Pacific Drive

In short: Pacific Drive is a simulation game released in 2024 by Ironwood Studios, available on PC and PlayStation. Our score: 8.0/10 (worth buying, especially on sale).

Pacific Drive

A run-based, first-person driving survival game where you navigate a surreal and dangerous Pacific Northwest, scavenging for resources and maintaining your car.

Pacific Drive is a unique first-person, run-based driving survival game developed by Ironwood Studios. Set in the eerie and melancholic landscapes of the Olympic Exclusion Zone, a surreal rendition of the Pacific Northwest, players are thrust into a mysterious environment filled with anomalous events and environmental hazards. The core gameplay revolves around exploring this zone, scavenging for vital resources to maintain and upgrade your trusty station wagon, which quickly becomes your most important companion and lifeline. The narrative unfolds as you delve deeper into the Zone, uncovering its secrets and the reasons behind its existence. The atmosphere is thick with tension and isolation, amplified by the constant threat of strange anomalies that can warp your surroundings, damage your car, or actively hunt you. Each run is a perilous journey, forcing players to make crucial decisions about risk versus reward: push further for rare components or retreat to safety before your car gives out or you're overwhelmed. Car maintenance is paramount. From repairing tires and panels to ensuring your fuel tank is full and your battery is charged, every aspect of your vehicle needs attention. The game features a robust crafting system, allowing players to fabricate new parts, tools, and upgrades for their car, enhancing its resilience and capabilities against the Zone's many dangers. Pacific Drive offers a fresh take on the survival genre, blending driving mechanics with resource man…

Game details

Our review

Pacific Drive offers a truly unique and atmospheric survival experience. The blend of driving, resource management, and a compelling, mysterious narrative creates a highly engaging loop. The car quickly becomes an extension of yourself, and the constant threat of the Zone keeps you on your toes. While the graphics are stylized and effective, they might not appeal to everyone looking for photorealism. The story unfolds gradually, rewarding those who are patient and willing to delve into its lore. Despite some repetitive elements in scavenging, the overall package is a fresh and rewarding take on the genre, offering many hours of tense exploration and strategic survival.

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FAQ

Is Pacific Drive a horror game?
While Pacific Drive has strong atmospheric tension, jump scares, and unsettling anomalies, it's more accurately described as a survival game with strong horror elements rather than a pure horror game. The focus is on survival and exploration.
Can I play Pacific Drive in multiplayer?
No, Pacific Drive is a single-player experience designed to emphasize isolation and the personal struggle against the Olympic Exclusion Zone. There are no multiplayer features.
How long is a typical run in Pacific Drive?
The length of a run can vary significantly depending on your objectives, how deep you venture into the Zone, and how lucky (or unlucky) you are with anomalies. A typical successful run to a new area and back might take 30-60 minutes, but some can be much shorter if things go wrong, or longer if you're meticulously scavenging.
Is there a definitive ending to the game?
Yes, Pacific Drive features a narrative with a definitive ending that you work towards across multiple runs. As you gather more information and progress through story objectives, you'll uncover the secrets of the Zone and reach a conclusion.
What platforms is Pacific Drive available on?
Pacific Drive is available on PC and PlayStation platforms.

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Last updated: 03/04/2026