JDM: Japanese Drift Master

JDM: Japanese Drift Master is an ambitious and sincere ode to Japanese drift culture, but right now it feels like an unfinished project that’s shipped without the early access caveat.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master is an ambitious attempt to fill a forgotten hole in the arcade driving market, but misses the mark in most instances

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.

Japanese Drift Master is an enjoyable single‑player experience with a few rough edges. Fans of Japanese car culture and drifting‑focused gameplay will find plenty to enjoy. It may not reach the heights of Need for Speed or Midnight Club, but JDM delivers a stylish and entertaining ride nonetheless.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master is not a bad release. Its focus on drifting is something we haven't seen in a long time, especially in a standalone release

JDM was a pleasant surprise and centered its gameplay experience on Japanese car culture. The game has its quirks given that it's produced by a small team, but it's also a better package than the simple sum of its parts. Ultimately, JDM presents a charm and structure that I feel is sorely lacking in current racing games.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master delivers a rewarding and atmospheric ride that proves passion can matter just as much as budget.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master does a great job of developing good gameplay and choosing a mission model spread across a city that evokes the origins and culture of the sport. However, some details could be improved to enhance the virtual racer experience, especially in the visuals and mission difficulty.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master is an excellent addition to the PS5 lineup and easily ranks among the platform’s best racing games. It makes smart use of the DualSense’s adaptive triggers to deliver a satisfying simcade experience set across a visually striking world. The drift mechanics are intuitive yet rewarding, allowing newcomers to get up to speed quickly while still offering depth for experienced players. Strong world design, a well-presented narrative, and robust customization options further elevate the experience. Combined with a solid mix of licensed and unlicensed vehicles, JDM: Japanese Drift Master offers hours of engaging racing action and is a must-play for fans of drifting and high-speed competition.

An open world arcade racer, JDM: Japanese Drift Master may not be as pretty or expansive as its peers, but those who love getting sideways will still find lots to love about it. The drifting focus here makes the game feel relatively unique, and while there are no multiplayer options, its campaign should keep players entertained for a considerable amount of time.