In Like a Dragon 8, released in 2024, there is a minigame where players control the protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, delivering food on a bicycle through the streets of Hawaii to earn extra cash. Besides delivering meals on time, players must perform stunts such as jumps, rolls, spins, and even leaping between buildings to achieve higher scores.
In the game, this mode is called "Crazy Delivery." If you're an old-school arcade enthusiast, you'll likely immediately recognize its homage to another famous Sega arcade series: Crazy Taxi. In fact, Crazy Taxi was originally part of Sega's late-90s "Sega Professional Series," but its outrageous gameplay and explosive soundtrack sparked a new "taxi" craze in the racing game market at the time.
Many people might not have expected that in 2026, there would still be an opportunity to see a sequel to Crazy Taxi on modern platforms. Even more surprising is that this new entry not only brings a fresh sequel and new maps but also introduces the series' first "Story Mode" and first "Online Mode." This means that in Crazy Taxi: Turbo Tour, players are no longer just "taxi drivers," and the gameplay is no longer limited to simply "picking up the most passengers in the shortest time." The addition of multiplayer also adds more complex environmental dynamics to the previously straightforward score-based racing.
We will cover the game's "Story Mode" in a separate preview report. In this article, we will focus on our direct experience with the "Multiplayer" gameplay, discussing what it offers and how the online connection performs for players in China.
Just one week before Tokyo Game Show 2026, we were invited by Sega to participate in a global online test for Crazy Taxi: Turbo Tour. Over several days, we connected with media colleagues worldwide to get an early look at the game's multiplayer content. Of course, since this test only offered access to some early content, it served more as a simple showcase and does not represent the quality or full scope of the final release.
In this online test for Crazy Taxi: Turbo Tour, players can experience two modes. One is the "Passenger Rush" mode, which stays closer to the series' original gameplay. As the name suggests, it mirrors the arcade version of Crazy Taxi, requiring players to accept as many fares as possible after the game starts and deliver as many passengers to their destinations as they can.
However, there are subtle differences from the classic "Arcade Mode." For instance, this mode lacks "stunt points," and passengers do not vary by "ride distance" or "tip amount," so there is no need to choose specific passengers. Your only goal is to reach the drop-off point as quickly as possible, then head to the next pickup location. The race ends once you deliver the third passenger.
Keen players may have already realized: without stunts and tips, doesn't it just become a pure driving game?
Yes, due to these gameplay design changes, unified passenger routes for each player, and the inherent unpredictability of multiplayer architecture, this mode feels incredibly close to a pure racing game. However, since the game is still called Crazy Taxi: Turbo Tour, simply driving faster and more steadily than others isn't enough. Knowing when to use Crazy Dash, executing Crazy Drifts accurately, performing precise Crazy Stops, and seamlessly chaining these actions together remain key factors in determining victory.
In fact, this is the true essence of the Crazy Taxi series. Just like in the old arcade days, knowing when to use driving commands effectively often determined the difference in scores between players. During this online test, I missed out on first place several times due to unfamiliarity with the controls, with the top two players separated by mere fractions of a second. You can imagine how frustrating that was.
The second mode in this test is a staple of many modern open-world racing games: the "Cops vs. Robbers" showdown—or more accurately, a battle between police officers and taxi drivers.
If you've played Hot Pursuit, little explanation is needed. The gameplay is straightforward and intense: after the game starts, players take on the roles of either taxi drivers or police officers. The former aims to complete as many fares as possible within the time limit, while the latter tries to prevent taxis from picking up passengers by ramming them into cages. In trendy terms, this is a classic example of "asymmetric competition," where opposing teams have completely different objectives. Everythinggj from individual player skill to team coordination can influence the outcome of the match.
It's no exaggeration to say that in this mode, a successful and effective team play can compensate for individual shortcomings and even turn the tide of the entire match.
On one hand, if a taxi driver's vehicle is destroyed, they are sent to a cage and must wait for a certain period before escaping. However, other taxi drivers on the team can rescue trapped teammates early, significantly reducing downtime.
On the other hand, police cars have stronger nitro boosts and attack capabilities, making it difficult for targeted taxis to escape. By effectively using flanking and pincer maneuvers, players can easily take down a taxi attempting to pick up passengers.
In short, both sides have their own challenges, but also their own unique fun.
Unfortunately, as mentioned at the beginning, this demo was merely a brief showcase of the game's multiplayer features. Considering that the single-player mode is also filled with absurd and quirky elements... perhaps the full release will introduce even more gameplay modes and new features. After all, Sega has plenty of examples of long-term support—just look at how Team Sonic Racing was handled.
Overall, however, this multiplayer mode successfully captures the essence of Crazy Taxi, and the online connectivity was excellent throughout. Perhaps in the near future, it will truly bring players back to the golden age of arcades and Sega.