Yakuza 0

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1510 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,303 out of 1510
  2. Mixed: 69 out of 1510
  3. Negative: 138 out of 1510
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  1. Be11e
    Dec 15, 2020
    10
    Incredibly well-written, captivating storyline with lots of twists and not a single wasted character.
    Superb voice acting, decent combat mechanics, and lots of hilarious and memorable sub stories.
    A masterpiece.
  2. Toshi_inu
    Jul 4, 2023
    10
    Una obra de arte el mejor Juego de la saga Yakuza, historia impactante, sobre todo una gran historia entre Majima y Makoto
  3. nofear80
    Dec 18, 2020
    10
    My favorite game of all time until I played Ghost of Tsushima. Still my 2nd favorite of all time. I really enjoyed this game. Very fun to play, story is excellent full of twists and serious mature stuff. Side missions and content are funny and rewarding. Just the way of story telling was a masterpiece. It was like watching a good Yakuza movie. Prolly better than any Yakuza movie out there.My favorite game of all time until I played Ghost of Tsushima. Still my 2nd favorite of all time. I really enjoyed this game. Very fun to play, story is excellent full of twists and serious mature stuff. Side missions and content are funny and rewarding. Just the way of story telling was a masterpiece. It was like watching a good Yakuza movie. Prolly better than any Yakuza movie out there. American games should learn story telling from this game. Typical american game stories are just MEH... its like a childish story most of the time with side quests being so boring.… Expand
  4. bdough
    Jan 17, 2021
    10
    This is my introduction to the Yakuza series and its absolutely blown me away! I cant believe how invested i got in such a corny over the top YET still heartfelt and engrossing story. ALL the insane mini-games i sucked at, but was able to improve gradually and take on at my level as i advanced. Nothing was backbreaking and things that got tedious i simply didnt need to do. Finally finishedThis is my introduction to the Yakuza series and its absolutely blown me away! I cant believe how invested i got in such a corny over the top YET still heartfelt and engrossing story. ALL the insane mini-games i sucked at, but was able to improve gradually and take on at my level as i advanced. Nothing was backbreaking and things that got tedious i simply didnt need to do. Finally finished my first playthrough in 55hrs and had a whooping 52% completion overall.... its only real blemish is not having a redesign for the shogi and mahjong games. as an american im helpless when it comes to remembering what the kanji mean. i got the rules but cant tell whats a 6 or a dragon... Can only hope the Kiwami games and new Like a Dragon (with revamped dragonquest-esque fighting) continue this excellence.… Expand
  5. TeaBoyy
    Dec 27, 2020
    10
    I must preface my review by saying that this was my first ever experience with a JRPG style game and also with the Yakuza series.

    Having now played up to Yakuza 4 I think Yakuza 0 is the best way to start of with the franchise. Yakuza 0 has some fantastically written characters with top notch character development. Playing this game will evoke a plethora of emotions which will surely be    I must preface my review by saying that this was my first ever experience with a JRPG style game and also with the Yakuza series.

    Having now played up to Yakuza 4 I think Yakuza 0 is the best way to start of with the franchise. Yakuza 0 has some fantastically written characters with top notch character development. Playing this game will evoke a plethora of emotions which will surely be appreciated by all kinds of gamers.

    The Yakuza franchise's signature style is to have a gripping and emotional main campaign which is complemented by bizarre and hilarious side stories and world building. It really does work! I found the pacing of the main campaign to be perfect and the gameplay loop is more than satisfying.    … Expand
  6. MarleyW
    Apr 22, 2021
    10
    Never played a yakuza game before and this is an amazing game in all aspects, from fighting, to the story. One of my all time favorites
  7. YannySp101
    Aug 1, 2021
    10
    Even though I always liked Yakuza's setting, I was never interested in getting into the games.
    After hearing nothing but praise for Yakuza 0, especially for it's story, I was eager to give it a try.
    Unfortunately, my expectations for the story were very high, but fortunately, the story surpassed my expectations; it starts off really strong, it never drops the ball and it's filled with plot    Even though I always liked Yakuza's setting, I was never interested in getting into the games.
    After hearing nothing but praise for Yakuza 0, especially for it's story, I was eager to give it a try.
    Unfortunately, my expectations for the story were very high, but fortunately, the story surpassed my expectations; it starts off really strong, it never drops the ball and it's filled with plot twists! I was expecting a really good story and I got a narrative masterpiece; I'd go as far as to say that it's one of the most engaging and well-written stories in a videogame, keeping me on the edge of my seat every few... minutes. Overall, it's one of the best stories I ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
    The characters are awesome, especially Kiryu and Majima; Kiryu is a certified badass while Majima is one of my favorite characters in a videogame, period.
    Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the gameplay; it's enjoyable but the combat system is not deep enough.
    The highlight of the game are the minigames and the substories; there are so many of them and they're very amusing for the most part! I spent hours singing in the Karaoke bar, playing billiards and going for bowling... and I barely scratched the surface.
    Also, I really love the music in this game.
    Now, aside from the combat system not being complex, another thing that bothered me a little bit is that the graphics look outdated at times.

    Pros:
    + Consistent and compelling narrative filled with twists and turns
    + Amazing characters
    + Fun gameplay
    + Tons of different minigames
    + Fantastic music

    Cons:
    - Combat system lacks enough depth
    - Dated visuals in some instances

    Narrative: 10/10
    Gameplay: 7/10
    Content: 10/10
    Characters: 9/10
    Music: 9/10
    Graphics/Audio: 7/10

    Final Rating: 9.5/10
    - Outstanding -
    It's been a while since I couldn't stop playing a videogame because of its somehow addictive storyline, and the minigames are just the cherry on top of an already delicious cake.
    All in all, Yakuza 0 is one of my favorite story-driven games on the PS4.

    Do I recommend it?:
    Yakuza 0 is the perfect Yakuza game for both fans and newcomers.    … Expand
  8. amir_alaei
    May 31, 2021
    10
    I love this game,I don't know why I didn't hear anything about this game in the internet !
    This game has a dark story if you play this game you newer gonna forget this dark story in your life.
    and it has a lot of funny side quests you can play this game over than 60 hour.
  9. MadB4n
    May 15, 2021
    10
    This my first game of the yakuza series and it still amazed me how much there is to do and generally had the most fun while playing... big fan
  10. Sensou12
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    Completely surpass my expectation.

    Gameplay is quite boring for the 1st quarter but the rest is "Legendary". Combat becoming more solid and full of fun as you keep progressing. Story is going very strong from the beginning until the end. Side-Gameplay is the star of it. I've spent more than half of my time on this section (total time in my 1st play-through is 72 hours) The whole    Completely surpass my expectation.

