Yakuza Kiwami

Steam Reviews

Read all reviews on Steam

• Not recommended Posted December 12, 2025 on Steam yakuza kiwami is no longer available on the steam store. the "new" version of this game explicitly states you are paying for the right to use it not buy it. you will own nothing and be happy. do not give sega your money
• Not recommended Posted January 18, 2026 on Steam Would have rated this game a solid 7/10 but RGG Studio are becoming what they feared. *Delisting the original Y0. *Delisting 3 Remastered now, and charging extra if you buy the remastered collection on consoles. *Removing the remastered collection soon, to sell "the complete bundle" at an inflated price. *Dark Ties has a renown predator featured as one of the more prominent characters, and RGG continues to ignore this when it's brought up. I love this series, I was even open-minded when Nagoshi departed, but you've lost me as a day one buyer. I won't ever buy a Yakuza entry on release, and when or if I do buy one, it'll be from a Keysite. Scummy isn't good enough a word.
• Not recommended Posted December 25, 2025 on Steam Relist the games Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami Legacy and Yakuza Kiwami 2 Legacy!!! Relist the Points Shop, which are for these games! All the items and wallpapers!!!!! It is not right and fair for many gamers to delist these games and their Points Shop! At least bring the same Points Shop back! Do something in this direction!!!! Show that you care! Show that we aren't nothing to you, because we are many! Please, with respect and dignity!
• Not recommended Posted March 18, 2026 on Steam The game itself is fantastic, the de-listing is not. Charging owners of this version any amount of money to play the new version is even worse, especially when no new content is added. Beyond that, this one isn't as fun as the rest of the games gameplay-wise, and the story is meant for people who like over the top plots that don't try to keep realism in mind as its told, but it's still a solid game and you won't find anything like it. If you wanna get all the achievements make sure you invest in a controller, these games aren't meant for keyboard and mouse. You'll pull your hair out trying to 100% any Yakuza game, but a controller makes it far more easier. $20 is a perfect price for what you get, but because theyre charging owners of this version $2 for the exact same game? I'm gonna say no, I don't recommend buying from SEGA.
• Recommended Posted July 30, 2025 on Steam Yakuza Kiwami is a weird one to review. On the one hand, it’s a remake of the very first Yakuza game from the PS2 era, rebuilt with the Yakuza 0 engine and mechanics. On the other, it’s coming after Yakuza 0 chronologically for most players, which creates a strange situation where nearly everything feels like a step down—even though it’s being faithful to the source material. Still, it’s worth playing, especially if you’re planning to go through the entire series. [b]Gameplay[/b] The core fighting styles from Yakuza 0 return—Brawler, Rush, Beast, and Dragon of Dojima—with a few adjustments. Rush feels noticeably better this time around, and Dragon of Dojima becomes accessible fairly early on (unlike 0, where it was locked until the endgame). However, upgrading it is a completely different story. Instead of progressing naturally, Dragon style is tied to the Majima Everywhere system, which starts off super fun but eventually turns into a repetitive grind as you’re forced to track down Majima over and over just to unlock basic moves. While Dragon was Kiryu’s main style in the original game, here it feels underwhelming for most of the game—limited in options and generally outclassed by the other styles (Specially early on). That said, one move—Komaki Tiger Drop—completely changes the game. It's a returning ability seen across multiple entries in the series, but in Kiwami, it’s arguably the strongest it has ever been. With proper timing, you can delete bosses in one or two hits. Once unlocked, it turns the Dragon style into a one-button win strategy, it's absolutely disguting how strong it is. That said, Tiger Drop spam is nothing new for Yakuza veterans—it’s just taken to the extreme here, since you need fewer inputs to get the same results (Also this is just my personal opinion but the window of execution for KTG also feels more forgiving in this game). The other fighting styles mostly carry over as expected, and switching between them is still as snappy and satisfying as it was in 0 (I'd argue that in Kiwami is even more fluid to switch from style to style mid-combo). Heat Actions are still fun, but noticeably weaker this time around. Enemies also feel tankier than before, which makes fights drag on longer, especially early game. It’s not unmanageable, and far from the worst offender in the series when it comes to health sponges, but it’s definitely noticeable. You’ll be doing more grinding and fewer cinematic takedowns overall. [b]Exploration[/b] Exploration is more limited compared to Yakuza 0, since this time you’re only roaming Kamurocho. In terms of this aspect, none of the other classic entries come close to Yakuza 0—with the exception of Yakuza 5, which