Initial Drift Online on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
Quick menu
Drift over some of Japan's most legendary mountain passes, compete against your friends or players from around the world in epic battles, make deliveries, buy new cars and set records in the world rankings!
Initial Drift Online is a racing, immersive sim and open world game
developed and published by RewindApp.
Released on March 30th 2023 is available only on Windows
in 9 languages: English, French, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish - Spain, Spanish - Latin America, Turkish and Japanese.
It has received 3,493 reviews of which 2,738 were positive and 755 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 0.99€ on Steam with a 80% discount.
The Steam community has classified Initial Drift Online into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Initial Drift Online through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS *: Windows 7/8/10/11 - 64bits
- Processor: AMD Athlon X2 2.8 GHZ, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHZ
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6450, Nvidia GeForce GT 460
- Storage: 4 GB available space
- Sound Card: Integrated
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Initial Drift Online, developed and published by RewindApp, is an indie racing title that aims to capture the heart and spirit of Japanese mountain drifting culture. It draws clear inspiration from the iconic Initial D series, not only through its title but through its focus on touge driving, narrow mountain roads, and a soundtrack that channels the energy of classic Eurobeat and modern Phonk. It’s a game built for a very specific audience—those who love the romanticism of drifting through misty mountains at night—and it attempts to offer that fantasy through an open-world, multiplayer-driven experience. While its ambition is admirable, the execution fluctuates between moments of atmospheric authenticity and clear signs of limited development resources. The game’s premise is simple yet effective. Players start as humble drivers exploring a small but atmospheric slice of Japan, including famous mountain passes like Akagi and Irohazaka. You can drive freely, challenge others online to drift battles, make deliveries for cash, and slowly expand your garage with new cars and tuning options. The world feels alive in concept, with a functioning day-night cycle, a variety of cars to unlock, and opportunities to climb the global leaderboards by setting fast times or earning drifting points. The inclusion of delivery missions adds a laid-back contrast to the competitive races, evoking the charm of driving alone through neon-lit roads with music blasting, just for the joy of it. Thematically, the game hits the right notes—it’s a love letter to the mountain pass lifestyle, a quieter homage to late-night racing rather than a high-octane street-racing spectacle. Visually, Initial Drift Online delivers an experience that’s modest but atmospheric. The graphics are serviceable rather than cutting-edge, relying on lighting and setting to establish mood rather than technical prowess. The nighttime drives, illuminated by glowing taillights and distant city lights, capture a nostalgic aesthetic that racing enthusiasts will instantly recognize. The environments, while somewhat sparse, successfully evoke the lonely beauty of mountain roads, giving the game a meditative quality during solo sessions. However, the presentation does sometimes betray its indie nature—textures can be rough, environmental details feel repetitive, and car models, while decent, lack the polish found in larger racing titles. Despite these shortcomings, there is something quietly appealing about the game’s simplicity; it feels handcrafted and personal in a way that larger, more corporate racers often do not. The core gameplay loop revolves around drifting, and it’s here where the experience becomes divisive. The handling physics are exaggerated and unpredictable, making the cars feel light and floaty rather than grounded. For some, this adds to the arcade-style fun—turning every drift into a battle for control and creating chaotic, memorable runs down the mountainside. For others, it becomes frustratingly imprecise, especially when combined with uneven collision physics and inconsistent traction behavior. Players can adjust tuning parameters, but the improvements are marginal, and the system doesn’t quite allow for deep mechanical mastery. It’s clear that the game’s goal is to evoke the emotional thrill of drifting rather than simulate the technical intricacies of real-world physics. If approached with that mindset, the driving can feel liberating, but for purists, it might come across as too loose and unrefined. Multiplayer adds another layer of energy to the experience. Racing or drifting alongside others brings unpredictability and excitement, especially when groups of players gather to show off their cars, exchange challenges, or simply cruise together. These online moments are where Initial Drift Online feels most alive, fulfilling its promise as a social drifting experience. Unfortunately, the game’s online infrastructure and player base are inconsistent, meaning that finding populated servers can be hit or miss. When the servers are active, the atmosphere is friendly and communal, often resembling a digital car meet more than a competitive event. But in quieter times, the emptiness of the roads underscores the game’s limitations, turning the open world into a solitary experience. Progression and customization are present but shallow. Earning money through deliveries or races allows you to purchase new cars and apply cosmetic or mechanical upgrades, but the tuning depth is limited and the long-term motivation tapers off quickly. Once you’ve unlocked a few favorite cars and explored the available maps, there’s little new to discover. This lack of progression depth makes the game best suited for short, casual sessions rather than extended play. While the developer’s intention to expand the content and refine features is commendable, the current version feels more like an early access experiment than a fully fleshed-out experience. Despite these flaws, Initial Drift Online has a certain charm that’s hard to dismiss. It captures the mood of a late-night drive through mountain roads better than many more expensive racing titles. There’s an authenticity in its atmosphere—the hum of the engine, the flicker of neon signs, the quiet satisfaction of a perfect drift—that makes it resonate with fans of the culture it celebrates. It’s rough around the edges, often repetitive, and sometimes clunky, yet it manages to deliver moments of genuine enjoyment that transcend its technical shortcomings. In the end, Initial Drift Online is best seen as a niche project born from passion rather than perfection. It’s not a polished racing simulator, nor a deep career experience, but it succeeds in evoking the spirit of Japanese drifting with just enough heart to appeal to its intended audience. Those who approach it with modest expectations and a love for touge culture will likely find it a relaxing, atmospheric diversion—a virtual night drive worth taking every now and then. But for players expecting refined driving physics, consistent online activity, or substantial progression, it remains an intriguing but incomplete ride through the mountains of nostalgia. Rating: 7/10
Expand the review
as an initial d fan, i absolutely loved this game. sad to see that the developers abandoned it.