    Gameplay is quite boring for the 1st quarter but the rest is "Legendary".

    Combat becoming more solid and full of fun as you keep progressing.
    Story is going very strong from the beginning until the end.
    Side-Gameplay is the star of it. I've spent more than half of my time on this section (total time in my 1st play-through is 72 hours)

    The whole point of the game is to pull you in the yakuza series which make me curious how's the story progressing. In this regard, I believe all game studios out there need to learn from Ryu Ga Gotoku how to develop an amazing story driven game (series). I'm on Yakuza 3 now because of this game. Hard to believe if you're not continuing to play another yakuza game if you ever dive in any Yakuza game.

    Conclusion: 100% worth the money and of course, worth your time. This game is not for you who keep skipping cutscenes and completely only focus on gameplay. Because the unique selling point of Yakuza is its story and of course the quirk side-story or gameplay    … Expand
  11. Scorpion_kjf
    Sep 8, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I love this game,the combat is great,the beat up system is great .exploring japan is fun and great.the open world allow you to do mission anytime you want and a lot of sidemisson.both characters kazuma kiryu and goro majima's stories are great .my favorite one of two,majima's fighting style is better kiryu's. He is more fun to play .he has more fun and tragedy story.spoiler that ends drive him crazy into the characters we will see in yakuza kiwami.i love this game so many things to do and fun stuff.loke play classic sega games in the arcade.or dating one of the girls.10 out of 10… Expand
  12. hange122
    Oct 15, 2021
    10
    This game has loads of content. I can't even count how many minigames there are. And the substories? They are very interesting. Gameplay is really good and story is just so **** wonderful. Graphics and music is such a masterpiece. 10/10 (completed the game 3 times now it's so fun)
  13. VioIrdsGX
    Apr 5, 2022
    10
    Yakuza one of the games that helped me advance my life as a PS4 player, Kiryu will always be the best character and the best one who fights and lets enemies bleed.
  14. HankMarks
    Nov 12, 2021
    10
    This was my first Yakuza game. I bought it from PS Store in a sale not knowing what to expect but hey it's nice to try new things from time to time. The thing is I never thought it could be that good and by the time I’ve beaten the first boss I was totally hooked and I've been a fan of Yakuza series ever since.
    First of all, I really like story driven games and Yakuza 0 (just like other    This was my first Yakuza game. I bought it from PS Store in a sale not knowing what to expect but hey it's nice to try new things from time to time. The thing is I never thought it could be that good and by the time I’ve beaten the first boss I was totally hooked and I've been a fan of Yakuza series ever since.
    First of all, I really like story driven games and Yakuza 0 (just like other games in this series) has quite a complex and gripping story. But the beauty of Yakuza is that it can balance its very serious main story with absolutely insane side stories and fun minigames. On the paper this shouldn't even work but contrary to that when you put these two things together, they don't cancel each other out but somehow make each other better.
    I was never bored while playing because there was always so much to do, yet it was never overwhelming. The game doesn't have a huge open world but rather small two city districts. One in Tokyo and other one in Osaka. These two districts however are full of content and activities so in the end they feel much larger than they really are. This is a huge contrast to games with huge open worlds that feels impressive at first, that is until you find out they are actually quite empty.
    Combat is also great. Streets and rooms are filled with items you can pick up and beat your enemies with, that ranges from a simple vase to a bicycle. You also have 8 different combat styles in total 4 for each of the characters. Every style has its own attacks, combos, finishers and benefits. For example, beast style deals heavy damage and protects you from stagger if upgraded but your movement is slow. Rush style is the opposite of that, it deals small damage but you are extremely fast and can do some powerful counterattacks.
    Soundtrack is also worth mentioning especially the original songs you can sing at the karaoke minigame.
    All in all, I simply love this game.    … Expand
  15. TIMOFEIKA
    Dec 6, 2021
    10
    this game is truly a masterpiece.
    i haven't finished all the sub-stories.
    i really liked the end part and that's why i give it a 10
  16. Sensou
    Jan 9, 2022
    10
    Amazing Story with Basic Gameplay

    This game is a completely Japanese version of GTA but with a smaller scale of course. Probably you know this game from meme of other joke stuff but believe me Yakuza is a very serious game with a great narrative which makes me continue playing the other Yakuza series to date. Gameplay-wise is not appealing but fun when you've unlocked all the combat    Amazing Story with Basic Gameplay

    This game is a completely Japanese version of GTA but with a smaller scale of course. Probably you know this game from meme of other joke stuff but believe me Yakuza is a very serious game with a great narrative which makes me continue playing the other Yakuza series to date.

    Gameplay-wise is not appealing but fun when you've unlocked all the combat skill which makes you no longer smashing button but you combined different move-set to beat your enemy. I really like Kiryu Brawl combat and Majima Slugger combat.

    Story, no debate the greatest one besides Naughty Dog game, Uncharted (Sorry, not a fan of TLOU).

