Crazy Taxi
A steering wheel, punk rock and a fare who's in a hurry.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1999
- Manufacturer
- Sega
- Players
- 1 player
- Genres
- Racing
- Decade
- '90s arcade games
You could hear Crazy Taxi from the arcade entrance: punk guitars cranked all the way up, a cabbie yelling and a yellow car launching over traffic. You sat down, grabbed the wheel and for a few minutes the whole city was yours, as long as you got there in time.
It's not a track racer. Your job is to pick up fares and get them where they're going as fast as possible, any way you can. Sidewalks, ramps, oncoming traffic, it's all fair game if the customer gets there early and tips big.
History
Sega put Crazy Taxi in arcades in 1999, back when it ruled the sit-down driving cabinet. Its sunny, West Coast-inspired city and a soundtrack with songs by The Offspring and Bad Religion gave it a personality all its own.
It was a massive hit and quickly made the jump to the Dreamcast, where it became one of the console's most popular games. Sequels and versions for plenty of other platforms followed.
How to play
Pick one of four drivers, each with their own car and style. Every customer has a colored marker showing how far they're going: red means a short hop, green means a long haul. Once they're in, their countdown starts and a big arrow points the way.
The cabinet has a wheel, gas, brake and a shifter with just Drive and Reverse. Combine them to pull off tip-earning tricks like the Crazy Dash and the Crazy Drift. The closer and crazier you drive around traffic, the bigger the tips. The game lasts as long as your clock does, and every on-time drop-off buys you extra seconds.
Fun facts
- The soundtrack featured songs by The Offspring and Bad Religion.
- The cabinet's shifter only had two positions: Drive and Reverse.
- It became one of the most popular games on the Sega Dreamcast.
In the arcade
Crazy Taxi isn't on the UsuArcade floor yet, but it's on our wish list. If you want to get behind the wheel in the arcade, hit Want to Play on this page. The most-voted games get added first.
Meanwhile, the arcade has other Sega driving classics: Out Run with its convertible and forking roads, Hang-On for leaning into curves on a motorcycle, and if you're into chases, Rally-X with its maze of streets.
FAQ
Can I play Crazy Taxi on UsuArcade?
Not yet. It's on the wish list and you can vote for it with Want to Play. In the meantime, try Out Run, Hang-On or Rally-X in the arcade.
What year did Crazy Taxi come out?
The Crazy Taxi arcade game came out in 1999, made by Sega.
How many players is Crazy Taxi?
It's a single-player game, one driver per cabinet.
How do you play Crazy Taxi?
Pick up fares and get them to their destination before their timer runs out. Wild driving earns tips, and every on-time drop-off adds seconds to your clock.