Expand the review
Fun to learn, even more so when you can see yourself improving. The people here are nice and typically are willing to help and give advice.
Expand the review
I haven't played this game since like 2021. I will say this game introduced me to blessed mane and his music back when it was on early access. So that's why I have it on recommended.
Expand the review
this game is great but please for the love of god place an anti cheat on this game. soooo many people are negating gravity and speed cap thro the game files. this game will excell with legitness. please apply.
Expand the review
Similar games
View all
Need for Speed™ Rivals
Erase the line between single player and multiplayer in this street-racing rivalry between Cops and Racers. Seamlessly join a world where your friends are already racing and chasing
Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered
Feel the thrill of the chase and the rush of escape behind the wheels of the world’s hottest high-performance cars in Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered– a heart-pumping, socially competitive racing experience.
Need for Speed™ Most Wanted
The open-world action in Need for Speed Most Wanted gives you the freedom to drive your way. Hit jumps and shortcuts, switch cars, lie low or head for terrain that plays to your vehicle’s unique strengths. Fight your way past cops and rivals using skill, high-end car tech and tons of nitrous.
Touge Shakai
Touge Shakai (Mountain Pass Society) is an online Touge Racing Game based on Japanese car culture in the 90s. With an emphasis on balance between realism and fun gameplay, the physics are tailored for competitive drift racing, while giving a challenge to all players.
EarthKart: Google Maps Driving Simulator
3D Google Earth Driving Simulator
KartKraft™
No seatbelts, no suspension, no downforce. This is pure head to head racing at 90mph...
Absolute Drift
Absolute Drift is a racing game about becoming a master at the art of drifting.
Truck World: Driving School
Learn the basics of truck driving! Truck World: Driving School is a free standalone truck simulator with challenges, grades, and much more.
Driver® Parallel Lines
You were the fastest wheelman on the street. You were a legend. You were money. Until they set you up and sent you down. Twenty-eight years inside for someone else's crime. Now you're getting out. Guess what? You got a new job, it's called getting revenge.
CrashMetal - Cyberpunk
CrashMetal - Cyberpunk The Hokuta City streets await your engine rev. Can you beat everyone in this race for first place? Upgrade your car, take care of its appearance and defeat everyone on the streets of the Hokuta City.
Need for Speed™ Payback
Set in the underworld of Fortune Valley, you and your crew were divided by betrayal and reunited by revenge to take down The House, a nefarious cartel that rules the city’s casinos, criminals and cops. In this corrupt gambler’s paradise, the stakes are high and The House always wins.
Kanjozoku Game レーサー Online Street Racing & Drift
90s Osaka Kanjo Night Street Racing and Drift Online with True JDM Cars, Online PvP, Engine, Body and Suspension Tuning!
Frequently Asked Questions
Initial Drift Online is currently priced at 0.99€ on Steam.
Initial Drift Online is currently available at a 80% discount. You can purchase it for 0.99€ on Steam.
Initial Drift Online received 2,738 positive votes out of a total of 3,493 achieving a rating of 7.60.
😊
Initial Drift Online was developed and published by RewindApp.
Initial Drift Online is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Initial Drift Online is not playable on MacOS.
Initial Drift Online is not playable on Linux.
Initial Drift Online is a multi-player game.
Initial Drift Online features PvP mode where you can test your skills against other players.
There are 5 DLCs available for Initial Drift Online. Explore additional content available for Initial Drift Online on Steam.
Initial Drift Online does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Initial Drift Online does not support Steam Remote Play.
Initial Drift Online is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Initial Drift Online.
Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 21 October 2025 02:10 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 26 October 2025 02:10 |
| Steam price | 28 October 2025 20:38 |
| Steam reviews | 27 October 2025 07:46 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Initial Drift Online, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Initial Drift Online
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Initial Drift Online concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Initial Drift Online compatibility
Game modes
Multiplayer
Features
Online players
2
Developer
RewindApp
Publisher
RewindApp
Release
30 Mar 2023
Platforms