    Conclusion, play it and you will be invested in Yakuza 0 and the other Yakuza series. Rest assured that you will play this game at least more than 50 hours to enjoy the whole content of Yakuza 0 so it's not a simple or short game at all.    … Expand
  17. RichSpider
    Jun 1, 2023
    10
    Truly a masterclass in story telling. These games are incredible and if you're new to the Yakuza series or just haven't gotten around to playing this one then please, for the love of god, pick it up and dive in.
  18. Baseduser1919
    Jan 21, 2022
    10
    I had a **** blast playing this game. My god. Everything was good. The story, side stories, games, fighting, the characters… I am very late to the party with the Yakuza series but I can’t wait to play the other games.
  19. Babo2003
    Nov 1, 2022
    10
    Ahhhh Majima and Kiryu. Lovely gameplay and minigames. The Cabaret Club part could be published as a different game and still would be great. It is incredible how it is inside this game. One of the best experiences ever had in my life.
  20. Sandman92
    Jun 9, 2022
    10
    The game is superb. This is the first Yakuza game for me, and did not know what to expect at first. But i’m absolutely hooked, the combat is very fun, almost like a Tekken style beat em’ up. All characters speak japanese, so you will have to read a lot of subtitles, but the story is really interesting if you are into mafia and the underworld. There is lots of side stuff you can do, theThe game is superb. This is the first Yakuza game for me, and did not know what to expect at first. But i’m absolutely hooked, the combat is very fun, almost like a Tekken style beat em’ up. All characters speak japanese, so you will have to read a lot of subtitles, but the story is really interesting if you are into mafia and the underworld. There is lots of side stuff you can do, the game is really good at surprising you with unexpected moments. This is quality fun stuff right here. Love the 80s vibe too! Easy 10/10 all day!… Expand
  21. alirezaporshe
    Dec 27, 2022
    10
    i have never played yakuza though i was interested in the series. i saw that the game series has been added to my playstation plus membershib so i started from the very first of the series that means yakuza zero
    right now as im typing ive finished yakuza 0 and yakuza kiwami 1 and playing kiwami 2
    i just wan to say if you enjoy a good asian story . dont hesitate play the game.
  22. Droonik
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Yakuza 0 is a very good game with a great story and good soundtrack and got a lot of content.
  23. Lukeskymoon
    Mar 20, 2022
    10
    Great story and great fighting and comedy to This game is well made I love it so much !
  24. PasiMetaAho
    Apr 24, 2022
    10
    Beautiful game, the writing and the action and everything is just amazing!!
  25. Plaresh
    Apr 28, 2022
    10
    so good so good so gooood so gooood so gooood so good so good so good so good so good
  26. Sparda_84
    May 18, 2022
    10
    Yakuza 0 does everything it has to do in a perfect way.
    Not only as the perfect Yakuza game, but also as the perfect game to jump into the series.
  27. louiesifleet
    Mar 10, 2023
    10
    A joy all the way through, Perfect introduction to the Yakuza Series, and also a welcome back for already fans of the series, this game has a great story that does not become boring what so ever, however an issue with the game is the opening scene features a cutscene format different to the rest of the game which is odd and inconsistent but still, that doesn’t stop what is the great storyA joy all the way through, Perfect introduction to the Yakuza Series, and also a welcome back for already fans of the series, this game has a great story that does not become boring what so ever, however an issue with the game is the opening scene features a cutscene format different to the rest of the game which is odd and inconsistent but still, that doesn’t stop what is the great story form this cutscene, also gameplay is fantastic a literal 3D open space version of virtua fighter or Tekken, absolutely amazing side quests all throughout the game I won’t spoil any here as they are amazing, this was the game that got me into yakuza and I have to respect it for that very reason Overall 10/10 game issues not enough to drop review… Expand
  28. razermix
    Sep 24, 2022
    10
    Сюжет необычный, не безразлично наблюдать за персонажами и химией между ними , они не кажутся простыми ботами, разнообразность боёвки порадовала, так ещё и различные темы для разных стилей боя. Порадовало и то что можно взаимодействовать с разными объектами во время боя , но огорчило , что нельзя взаимодействовать с ними в то время когда гг просто ходит по району. Интерфейс немногоСюжет необычный, не безразлично наблюдать за персонажами и химией между ними , они не кажутся простыми ботами, разнообразность боёвки порадовала, так ещё и различные темы для разных стилей боя. Порадовало и то что можно взаимодействовать с разными объектами во время боя , но огорчило , что нельзя взаимодействовать с ними в то время когда гг просто ходит по району. Интерфейс немного необычным показался, сайдквесты порадовали в меру абсурдные в меру грустные. , но прокачка это ЖеСть и мистеры вымогатели + некоторые тех.аспекты ставили в недоумение , но на это можно закрыть глаза ,
    Так же в районах кроме сайдквестов можно спеть в кароке , пофлексить на тацполе , поговорить с девушкой по телефону и встретится с ней и.т.д
    Но кроме сюжета есть ещё и другая ветка сюжета у всех гг, но придётся попотеть чтобы пройти их, за прохождение дают тому и тому пресу новые стили боя, гораздо мощнее обычных и прокачка их влияет и на этот стиль и на все другие
    12/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    … Expand
  29. Ramses29pha
    May 27, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best Game ever, it has a bunch of fun minigames and if your looking for the plot this is recommended as 2 characters(Kiryu and Majima) are the best protagonist ever, it also holds the best memes such as the baka mitai song and "KUZE" memes were the best for me and the character development is the best where kiryu and majima met each other before Kiwami. Solid 10/10… Expand
  30. omr9
    Feb 19, 2023
    10
    the best way to make a prequel and show us why kiryu and majima r yakuza legends
    everything abt y0 is dramatic tragic explosive sad, very sad sometimes, and i love it
    love you kiryu and majima
  31. julic
    Sep 15, 2022
    10
    la mejor saga anime que exiten en los videojuegos es super divertido y sus peleas entre bandillas
  32. SHADOWMBB
    Apr 8, 2023
    10
    A very fun game that have only one desire that make you get a great and fun time the side quest are masterpiece every one have unique experience and story some of them are funny and crazy and others are serious and sad, in the world besides the amazing side quest you will find a very very fun mini games and business to done and lets not forget mr shakedown a huge man whith massive damageA very fun game that have only one desire that make you get a great and fun time the side quest are masterpiece every one have unique experience and story some of them are funny and crazy and others are serious and sad, in the world besides the amazing side quest you will find a very very fun mini games and business to done and lets not forget mr shakedown a huge man whith massive damage he will try to take your money and if you lose to him he will take all your money and to return them you need to take him down, the main story are amazing and have a lot of amazing characters whith amazing moments, it's one of the best open worlds games you will find… Expand
  33. Edenscott
    Oct 28, 2022
    10
    Yakuza 0 in 2022 is still an absolute gem which stands the tests of time. One of best stories paired with fun gameplay, anyone should try this out.
  34. TheOldestOak
    Nov 14, 2022
    10
    The Yakuza aka Like a Dragon series is incredibly good and I recommend these games go literally anybody.
  35. Strifefair600
    Jan 15, 2023
    10
    Wow just wow this is my favorite yakuza game ever but the one that came before this game (yakuza 5) is my least favorite but people compare it to yakuza 5 I compare it to itself for it’s unique gameplay and graphics and after 6 years it still holds up as the greatest yakuza game ever
  36. NuFiBaban
    Feb 21, 2023
    10
    Honestly my favorite game of all time.A gripping story with twists at every turn,brutal but satisfying combat and a lot of great mini-open world minigames and substories, i can't sing it enough praise for how much i love the game and the series it introduced to me
  37. TianLong1
    Mar 31, 2023
    10
    My first Yakuza game and introduction to the series. After playing most Yakuza games, I can tell that this one is the best one not only because of all the incredible acting and compelling characters you encounter, but also because of the very satisfying fighting sequences where you beat the **** out of hundreds of yakuza just so you can beat the **** out of their lieutenant, with a badassMy first Yakuza game and introduction to the series. After playing most Yakuza games, I can tell that this one is the best one not only because of all the incredible acting and compelling characters you encounter, but also because of the very satisfying fighting sequences where you beat the **** out of hundreds of yakuza just so you can beat the **** out of their lieutenant, with a badass background music. The seriousness and complexity of the main story is perfectly balanced out with the side stories filled with comedy which truly represent the spirit of Yakuza, a game that does not take itself seriously. You also spend a good deal of time in mini-games which help you take a break from the never ending beating you are giving to your enemies.… Expand
  38. chokorettoo
    Apr 4, 2023
    10
    the game that made me get into the series. flawless story , emotional story which i think should be played by every one, it changed my life in a way
  39. Killerpummkin
    Aug 9, 2023
    10
    It is a work of art, a powerful story, and especially a great story between Majima and Makoto.
  40. MPK92
    Aug 31, 2023
    10
    Engaging story, great environment. Great vibes. Great music. 80s Tokyo is so cool. The combat is fun and having two protagonists breaks up the repetitiveness. So funny, too. Great side content. Memorable characters and moments. RGG was cooking.
  41. Parag0N
    Aug 14, 2022
    9
    Believe the hype! I never played a Yakuza game until now. I figured there must be something great about the series as there’s been so many games and reviews are always positive. Finally got around to checking out the series and man I now know what I’ve been missing! The mini games themselves are high enough quality Nintendo would sell them to you on the e-shop. I HATE foreign films withBelieve the hype! I never played a Yakuza game until now. I figured there must be something great about the series as there’s been so many games and reviews are always positive. Finally got around to checking out the series and man I now know what I’ve been missing! The mini games themselves are high enough quality Nintendo would sell them to you on the e-shop. I HATE foreign films with subtitles but the story here is so well written and engaging I couldn’t help but get invested. Since it’s in Japanese I have no idea if the voice work is bad as it sounds perfectly fine to me. Tearing up the streets as a Yakuza badass is fun as hell and everything about the gameplay is meant to make you feel like a tough guy type. Music is top notch and controls and menus are great. I had a blast with this game and put dozens of hours into it. If you never tried the series this is a great one to start with!… Expand
  42. Kenmei
    Jul 20, 2017
    9
    Equal parts soap opera drama and absurd craziness, Yakuza 0 is a terrific entry point into the long running and very popular Japanese underworld drama. As a starting point for the two main lead characters of the series, Kazama Kiryu and Goro Majima, it shows what lead up to the first game and the causes for how they became the people they were at the very beginning of the main story. As aEqual parts soap opera drama and absurd craziness, Yakuza 0 is a terrific entry point into the long running and very popular Japanese underworld drama. As a starting point for the two main lead characters of the series, Kazama Kiryu and Goro Majima, it shows what lead up to the first game and the causes for how they became the people they were at the very beginning of the main story. As a newcomer to the series, it was nice to see the characters in almost their base form and see what drove them towards the events that will happen in the first game.
    For those that don't know and might be interested in this series, the Yakuza series is filled to the brim with everything that's over-the-top. Whether it's the story, the combat, or the crazy weird side quests, this game throws everything and the kitchen sink at you. Starting with the story, as stated before, this is a great starting point for the series and for people to get into it. It hits on alot of stuff that seems like it will carry over to the following games. While the entire game is in Japanese, you can tell that the actors they got for this are top notch. Especially those who played the main two leads, Kiryu and Majima. And while the story goes deep into soap opera territory, especially and most notably towards the end, it's still a very good story. Set along side a wonderful soundtrack that beautifully captured the main events perfectly, the overall cinematic feel that basically everything in this game has really sets it apart from other games.
    The combat is where things get a little dicey for me. I've heard it compared to old school beat-em-ups like Streets of Rage. I'm personally not a huge fan of the system. You seemingly just point your character towards an enemy and mash buttons till they are dead. There really aren't very many combos and the game relies too heavily on counters as trying to set them up is extremely difficult because the lock on system is not very well done and far too loose when trying to lock onto one enemy in a large group of them. It could use a little more refining going forward.
    With so much to do and see in the game, it's hard to pass up on this. I had to take a point away because of the messy combat system and the soap opera-y tone the story took on late. But I'd highly recommend this to anyone who wants to get in on the ground level. Especially with the upcoming release, and proper, remake of the original game due to come out in a month or so.    … Expand
  43. RJX74
    Jan 27, 2018
    9
    One of my favorite games on PS4. Slow start but it explodes in an awesome adventure. Love the setting
  44. RuslanDZE
    Mar 7, 2017
    9
    This is my first game in Yakuza series. I did not expect anything awesome from a game. I picked this game up because I am tired from the western games and their business models. So I was hoping to find new game with soul lets say.
    At first, I was not impressed a lot by that game. Lack of budget is so clear in some areas. Facial animations are poor and side quests are lacking of voice.    This is my first game in Yakuza series. I did not expect anything awesome from a game. I picked this game up because I am tired from the western games and their business models. So I was hoping to find new game with soul lets say.
    At first, I was not impressed a lot by that game. Lack of budget is so clear in some areas. Facial animations are poor and side quests are lacking of voice. However, I think I just spoiled by big games like Witcher 3.
    But after I got immersed by story and 80s atmosphere I could not stop playing. Story is good and much better than your usual video game story, Gameplay is repetitive but badass soundtrack makes it feel cool. What impressed me the most that side quest are so interesting and hilarious, Each side quest had unique story and its not your usual go there and kill that and than bring me that. No. Even gameplay is different here. I spent 50 hours with that and probably will spend more. That game is like breath of fresh air. Loved it. I did not give that game 10 because if repetitive fighting gameplay at times and technical issues.

    Looks like its golden times to be owner of PS4. So many cool games are coming.    … Expand
  45. Xelion
    Feb 8, 2019
    9
    Awesome Yakuza game that also served for newcomers to discover this spectacular franchise.
    Great performance, story, characters, you use Majima half of the game and it works nicely as a prequel to the original Yakuza or Kiwami.
  46. brockcheese
    May 22, 2019
    9
    I just completed this game at 224 hours. Chock full of content, although not all of it quality, Yakuza 0 is a great entry point to the franchise.
  47. RenzyWenzy
    Sep 29, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Yakuza 0 is not just the best game in the franchise, it's one of the best games I've ever played PERIOD.

    Starting off with the good. The combat in the game is as good as ever. Yakuza has always been known for its brutal combat and its whacky finishers known as "HEAT actions." All that is still here and then some but with the added twist of "Styles." Kiryu Kazuma and Goro Majima each have 3 different fighting styles to choose from (and an unlockable 4th style for both) and each one style works for different situations. For example, Kiryu's Beast style and Majima's Breaker style are best used against a larger groups of enemies. On the other hand, Kiryu's rush style and Majima's default thug style is better utilized for evading incoming heavy attacks while also dishing out a respectable amount of damage. These styles are a breath of fresh air and they brought something new to an older combat system.

    The story and characters are some of the most memorable in the franchise. The new characters such as Makoto, Sagawa, Tachibana, and the three Tojo clan lieutenants are some of the most well-written side characters who really compliment Kiryu and Majima very well. A particular standout is Kuze who's utter badassery is just too much to handle. I never got tired of fighting Kuze. On the other hand, Makoto and Majima's relationship is quite possibly the most compelling in the series. The way these two meet and how their friendship develops is well-paced and believable and it was all bookended by a truly bittersweet ending.

    Another I liked about the story is how well they divided the chapters. In Yakuza 4 which had 4 playable characters, you went through each character's story and that by the time each individual arc was done, we were in the finale. This was not good pacing as it made players go back to base stats over and over again; on top of that, each character's arc was so long that by the time you reach the ending, you would have most likely forgotten what the hell Akiyama was doing again. That is a problem that isn't found in Y0 as they do a much better switching between the protagonists. For every 2 chapters you complete, it switches to a different character and that is a much better way of handling as it keeps gameplay (and the characters arc) fresh.

    Finally, the content. This game has a **** of content. Over 100 substories that have their own quirky story, plenty of minigames to partake in, friends to make, and also both characters have their own side storyline to accomplish. Kiryu has his real-estate while Majima has his cabaret club. What's so amazing is how Yakuza plays with tone. The story is this overly serious crime melodrama and yet when you get to the side stuff, it's pure comedy and zaniness. I don't know how but Yakuza perfectly balances these wildly different tones.

    Now on to some of the bad. The pacing of the story is not the best. To be more specific, there is a lot of talking in this game. Do not get me wrong, I like exposition especially if it's interesting exposition which this game has for sure. The problem is there are times where we're literally talking about the same thing over and over again just worded differently. Yes, I get it the Empty Lot is important. I've heard it from 3 different people at this point. They are just beating you over the head with this information and they aren't giving any new information. Yakuza does this in other games too especially in Yakuza 5 and the Judgment spin-off where new information is mentioned and we have to hear about this in 3-5 different conversations. Yakuza 0 can definitely get long-winded at times.

    Another quick negative is in presentation. Yakuza 0 looks like a PS3 game that was ported into PS4. Some of the background and textures can get ugly and as for walking NPC's, you start to see the same face in different clothing really quickly in this game. Similar to how a lot of Skyrim characters had the exact same voice. Also, there are 4 different presentation of scenes. Fully voice-acted cutscenes, fully voice-acted in-game scenes, non voice-acted in-game scenes, and the fully-voice acted still images. This was an absolute head scratcher especially for those still images. Yakuza 7 solved this issue by having those scenes only in flashbacks but in Y0, they had them in current time scenes as well which was just not good.

    Last negative for me is the character switching method. I just hated how you had to go to the real-estate office of cabaret club to switch. It slowed things down. It would have been better to switch from the pause menu or if you can't do that, have us switch characters through the phone booth. It was just unnecessary padding.

    Overall, I love Yakuza 0. Yakuza as a whole has always been a niche series that appealed to a certain fan base but I would say that Yakuza 0 is one of the most accessible games in the franchise thanks to its brilliant and brutal combat, compelling characters, and wealth of content.    … Expand
  48. itkirk
    Feb 24, 2020
    9
    Such a great game!! This is my first Yakuza game and it does not disappoint. The story is absolutely fantastic with the interesting characters, the combat is really good and the shear amount of fun things to do is a big plus. Highly recommended if you really want a highly engaging story driven game! Love it.
  49. PaleNielsen
    Feb 16, 2017
    9
    My first game of the series and I can't wait to play more. The story is incredibly amazing but it just starts very slow and the battle system gets very repetitive, just be patient and if you don't like it when you're already at chapter 5 or even chapter 4, the game is not for you but you'll miss out a lot of humor, drama and awesome boss battles. Yakuza has a lot to offer for its price. ItMy first game of the series and I can't wait to play more. The story is incredibly amazing but it just starts very slow and the battle system gets very repetitive, just be patient and if you don't like it when you're already at chapter 5 or even chapter 4, the game is not for you but you'll miss out a lot of humor, drama and awesome boss battles. Yakuza has a lot to offer for its price. It will be an awesome movie if its not a game. It actually saddens me that I was not able to play the series on my PS2 or PS3.… Expand
  50. Turbodowg
    Mar 16, 2017
    9
    Yakuza 0 is a great game. It reminds me of when I first played the fantastic Shenmue on the dreamcast. In fact they are pretty similar games in comparison. I love the beautiful open city full of culture, neon lights, restaurants, arcades, clubs, bars, casinos and erm porno theater's! There is so much to see and do in Yakuza.

    The game looks stunning and has an engaging story line. The    Yakuza 0 is a great game. It reminds me of when I first played the fantastic Shenmue on the dreamcast. In fact they are pretty similar games in comparison. I love the beautiful open city full of culture, neon lights, restaurants, arcades, clubs, bars, casinos and erm porno theater's! There is so much to see and do in Yakuza.

    The game looks stunning and has an engaging story line. The cinematics are very well done with some brilliant voice acting. The action and fighting is smooth and controls well. The missions are varied and interesting. There are many well rounded characters and the two heroes are well crafted and their stories are enjoyable to play through.

    It is story heavy so be prepared for lots of reading. I personally enjoy this style of RPG.

    There is so much to do in this game, playing old Sega arcade games, pool, darts, karaoke, bowling, RC car racing, fishing and much more. There's so much that you can lose your self for hours just roaming round the city and finding new things to do.

    I'd highly recommend this game to fans of the series and new players.    … Expand
  51. abraham_b
    Jan 29, 2017
    9
    I really like the Yakuza series; being a huge Shenmue fan I had to try it out and I have to honestly say, if I'm ever in the mood for the whacky, rather than the grounded Shenmue-esque, experience then Yakuza is the way to go. And my goodness is Yakuza 0 whacky. In the best way possible.

    Obviously, I'm talking about side activities there, there is a serious experience to be had if you    I really like the Yakuza series; being a huge Shenmue fan I had to try it out and I have to honestly say, if I'm ever in the mood for the whacky, rather than the grounded Shenmue-esque, experience then Yakuza is the way to go. And my goodness is Yakuza 0 whacky. In the best way possible.

    Obviously, I'm talking about side activities there, there is a serious experience to be had if you focus on the story, which, like all Yakuza games, is the highlight of the game. This is not necessarily a game designed for open world fans; think of the open world as something like No More Heroes level, where it's just there but the gameplay moments outside of the open world are what is awesome, not the moments based around it. That is what sets Yakuza apart from GTA and in a world filled with the done-to-death GTA formula, it is a welcome change.

