detracting from the overall experience. While the developers are active and the game shows promise, many players recommend waiting for further updates before fully investing.
Overall, JDM is a game with strong foundations but currently hampered by design and technical flaws that limit its enjoyment.
Players widely praise the beautiful and detailed map that captures a vibrant Japanese atmosphere. The licensed cars and customization options add authenticity and depth. The soundtrack, featuring Eurobeat and synthwave, alongside realistic car sounds, greatly enhance immersion. The driving physics on controllers are generally considered intuitive and satisfying, with an innovative auto counter-steering system aiding drifting. The manga-style storytelling is a creative touch that some players enjoy. Additionally, the developers are commended for being responsive and actively updating the game.
Common criticisms focus on the AI, which is often described as erratic, unfair, and prone to ramming players mid-drift, severely impacting gameplay. The progression system restricts car upgrades by arbitrary levels rather than money, frustrating players seeking freedom in tuning. The drift scoring system rewards awkward, back-and-forth wiggles over smooth, skillful drifting, undermining the core mechanic. Performance issues such as unstable framerates, long loading times, and visual artifacts due to upscaling detract from the experience. Wheel support is poorly implemented, causing handling difficulties and lack of customization. The story and mission design are seen as immature, repetitive, and sometimes disconnected from gameplay. Many feel the game resembles early access and needs more polish.
Discover Japan’s legendary car culture in JDM: Japanese Drift Master! Take on challenging roads with refined simcade physics, immerse in the story through manga pages, and explore an open world inspired by stunning real-life areas. Every turn invites you to master the art of drift.