If you’ve sworn off genAI Crazy Taxi and dislike all the twerking in GTA 6, consider Shifu: Traffic Masters, a jolly open world driving game set in 1990s China
Shifu: Traffic Masters is an open-world driving game set in 1990s northern China. The game explicitly draws inspiration from classic driving titles Driver and Midtown Madness, bringing those games’ design philosophies to a new historical setting and geographical location. It has been positioned as an alternative to other recent driving titles, particularly those that feature controversial design choices or artificial intelligence-generated content. According to its presentation, the game offers a lighter, “jolly” tone and overall experience compared to many contemporary driving games. The unique combination of its nostalgic inspirations and distinctive setting distinguishes it from most modern entries in the driving game genre, which typically feature contemporary urban environments. A playable demo is available on Steam, allowing interested players to sample the game’s mechanics, aesthetics, and driving gameplay firsthand. The game appears to be specifically targeting players interested in traditional open-world driving gameplay combined with a distinctive cultural and historical backdrop, offering a notably different approach to the modern driving game landscape.