    Yes, there are some limitations which appear in other Yakuza games too, such as moments of having to read plenty of text and just gameplay moments where you can tell this is not a AAA title. However, that is fine by me because the hilarity of the side missions gave me more fun than I've had with most AAA titles in recent memory.

    Please support this franchise if you do enjoy the games; I'd love to see Yakuza start to get more much-needed attention.    … Expand
  52. sorawild
    Jan 26, 2017
    9
    There's a reason why even in Japan Yakuza 0 is considered the best game in the series by far. Yakuza 0 improves on all the gameplay mechanics from the previous games and has by far the best story out of all of the games in this franchise. And since this game is a prequel to the series it is also the best starting point for new comers. The only issue I have with this game is that it startsThere's a reason why even in Japan Yakuza 0 is considered the best game in the series by far. Yakuza 0 improves on all the gameplay mechanics from the previous games and has by far the best story out of all of the games in this franchise. And since this game is a prequel to the series it is also the best starting point for new comers. The only issue I have with this game is that it starts off very slow both story and combat wise, but once the story starts rolling and you unlock new moves it becomes a blast.… Expand
  53. No1Livz4ever
    Jul 9, 2017
    9
    I like Ryu Ga Gotoku series, and this one is one of the best games of it. Ryu Ga Gotoku 5 was a good game, but there was too mush management, it was casual (substories markers on the map for example), and Haruka part... Ryu Ga Gotoku 0 shows us how characters become who they are now and doing it the right way.
  54. Vapor96
    Jun 15, 2019
    9
    With an extremely gripping story, hilarious side missions, and dozens of different mini games, Yakuza 0 offers a very diverse experience but one that is always entertaining. The combat can be a bit clunky at times and the cutscenes are sometimes needlessly long, but still, this is a must-buy and perhaps the best game in the Yakuza series.
  55. badgerryan19
    Jul 5, 2017
    9
    Great game. The 2 main characters are so likable and charming. The dialogue and the writing is spectacular and the soundtrack is fantastic. There is a lot to do in this game as well. With so many side quests and a campaign that will last anywhere from 30-40 HRS. The combat is pretty good too aside from getting a bit repetitive near the end. All in all great game. I'm excited to see what's next.
  56. GamingNinja
    Jan 24, 2017
    9
    There are some dissapointing and tedious moments when playing Yakuza Zero...
    But these are blown away by the amazing story, gameplay and locations. Must pick this up if you enjoy a good story, characters, and a fun brawling gameplay thrown into the mix. With funny optional side missions, arcades, a great game to throw yourself in and get immersed into the world of jakuza 1988.
    And as    There are some dissapointing and tedious moments when playing Yakuza Zero...
    But these are blown away by the amazing story, gameplay and locations. Must pick this up if you enjoy a good story, characters, and a fun brawling gameplay thrown into the mix. With funny optional side missions, arcades, a great game to throw yourself in and get immersed into the world of jakuza 1988.

    And as this is the very origin of the series this is recommended for anyone willing to jump into the series, and with jakuza 1 and 6 coming soon It is a good choice.    … Expand
  57. filip92
    Jul 9, 2022
    9
    I played the main game with only a few sidequests. Stories in Yakuza are unlike any others. Characters are unique and crazy. Dialogue is good, and the game always shifts from comedy to serious situations. Both Kiryu and Majima campaigns are fun.
  58. Kakarot26
    Mar 5, 2017
    9
    This game is a lot of fun. It´s a weird combination of many elements: A very intense and dramatic story with compelling cutscenes, funny and sometimes touchy side quests, engaging minigames, and a sort of simple but still exciting battle system. None of its elements are great on their own, but they combine so well in a way that is hard to describe, that it makes it hard to stop playing.
  59. DamienFletch
    Sep 5, 2018
    9
    Having never played a Yakuza game before, I was cautious going into Yakuza 0. It's safe to say that Yakuza is now one of my favorite game series. It's hard not to love the wacky (and hilarious) substories, completely off the wall mini games, and the jam packed world full of stuff to do and shops to visit. Not to mention the compelling crime story at play here. The story is the real star ofHaving never played a Yakuza game before, I was cautious going into Yakuza 0. It's safe to say that Yakuza is now one of my favorite game series. It's hard not to love the wacky (and hilarious) substories, completely off the wall mini games, and the jam packed world full of stuff to do and shops to visit. Not to mention the compelling crime story at play here. The story is the real star of the show for me as it shows us a young, naive Kiryu in his fight to try and make things right and Goro Majima trying to do anything to get his way back into the Yakuza. Simply put, you need to play this game. It may not be the best looking or innovative PS4 game but what it does do, is tells one of the best, most compelling stories of this generation.… Expand
  60. Kojumbo
    Aug 12, 2018
    9
    Overall, this game is a solid 9. Story was fun and amazing, even though it had some plot holes. The NPCs and main characters are very well developed and memorable. Gameplay is top notch, I would say better than the GTA series just because the combat system has much more variety. Nonetheless, you can still beat the game even at hard difficulty just using block and the main combo you learnOverall, this game is a solid 9. Story was fun and amazing, even though it had some plot holes. The NPCs and main characters are very well developed and memorable. Gameplay is top notch, I would say better than the GTA series just because the combat system has much more variety. Nonetheless, you can still beat the game even at hard difficulty just using block and the main combo you learn at the start as many of the moves you learn throughout the game feel rather unnecessary. On the upside, there are at least 5 different mini games that can all put a smile at your face. The main drawback is perhaps the fact that you have to listen through so much dialogue which is told in Japanese and you will find yourself clicking the skip button quite a lot. Graphics on the PS4 are rather pathetic, so I would say go for the PC version if you have the option. Still, my PS4 Pro did not emit too much excessive noise while rendering the game, which is usually the case with the newer games.… Expand
  61. fungz84
    Jan 26, 2017
    9
    Pure fun and nice tats. It's like playing a traditional Yakuza movie film with you in it as the main character. I bought this game on day 1 with Resident Evil 7 and Tales of Berseria, and I am always conflicted as to which to spend more time on. So fun and funny at times with a good story (one of the few games where I don't pause to "skip" the story scene.)
  62. Wander22
    Feb 17, 2019
    9
    Gameplay/Mechanics: 8.5
    Sound/Music: 9.5
    Graphics/Art: 9
    Story/Atmosphere: 9
    OVERALL: 9/10
  63. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    9
    Yakuza 0 is probably going to be my pleasant surprise of the year. I had heard of this series and I did hear that it was a good game but I didn’t think that I would like it. Boy was I wrong. I know how this sounds but a big reason that I don’t like Japanese RPG’S or just Japanese games in general is because I like games that are grounded in a little more reality. This game is really weirdYakuza 0 is probably going to be my pleasant surprise of the year. I had heard of this series and I did hear that it was a good game but I didn’t think that I would like it. Boy was I wrong. I know how this sounds but a big reason that I don’t like Japanese RPG’S or just Japanese games in general is because I like games that are grounded in a little more reality. This game is really weird but finds a way to stay grounded and I think that’s why I liked it so much.

