Crazy Taxi is a beloved franchise that hasn’t seen the light of day in a long time, but that all changed as it was revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase to much fanfare!

Returning in the form of Crazy Taxi: World Tour, it’s a reimagining we didn’t know we needed, and during Summer Game Fest 2026, we had the opportunity to experience a preview of the game with Crazy Taxi creator Kenji Kanno.

Crazy Taxi: World Tour – Hands-Off Preview

Fans of the original 1999 arcade release will immediately recognize the heart of Crazy Taxi: a fast‑paced taxi simulator where you race to pick up passengers and deliver them to their destinations before the clock runs out. Each successful drop‑off buys you precious extra seconds to keep the run going, creating a frantic loop that feels like Forza Horizon if it were completely unhinged and unapologetically chaotic.

Decades later, SEGA is expanding that legacy with Crazy Taxi: World Tour, a modern reimagining that builds on the original’s lore and gameplay while embracing contemporary design sensibilities. Based on our hands‑off preview, it’s shaping up to be every bit as wild and entertaining as longtime fans would hope.

Crazy Taxi: World Tour is part of SEGA’s broader initiative to revive and modernize its classic franchises, following titles like Shinobi: Art of Vengeance and the refreshed Virtua Fighter: Crossroads. This new entry continues that momentum with a faithful yet forward‑looking approach.

When asked why he chose to revisit Crazy Taxi, series creator Kenji Kanno shared, “I created Crazy Taxi to feel good without any negative emotions. With how crazy the world is right now, I think this is a perfect time to revisit Crazy Taxi.”

Kanno also emphasized the team’s commitment to preserving the spirit of the original arcade game. “Even a lot of my younger development staff wanted to recreate the original vision in a new form. If you play the full version now, you might notice it feels like the 1999 game, but there’s something different about it.”

This time, players are dropped into a fully open world inspired by San Francisco, nicknamed “West Coast” by Kanno. The expanded map gives players room to explore, pick up passengers, and build clout and cash across a lively urban playground.

“We designed Crazy Taxi back in 1999 for the arcade, and we made sure to recreate the whole Crazy Taxi to fit with the new generation of players. And while the controls may be a little bit different from before, you can still recognize the gameplay and play it the same way,” Kanno explained.

Our preview opened with the classic gameplay loop on full display: picking up passengers, racing to their drop‑off points, and causing delightfully chaotic collisions along the way. Successful deliveries reward experience and money, while failures result in passengers leaping out of the cab in dramatic fashion.

Beyond the endless arcade loop, Crazy Taxi: World Tour introduces new mission‑based systems that broaden the experience. Players can accept specialized jobs from passengers, such as the pizza delivery task we tried, which challenges you to deliver 20 pizzas across three districts while managing a 40‑pizza stack. Crashes cost you pizzas, while quick deliveries and careful driving earn bonuses. The exaggerated animations and slapstick physics amplify the humor, making the new mechanics feel like a natural extension of the series’ identity.

As for the “World Tour” subtitle, Kanno clarified its intent: “We wanted to deliver the experience of going to various locations in the world, not just one location that expands, but different countries where you can drive your taxi. Just like a world tour, that’s how we came up with the title.”

The Destination is Fun!

Beyond the returning taxi simulator and job system, Crazy Taxi: World Tour introduces new gameplay modes, including Time Attack and Racing Duels. Much like open‑world arcade racers, like Burnout Paradise and Forza Horizon, these activities can be triggered organically by simply driving up to their starting points.

Players can also adjust the time of day, which unlocks specific events, such as street races, that only appear at night. Our preview began in the afternoon, but shifting to evening instantly transformed the look of West Coast and revealed the full street‑racing experience. Kanno expressed particular pride in how the time‑shift system enhances the world’s atmosphere.

Racing Duels retain the series’ signature mechanics, rewarding players for performing Crazy Drifts and Crazy Stops mid‑race. Additional bonuses are granted for clean driving, and crashing into fewer than ten cars boosts your final score, resulting in more experience and cash. Kanno even handed the controller to one of his designers, whom he called “the most skilled player,” and the performance certainly lived up to the title.

One of the most unexpected additions, and one Kanno seemed especially excited about, is the fishing mini‑game. Yes, Crazy Taxi: World Tour now includes fishing, and yes, it’s exactly as absurd as it sounds. At the harbor, players accelerate toward the edge, execute a Crazy Stop to cast their line, then reverse the taxi to reel in their catch. Success can net anything from an octopus to a full‑sized great white shark. It’s delightfully ridiculous and perfectly on‑brand.

On the topic of multiplayer, Kanno shared, “Back in 1999, we had requests to play Crazy Taxi with friends, but we had technological limitations. In 2026, we have staff experienced with multiplayer games, so we were able to make that a reality this time.”

He clarified, however, that the primary focus remains the single‑player campaign.

“However, the main focus of Crazy Taxi: World Tour is the single player campaign. However, multiplayer is there for the players who want it. Although we’re not able to comment on the specific multiplayer options at this time.”

Of course, Crazy Taxi wouldn’t be complete without its iconic soundtrack. The trailer already features Offspring’s “All I Want,” and when asked about additional tracks, Kanno offered only a playful tease: “I can’t say—they’ll be mad at me if I say it. But I believe your expectations will never be betrayed, and you might even be surprised.”

Crazy Taxi: World Tour is announced for 2027 and is slated to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC.