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About JDM: Japanese Drift Master
JDM: Japanese Drift Master lets players roam the fictional prefecture of Guntama, a blend of real Japanese locales, in an open-world setting that mixes mountain passes, rural roads, and city streets. The game focuses on drifting with licensed Nissan, Honda, Subaru and Mazda models that can be extensively tuned and visually customized.
Two driving models—Arcade for relaxed drifting and Simcade for full-control, assist-free handling—can be swapped at any time, while a story-driven campaign and multiplayer modes let you compete against AI or up to seven other players in drift battles, grip races, and touge challenges.
01 / THE GUIDE
Driving Models
JDM offers two distinct driving models designed primarily for gamepads. Arcade mode provides a more relaxed experience suitable for drift beginners, while Simcade disables all assists, demanding greater skill to manage drifting. Players may switch between the two models at any point during gameplay.
This flexibility lets you tailor the driving feel to your personal comfort level, whether you prefer assisted handling or full manual control over the car.
- Start in Arcade mode to learn track layouts before switching to Simcade for a challenge.
- Switch to Simcade once basic drift control feels natural, since it rewards precise throttle and steering management.
02 / THE GUIDE
Open World
The game's open world, Guntama, combines over 250 km of main roads, dedicated racing tracks, and instanced events across mountain passes, rural zones, and a bustling city. Dynamic weather, a day-night cycle, and traffic add realism to each drive.
Exploration is encouraged, as the environment is visually varied and designed to showcase Japan's iconic car culture while providing diverse drifting opportunities on different road types.
- Drive during different times of day to experience varied lighting and traffic patterns.
- Try the same mountain pass in different weather conditions to see how conditions change each run.
03 / THE GUIDE
Licensed Cars & Tuning
Players can choose from legendary Nissan, Honda, Subaru, and Mazda vehicles, each fully licensed. Mechanical upgrades include suspension, camber, gear ratios, and more, while visual parts let you swap hoods, lights, and full body kits. A free-pick color palette and underglow options complete the customization.
These tuning options let you fine-tune performance and aesthetics, creating a personalized drifting machine that reflects your style and skill level.
- Adjust suspension and camber to improve corner stability for drifting.
- Experiment with gear ratios to find the optimal power band for each track.
04 / THE GUIDE
Story-Driven Campaign
The single-player campaign follows a foreigner aiming to make his mark on the Japanese drifting scene. Over 40 narrative-driven events and side quests pit you against the top local drifters. Progress is presented through hand-drawn manga pages, adding a unique artistic flair.
The campaign blends racing challenges with a storyline, giving purpose to each drift and encouraging players to explore the world while advancing the narrative.
- Mix in side quests alongside the main events to get more from the campaign.
- Take time to enjoy the manga panels, which carry the story between events.
05 / THE GUIDE
Multiplayer
Up to eight players can join a shared lobby in Guntama, allowing cooperative cruising, car meets, or competitive modes. Available multiplayer formats include drift battles, grip races, and 1v1 touge challenges, all set within the same open world.
Steam leaderboards let you compare results with other players, adding a competitive layer on top of the in-lobby events.
- Organize a car meet in a quiet area to showcase customizations before racing.
- Use leaderboards to gauge where your drift scores stand against others.
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