arguably has even more exploration, for better or worse. Minigames are more or less the same as in Yakuza 0, though some are a bit easier this time around. It’s worth noting that a few arcade games from 0 didn’t carry over, which is a bit disappointing. The side activities still offer some fun distractions, but you’ll definitely notice a drop in variety. Substories, in particular, are kind of bad this time around. Most of them recycle the same basic setup: Kiryu is about to get scammed or dragged into something dumb, he plays along for a bit, and then it ends in a quick fight. It gets repetitive fast and lacks the personality, variety, or clever writing that future games (and especially Yakuza 0) are known for. Again, it’s a result of being a faithful remake of Yakuza 1, which was the studio’s first real attempt at an RPG structure—but it definitely shows its age here. The Majima Everywhere system deserves its own mention. This is a new feature created specifically for Kiwami—it wasn’t in the original game at all. Majima can now pop up during exploration, side activities, or story beats to challenge you and keep you on your toes. Early on, it’s hilarious and genuinely fun. But as the game goes on, it becomes more of a chore, especially once you’re trying to grind for Dragon of Dojima upgrades. It turns into a game of "find Majima" rather than feeling like organic encounters, and it starts to clash with the pacing in the late game. By the end, you’re the one hunting Majima to progress, which kind of flips the premise on its head. You could argue that Mr. Shakedown works in a similar way—you usually avoid him early and then farm him later—but he’s not only faster to find and farm, he’s also completely optional. In contrast, the Majima Everywhere system is the only way to unlock moves for the Dragon style, and that makes it feel more restrictive. Meanwhile, Shakedown is just one of many ways to earn money in Yakuza 0, giving players more freedom in how they approach progression. [b]Story[/b] Story-wise, this is where Kiwami can be a bit divisive. If you played Yakuza 0 first (like most people did), then Kiwami’s plot will probably feel like a major downgrade. It’s a much simpler, more melodramatic story with weaker villains and less emotional depth overall. There are some standout moments, and [spoiler]Nishikiyama’s[/spoiler] arc hits harder if you’ve seen how close he and [spoiler]Kiryu were in 0[/spoiler], but the game simply can’t compete with the tightly written and emotionally packed plot of its prequel. In a way, this is why many people suggest starting with Kiwami instead—it makes 0 feel like a proper step forward rather than everything suddenly feeling like a step back. [b]Major Spoilers Ahead[/b] The main issue is that Yakuza Kiwami tries to tell a high-stakes, emotional story, but doesn't have the groundwork or pacing to make it land effectively.[spoiler]Nishiki’s[/spoiler] fall from grace is shown mostly through a handful of brief cutscenes that lack the nuance to make him truly compelling. The main villain, [spoiler]Jingu[/spoiler], is flat and cartoonishly evil with no real development or presence until the very end (Not to mention his fight at the end of the game has to be among the most annoying fights in the entire series). There are emotional beats that should hit—like [spoiler]Haruka’s[/spoiler] connection to Kiryu, or Kiryu’s struggle with his [spoiler]yakuza identity[/spoiler]—but they often feel rushed or underwritten. Characters come and go quickly, and the story leans too heavily on melodrama without building up the relationships or stakes to make it meaningful. [spoiler]Yumi[/spoiler] has insanely little background considering how she's both the main trigger that set in motion the plot of the story ([spoiler]Dojima trying to r*pe her[/spoiler]) and is a central plot device through the rest of the story too. It feels more like a framework that later games would build on, rather than something that fully stands on its own. Still, Kiwami has value, especially if you're going through the series. It fills in key story beats for Kiryu and Nishiki, and while it’s rougher around the edges, it still offers solid gameplay, great music, and some memorable encounters. Just temper your expectations if you're coming straight from Yakuza 0. [b]TL;DR: Yakuza Kiwami is a solid remake of the original game, but it can feel like a downgrade if you play it right after Yakuza 0. The combat is familiar and fun, though the Dragon style upgrade system drags things down. The Komaki Tiger Drop is the most broken it’s ever been, and turns the Dragon style into a brain-dead win button. Story and side content are noticeably weaker than its prequel, but it’s still a must-play for fans going through the full series. Just don’t expect the same level of polish or depth as 0—you’ll enjoy it more if you treat it like the older game it really is, just with a fresh coat of paint.[/b]
• Recommended Posted June 29, 2025 on Steam Ultrakill is a fast-paced first person shooter with bullet hell mechanics. Yakuza Kiwami, on the other hand, is an even faster-paced dating sim featuring Goromi. I know which one I'm picking. Ultrakill is still great tho.