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.