Yakuza Kiwami 2

Yakuza Kiwami & Yakuza Kiwami 2 on the Switch 2 are as excellent as ever. Both still hold up entirely, from the action to the narrative to the ridiculous side quests; each entry is fantastic in its own right.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 lands on the Nintendo Switch 2 in yet another exquisite remake that will delight both veterans and newcomers alike. Its game engine allows for a fluid and enveloping experience, while everything that made the original game amazing has been duly preserved and is brought straight to our days. The game's intricate plot, its thriving streets and locations, the engaging and quick paced combat, and all the myriad characters, side quests and secondary plots are all here, in a testament to what a breathtaking experience Yakuza Kiwami 2 still is to this day.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a wonderful experience on Switch 2. The improved visuals and streamlined mechanics make for a delightful gameplay experience bolstered by a compelling narrative at its core. There are so many ridiculous minigames to keep you entertained, and exploring Kamurocho and Sotenbori remains enjoyable five or even fifty hours into the game. It stands alongside Yakuza 0: Director's Cut as one of the finest entries in the series.

My only quibble would be, perhaps more harshly, that these versions don't offer any new cutscenes or content for the returning player. They are the nexus that will connect the past to the present of the franchise and the future Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, but if you've played them in the past (even in the near past on Nintendo Switch, in the case of Kiwami 1), I don't see too much urgency in returning to this Kamurocho. For anyone who doesn't mind reliving two classics, you're in for the best possible version of them.

The Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2 bundle brings together two great adventures, updated in a pack that is highly recommended for those who are new to the series and want to start from the beginning. However, Kiwami 2 still has the same technical issues as in the PS4 version, although visually it is a delight, especially in portable mode.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 on Switch 2 delivers a complete, portable, and surprisingly fluid experience. With extremely fast load times, all content included, and one of the series' strongest narratives, this port enables full enjoyment of the Dragon Engine outside of a home console environment. Despite occasional performance dips, it remains a highly recommended version for both newcomers and returning players seeking to revisit one of the franchise's finest entries.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 for Nintendo Switch 2 stands as the best version of one of the franchise’s greatest entries, letting players enjoy it both on TV and in handheld mode. With optimized visuals, full Spanish text support, dynamic combat, and the unmistakable storytelling style of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. While the portable mode doesn’t fully showcase its graphical potential, it remains an excellent way to continue the saga on the go.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 establishes itself as one of the most balanced and complete entries in the series, refining a formula that already worked without the need for major changes. Its combat is more solid and satisfying, the narrative gains intensity, and the technical leap brought by the use of the Dragon Engine is noticeable from the very first moment. On Nintendo Switch 2, despite the 30 frames-per-second cap and the occasional stutter in handheld mode, the experience is stable and very enjoyable, further supported by the near total absence of loading times. A continuation title in the best sense of the word—coherent, recognizable, and with a presentation that reinforces the identity of the series—confirming that Kiryu’s arrival on Nintendo’s console is a firm, long-term commitment.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 has been ported effectively to Nintendo Switch 2, with performance that compares well with the PS4 version in both handheld and docked mode. Sure, some of the technical issues from the past still stand – the targeted 30fps framerate and occasional drops cause gameplay to lack the fluidity of the first Yakuza Kiwami – but the streamlined combat, engaging story, and typical zaniness of the series is strong here. The Dragon of Dojima still gets a solid outing on Switch 2.

Whether it’s beating up yakuza on the streets, managing a cabaret club, or helping Kamurocho and Sotenbori’s citizens out of a bind, Yakuza Kiwami 2 offers so much content that will keep you engaged. On Switch 2, the portability factor simply cannot be understated, now that we’ve gotten to a point where the limitations players faced with the original Switch aren’t as prevalent. If you’re a Nintendo fan wanting to get into the Yakuza series, there’s no better time to do it than now.

The Switch 2 versions offer sharp image quality, stable performance, and an excellent new Spanish localization, although some pre-rendered cutscenes look worse and Kiwami 2 shows occasional frame pacing issues.

Kiwami 2 is a work that blends respect for the original with smart modernization. The graphical upgrades, smoother combat, and addition of new content make the experience more complete and accessible without compromising the soul that made Yakuza 2 so beloved. For those who played the original, the remake is a reunion filled with new details; for newcomers, it’s a great entry point into one of the franchise’s most memorable stories.

The Switch 2 port of Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an absolutely fine option for a newcomer to go with when picking up entries in the series. The story offers its own complexities and can go a little deeper into some nuances now that we’re familiar with Kazuma Kiryu and yakuza clans in general. The combat flows and includes upgrades from later entries and Kiwami releases. We’re able to go to Kamurocho and Sotenbori. Goro Majima gets his own campaign. While the appearance and performance is closer to the PS4 version of Yakuza Kiwami 2 than the PS5 one, it still runs fairly well and looks good on the Switch 2. It’s a handy way to catch up.

Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2 on Nintendo Switch 2 are like two novels rebound after many years: they don’t tell us anything we don’t already know, but they do it with a dignity and elegance that withstand the passage of time.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 features a compelling cast of new and returning characters, chief among the unfamiliar faces being antagonist Ryuji Goda, who cuts a formidable figure and plays an excellent foil to gold-hearted Kiryu. While I enjoyed another romp through the small burrows of Tokyo and Osaka that feel now like a second digital home, returning to Kiwami 2 felt more in service of Kiwami 3, which will be here before we know it. The Switch 2 port is a serviceable one for sure, especially when considered against the PlayStation 4 version, and there isn’t a major sacrifice made to run around these punk-filled streets on-the-go. If you’re becoming a Yakuza collector or have never experienced the second game in the series, there may not be a better time.

RGG Studio did a good job porting Yakuza Kiwami 2 to Nintendo Switch 2, the first entry using the current Dragon Engine that arrived on the console.

Revisiting games I loved many years ago is sometimes scary because I worry I may not enjoy certain aspects with the context of newer games in a specific series. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is still one of my favorites in the series and while this Switch 2 port isn't perfect, it exceeded my expectations despite some issues. If you haven't played Yakuza Kiwami 2 before and want to experience it on the go, the Switch 2 port is a very good way to do so, but I hope the performance issues can be addressed. If you have played it before, I only really recommend this if you want to revisit it on a handheld.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 might be the least of the three Yakuza games now available on the Switch 2, but it still punches well for its weight class. If you’ve enjoyed any of the other action-focused Yakuza romps, you’ll want to saddle up for this one as well. Some slight performance issues hamper the experience a little, though not to the degree that it spoils the game. It’s a very capable port of the game, and the fact that it’s hitting the platform along with an excellent version of Yakuza Kiwami is just icing on the cake.

While Kiwami 2 has its faults, it’s still a fun action-RPG with all of the wonderful weirdness of the Yakuza series, all of the entertaining substories and bizarre NPCs, and the engaging main story that never lacks twists and turns. Graphically, the game looks great and played just as smoothly, so from a technical standpoint I had no issues. But while I said in my Yakuza 0 review that I’d recommend playing the games in chronological order, it’s worth noting that having a game of the caliber of Yakuza 0 as a series’ first story can result in this sort of drawback. Regardless, play it for more Yakuza while you’re waiting for the launch of Kiwami 3 next year.