    Initially, I was not loving the story but the combat was fun enough that I stuck with it. As the game went along, I started getting more and more into the story. I really liked the breakdown of the game and especially where there was 2 protagonists (Kiryu and Majima). Every 2 chapters you would switch between these characters. It was kind of interesting watching these 2 characters back stories and then eventually the two stories started to become intertwined with one another. By the end, I found it all to be very interesting and my favorite part of the game wound up being the story.

    The games combat was broken into 6 different types and both of the protagonists had 3 each. I ended up liking Majima’s combat more because it had my 2 favorite combat battle styles. The first one that I liked was called the “Breaker Style” which was break dancing in fighting form. You would do all of these break dancing moves and they would count as attacks against the enemies. It was kind of stupid but fun to do. Although I really liked the “Breaker Style,” my go-to was “Slugger Style” which was where he had a baseball bat. I ultimately liked this style the best because it was very effective and I had the most success with it.

    The game isn’t just story and combat, its a whole open world with a ton of things to do. You can play baseball, you can go to an arcade and play old Sega Arcade games from the 80’s, you can go to a place that has phones where you can hit on women. The weirdest by far there is an “erotic video store.” You pick up these videos out in the open world and then go to this place and watch them. Its so weird because its FMV and the videos are kind of sexual. For example the video that I watched was this girl that was on her knees and very sexually she blew up a balloon for a good minute. It was so odd but the weirdest part is, at the end. The camera cuts to a box of tissues and your character kind of lets out a deep breath.

    The game also has 2 more story driven mini-games. For Kiryu, you’re running around buying up real estate and becoming a real estate mogul. I did that for a little while but it wasn’t that fun to do but it was a quick way to make money. For Majima, he would run a Cabaret Bar which is something that I have never heard of before but I guess they’re common in Japan. Essentially a man goes to this bar alone, sits down and then some girl who is a employees of the bar, sits down with him. She then gives him company by flirting and talking with him. It’s very a odd and kind of sad concept but I won’t get into that. I enjoyed running the Cabaret Bar more because there was more to do with it all. You would hire new girls, re-design the club, level the girls up and change their appearance. Plus there was the actual mini-game of actually running the bar. Patrons would come in and you had to pair the customers personality with one of the girls personality. The more you did this mini-game, the more your girls would level up and the more successful the business would become.

    This is a game that I can highly recommend, it was fun and the story was engaging. Its everything that I like about video games and I look forward to playing more Yakuza games.    … Expand
  64. shiftyman
    May 16, 2017
    9
    Having never played a Yakuza game before, I was expecting your typical shoot n up and everything that goes with it, but much to my surprise, Yakuza 0 is a strongly story driven game, with a very good combat system, a great main story with funny and clever sub stories, and a host of other actiivities to keep you more then entertained, easily one of the best titles of 2017.
  65. tkgnus
    Jan 28, 2017
    9
    I had to make a metacritic account to review this game. This game surprised the **** out of me. It's hilarious and so much entertaining to play. The story line is top notch!
  66. BlakDak666
    Nov 30, 2017
    9
    Yakuza 0 is a excellent demonstration and throwback to not just the entire series, but also a nostalgic reminder that games can still be fun and not rely on graphics and size to make it a selling point. On the surface, Yakuza 0 can look quite negative: its graphics and textures look awful, the stiff animation models, the sometimes buggy AIs of bystanders, the lack of way points or properYakuza 0 is a excellent demonstration and throwback to not just the entire series, but also a nostalgic reminder that games can still be fun and not rely on graphics and size to make it a selling point. On the surface, Yakuza 0 can look quite negative: its graphics and textures look awful, the stiff animation models, the sometimes buggy AIs of bystanders, the lack of way points or proper labels of properties and places, the invisible walls and objects, etc. This alone could spell disaster for any game sold on modern hardware, so it speaks volumes that this game not only holds its ground with its limitations, but drop kicks expectations sky high. That's the greatness of this game; it soars above so many modern titles for keeping the core foundation of satisfying gameplay, great stories ripped right out of action and mafia films with its own originality, metric tons of activities (all surprisingly fun to do) and so much respect for its players that even for $60 this is highway robbery and would have been assaulted by most game companies in the worst of ways. Thankfully, this is a 2 games (you could even argue 3) in 1 that is absolutely worth your time. Let me briefly explain the game more to not mislead.

    Story - Arguably one of the best, well-written, solid voicework and mature tone to a game I have not seen this strong in a long time. While some can argue the dissonant tone of the game might take wind out of its sails, the balancing of this tone is so well executed that it blows my mind. The plot is a bit lengthy and definitely full of dialogue, but watching it was engrossing. The ending went on longer than I expected and even after all of what happen I felt I only scratched the surface of this series.

    Characters - What a hell of a character list. Kazama Kiryu and Majima Goro (the latter in particular) present a air of realism, stoicism, grit and gusto that had me sold after the first chapters they appear in. The other characters of the different families and clans all had complex and deep personas that oozed curiosity. For a game mirroring action and mafia films this was a kickass cast of people. Well done voice acting as well.

    Combat - Satisfying, but I would not call it outstanding overall. It has issues in most of its abilities (even some of the styles themselves) being weak additions and not worth the investment. The repetition can set in after awhile and for those wanting a deeper system you wont find that here. This is more of a old school beatem up (with absolutely amazing if not insane finishers and heat action moves) that carries problems as a result. Regardless, this serves its part and at least keeps me interested. The fourth weapon slot is forgettable and the use of handguns by enemies can be a pain to deal with. Bosses are not really different from normal enemies and easy to abuse, but the QTE events make them memorable and stand out alot.

    Minigames - So many of them, ranging from blackjack to soft core porn videos, karaoke to shogi, this game has it all and it serves the point of "just because you have to be yakuza serious, doesnt mean you cant have yakuza fun". Add to that a real estate and club management and this alone could be its own game on some mobile free stuff. I absolutely loved it all.

