JDM: Ph4ntom Driver Turns Japanese Drifting Into a Supernatural Demon-Hunting Ride
Gaming Factory is taking its Japanese street-racing world in a wild new direction with JDM: Ph4ntom Driver, a standalone PC game that blends high-speed drifting, arcade driving, vehicular combat, and supernatural enemies inspired by Japanese folklore.
Originally planned as an expansion for JDM: Japanese Drift Master, the project has now grown into a full game of its own. Instead of focusing only on traditional racing, JDM: Ph4ntom Driver throws players into a haunted version of Guntama, the fictional Japanese region introduced in the original title. The familiar roads are back, but this time they are filled with demons, monsters, and other eerie threats that make every drive far more dangerous.
The game was revealed during IGN Fall Fan Fest on October 14, offering a first look at its unusual mix of drifting and demon hunting. Players will face a variety of enemies drawn from Japanese mythology, including Oni, tree spirits, giant centipedes, and other supernatural creatures. At the center of the chaos is a powerful Demon King, setting the stage for a campaign where speed, style, and survival all matter.
JDM: Ph4ntom Driver is designed to be more accessible than a strict racing simulator. The developers are focusing on arcade-style handling, making it easier for players to jump in, drift through corners, and enjoy fast-paced action without needing to master complex driving physics. A new Nitro-Drift system will reward stylish drifting with speed boosts, encouraging players to chain slides together while battling enemies across the open world.
Vehicles will also be upgradeable, giving players more ways to improve performance and prepare for tougher supernatural encounters. In addition to car upgrades, the game will include special supernatural abilities, adding another layer to its combat and progression systems. This should help separate it from standard racing games and give players more strategic options when taking on monsters roaming the roads.
The open world of Guntama has been redesigned to fit the darker, supernatural theme. Roads that once served as scenic drift routes are now part of a demon-infested landscape, turning every drive into a potential battle. The single-player campaign will be presented through hand-drawn manga-style sequences and dialogue, giving the game a distinct visual personality while leaning into its Japanese-inspired setting.
Multiplayer is also planned for JDM: Ph4ntom Driver, although Gaming Factory has not yet shared details about how it will work. It remains unclear whether players can expect co-op demon hunting, competitive drifting, combat-focused modes, or something entirely different.
JDM: Ph4ntom Driver is currently in development for PC and already has a Steam page, but a release date has not been announced. For fans of Japanese drifting games, arcade racers, and supernatural action, this could be one of the more unusual driving games to watch.
After all, in JDM: Ph4ntom Driver, missing a corner might be bad, but running into a giant demon around the next bend is much worse.
