Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties

Yakuza Kiwami 3 gives one of the series’ most divisive entries a welcome second life, pairing an effective, character-driven story with modern visuals and combat. Dark Ties is a competent but less resonant companion piece, made worthwhile mainly by a divergent fighting style and the occasional spark of personality rather than any must-see narrative additions.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a thoughtful reinterpretation of a historically divisive chapter, finally able to showcase its strengths without being hampered by the structural limitations of the original. The Dragon Engine, the revised pacing, and a deeply refreshed combat system restore dignity to a story that never lost its merit, but which for years remained trapped in an unappealing form. The much-hyped Dark Ties content proves to be more for fans than newcomers, but the overall balance is finally right. Yakuza Kiwami 3 doesn't rewrite the history of the series, but it gives it a much-needed facelift that makes it enjoyable to experience again. And that's exactly what this chapter needed.

Even in the original game I liked Kazuma's story in Okinawa but only now that Kiwami 3 strengthens his relationships and ties to the place and its people did I build a strong emotional bond to one of the best locations in the entire series.

This Remake should not be viewed as a replacement for the original game. Instead, it is a new vision for the third chapter of Kazuma Kiryu's journey. It serves as an opportunity to revisit a beloved story with a new approach, not as the definitive version of Yakuza 3.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties may still be bound by some unavoidable legacy frameworks, but its renewed focus on classic yakuza storytelling—devoting more time to character development and the emotional weight of major story beats—recaptures the feeling of first getting into the Yakuza series.

Kiwami 3, burdened with the series’ greatest expectations and doubts, set out to preserve the original story while filling its gaps. Though not flawless, it ultimately overcomes its limits, coming closest yet to the “Kiwami” ideal.

Absent the aforementioned retcon, I found the updated translation and script in Yakuza Kiwami 3 to be a noticeable improvement, and Dark Ties’ entertaining Hell’s Arena sweetens the deal. Without it, I’d arguably still recommend the game, albeit with the caveat that curious fans might want to carefully weigh their list of preferences before committing. The unique substories and activities are worthy, as are the new gameplay modes, all of which secure Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties' role as an ideal entry point into this epic series, which now looks better than ever on modern hardware.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a good remake overall, specially as a complete package thanks to Mine's own story. But there's a few changes and cut content that keeps the game far from their previous 'Kiwami' games.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties manages to revitalize one of the weaker entries in the franchise. It brings transformative improvements to combat, which leads to more fluid battles. There are also excellent visual upgrades, along with restructured segments that help deepen the emotional investment you have in these characters. Granted, some of the pacing issues and story habits are retained, but the main campaign feels stronger than the original, thanks to these updates. However, additions like Bad Boy Dragon feel repetitive, whereas Dark Ties is short and rather limited in scope. Survival Hell was a surprise for me, because it adds to the innovative aspect we know and love in the Yakuza world. It has its shortcomings, sure, but Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a good entry in this franchise, with a very engaging story and interesting additions that help boost your play time. It’s not as great as the newer, turn-based focused games from the franchise, but if you want to experience the older story with some innovative ideas, it’s certainly worth your time.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties could well be a model for all remakes. Imperfect in many respects, particularly technical ones, it distinguishes itself through its commitment to enriching its narrative and gameplay experience, and its wealth of additional content. It's undeniable that SEGA and the Ryu Ga Gotoku studio rolled up their sleeves to offer players the best and most comprehensive experience possible. However, this third installment in Kazuma Kiryu's adventures fails to overcome a narrative that overshadows the gameplay and to break free from the limitations of the aging Dragon Engine.

Like many remakes in long-running franchises, it occasionally struggles to balance respect for the original with the desire to expand its story. Still, the emotional journey of Kazuma Kiryu remains compelling, and the updated combat and side content help modernize one of the series’ most heartfelt chapters. The additional Dark Ties storyline adds a new perspective to the events of the main game, even if it doesn’t always reach the same narrative highs.

Without fully correcting the errors of the original Yakuza (and potentially adding new ones) and adding much more content, this remake is welcome news for fans and newcomers to the series alike, thanks to its dynamism and fresh new look.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a good remake marred by unsavoury and baffling decisions by the studio, making it a hard game to recommend despite its technical competence.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a combo of action adventures that longtime fans of the series will have hours of fun with. The added gameplay features and altered visuals, unfortunately, contrast with the story experience in a way that doesn't feel as authentic to the original experience as I would have liked.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is now the best way to experience Yakuza 3, especially since this retcon will likely now be the established canon. There’s no arguing that it has improved on the original in many ways, not only giving it a much-needed facelift and tinkering under the hood to make for a smoother experience, but adding a whole host of new content to whet our appetite. While I lament some losses during the creative overhaul and I am notably disgruntled by one major change, I can’t deny that the positives far outweigh the negatives.

While it's nice to have this story accessible for newcomers, the reality is that the original Yakuza 3 was never the series' high point. Kiwami 3 fails to elevate the source material, instead hampering the experience with unfinished-looking cutscenes and a bizarre "chrome" aesthetic. With the original Yakuza 3 delisted from many digital storefronts, your only alternative is the Yakuza Remastered Collection. Given the high price point of that bundle and the lacklustre quality of this remake, there is very little reason to recommend Kiwami 3 as a standalone purchase.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties left me deeply concerned about the future direction of the Like a Dragon franchise. Since the very first time I played Yakuza Kiwami, this series held a special place in my heart. But if there is one thing that Kiwami 3 lacks, it’s heart. If you’re craving some modern Yakuza action, play any of the recent Dragon Engine brawlers. But if you really want to play Yakuza 3, my suggestion is to go play Yakuza 3 and leave Yakuza Kiwami 3 alone.

If Yakuza 3 Remastered was kept readily accessible, then Yakuza Kiwami 3's mistakes wouldn't be such a big issue. But RGG Studio has decided to erase the original version in favor of a weaker, less inspired remake, with an outright stupid twist ending and watered-down gameplay (despite a few enjoyable side activities along the way). The Dark Ties gaiden game offers an interesting look into Mine's backstory and would be enjoyable as a budget title on its own, but the overall package is found lacking, to say nothing of Teruyuki Kagawa's involvement and RGG Studio's silence on that matter. Yakuza feels like a headless cash cow now. Let's hope Stranger Than Heaven strikes gold.