As if driving down a rainy highway in the middle of the night wasn’t chilling enough in real life, the upcoming horror driving title Drive In The Rain adds a hint of paranormal into the mix to make those night rides spookier. Developed by Yayoi Kaihatsu (an alias of Distillate G.K. founder Fumio Yamamori), this experiential title incorporates realistic driving controls and rules while throwing in a dash of modern horror.
The story follows an unnamed protagonist who takes on a part-time job driving Kumiko Asaki, a mysterious “haunting specialist,” and an exhausted young girl down a 100km highway in the middle of a rainy night. According to Kumiko, the girl is a victim of paranormal phenomena caused by malicious rumors on social media. Your task is to bring the two to their destination while braving the dangers of nighttime driving and the paranormal phenomena that might occur.
One unique thing about the game is the complexity of its driving controls. Compared to your standard in-game vehicle, the controls attempt to replicate real-world driving more realistically. For example, putting the car in reverse is done by shifting gears, while switching lanes safely requires checking your rearview mirrors and using the appropriate turn signal. Doing these actions not only prevents a grisly death, but also ensures that you won’t suffer from any negative effects caused by the paranormal. Those who want a less stressful driving experience can turn on simple controls, which require almost no steering.
Drive In The Rain uses a paranormal system that is tied to your driving manners. To save the girl from further suffering, your entire road trip is being livestreamed for all to see. While you would normally do everything in your power to avoid being cursed, drawing public attention to absorb the malice directed at the girl requires taking risks. These include speeding, changing lanes without the proper turn signals, and driving into oncoming traffic. Though your intentions are pure, they can result in negative effects such as hallucinations. On the other hand, if you do prefer a curse-free trip, you can always drive safely to avoid paranormal phenomena from occurring (your young female passenger might not appreciate it as much, though).
Aside from rain and the paranormal, you also have to watch out for obstacles such as wet pavement, traffic, and ongoing roadworks.
The devs have stated that the game uses generative AI for code generation and tool operations, as well as text translations both in-game and on its Steam page.
Drive In The Rain is set to release in 2027 for Windows (Steam).
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