    Substories/Challenges: Completing these were overall good with some memorable and well written pieces that had me laughing one minute and sobbing the next. The objectives themselves might be simple or fetchy, but the writing to them is great and is able to keep that dissonant tone consistent throughout with no real sign of weakness. Then you have challenges that test your abilities and skills to learn new moves with a ton to offer you.

    I feel almost insulting this game for not talking more about it, but it is one of those games that is better to play and roll with its crappy initial impression than to have someone fully explain it. I would like to add a few more things to it: the music is well done and memorable, the crafting system is weak, new game plus, free mode and other options to play with another player is insane. Playing over 50+ hours felt like the first course and based on how much more I would still have to do, this would easily be a 100+ hour game to 100% complete, with a exciting energy to it that makes me smile ear to ear.

    As a newcomer to the series, I was initially skeptical but now I consider Yakuza 0 to be a colossal achievement for what it wants to accomplish and feel inclined to play the remasters and the future Yakuza 6. This game is a action packed treat and if you have a PS4 this is an absolute buy, no questions asked. Despite its outdated nature, the beating heart of nostalgia gaming of Yakuza 0 burns as passionately as Kiryu and Majima's spirits and is an excellent game for anyone to play.    … Expand
  67. kekocukeko
    Feb 10, 2017
    9
    Maybe yakuza is best game series for me this game series is masterpiece for me because all yakuza games are perfect for me so i can recommend all yakuza games and start 2 review Graphics= very gut %85Maybe yakuza is best game series for me this game series is masterpiece for me because all yakuza games are perfect for me so i can recommend all yakuza games and start 2 review Graphics= very gut %85 Gameplay=awesome %95 History=super %95 voices= good %80 Overall= 87 pls dont miss this masterpiece… Expand
  68. Felice_Enellen
    Feb 15, 2017
    9
    Excellent storytelling. A good prequel for the rest of the series and a good entry point for new players. Fighting feels tight and upgrades are plentiful. Lots of collecting for OCD folks. The graphics suffer a little for being a cross-generation title (PS3/PS4) but you really don't notice once you get into the game. The small but open world is tightly packed with activity and goals.Excellent storytelling. A good prequel for the rest of the series and a good entry point for new players. Fighting feels tight and upgrades are plentiful. Lots of collecting for OCD folks. The graphics suffer a little for being a cross-generation title (PS3/PS4) but you really don't notice once you get into the game. The small but open world is tightly packed with activity and goals. It'll keep even the most focused players busy and entertained for days, maybe weeks.… Expand
  69. ANITEC20
    Feb 24, 2017
    9
    Great flashback Yakuza game, Glad to see this game on the PS4. I've played others series to understand this game. But I gave it a 9 because of the same repetitive enemy spawning and same fighting. I'd pay $60 if you like the series.
  70. draifu
    Mar 3, 2017
    9
    My first yakuza game and I should say this game makes me want to play the old ones. Good balance between the extremely hilarious side quests in contrast to the serious main story. The characters are interesting too and the game really lets you experience Japan in the 90s, from karaoke to being a pocket circuit racing and punching jerks in the face.
  71. ByYuxiSs
    Mar 9, 2017
    9
    I wish I could go further in this great saga which with us for very recently with this game recently released and for my opinion if the Ps4 continues to receive exclusive of as much quality as the games of this year will be an incredible year.

    A great game with a great theme and history, recommendation 9/10
  72. ZicX
    Mar 12, 2017
    9
    A fantastic game , its a comedy+gang related theme game+hentai+anime+++++
    yakuza check , boobs check , dance check , karaoke check , beat up check, simulation check.
    Do yourself a favor and got this game.
    Cannot wait for yakuza kiwami.
    Its not a perfect game , i rate it 8.5 but since metacritic dont support it so i will rate it a 9
  73. ElleryHQ
    Feb 17, 2019
    9
    Enjoyed every second I've spend in this game. First Kiwami game didn't hooked up me as this one. Arigato.
  74. RagnarokMike
    Jun 3, 2017
    9
    While 2 still has the best story, 0 is otherwise the best Yakuza game to date.

    First and foremost, Majima is instantly my favorite character to play as ever in a beat 'em up, all of his styles mesh well, and are frenetic and fun. His breaker style is the best style in the entire franchise. Kiryu is less fun than any other entry, and I don't think his Beast style really fits the    While 2 still has the best story, 0 is otherwise the best Yakuza game to date.

    First and foremost, Majima is instantly my favorite character to play as ever in a beat 'em up, all of his styles mesh well, and are frenetic and fun. His breaker style is the best style in the entire franchise. Kiryu is less fun than any other entry, and I don't think his Beast style really fits the character, but it makes sense he's not quite as good being so far before, and his other two styles are otherwise great.

    Like any Yakuza game, the story is top notch crime/thriller, this franchise really excels at this genre, even though there can be some dissonance between the seriousness of the main story and everything else you do, it all still feels right. And you will have PLENTY else to do, circuit cart racing, bowling, pool, darts, 4 different arcade game, karaoke and disco mini-games that could be their own games, a management side-quest that could also be made into a full game in it's own right, and so much more. You will not be left with a shortage of things to do in Yakuza.

    The fighting system is still the best this side of actual fighting games, while games like Arkham and Sleeping Dogs offer a bit more crisp of combat, Yakuza surpasses them in sheer variety. Combos with each style, plus heat moves, plus weapons, so much fun.

    Another great addition to the franchise, next up, Kiwami.    … Expand
  75. Rustaman
    Jul 13, 2017
    9
    A fascinating story with dynamic and spectacular battles, intense boss battles,varied and well designed mini-games. There is no localization in Russian - for it is minus one point.
  76. il_fenomeno
    May 1, 2018
    9
    This game got everything, action, great story and what I most liked funny substories and moments coming just outta nowhere, I really asked myself WTF lol, you can just walk on streets and always something comes :) havent seen any same quests/side quests, you really need to know to make game like this, Im glad this game came out of Japan to rest of the world and thx God speech is originalThis game got everything, action, great story and what I most liked funny substories and moments coming just outta nowhere, I really asked myself WTF lol, you can just walk on streets and always something comes :) havent seen any same quests/side quests, you really need to know to make game like this, Im glad this game came out of Japan to rest of the world and thx God speech is original Japanese like it should be with English text, they didnt ruined it with English speech like in nazi movies where nazis speak English :)… Expand
  77. aditya1101
    Apr 23, 2020
    9
    This is my first Yakuza game and I really loved almost everything about it. The humor was excellent, the variety in the gameplay kept things fresh and interesting, and the underlying story was compelling and made me really care about the characters.
  78. MRBeanJoga
    Jan 16, 2022
    9
    An awesome and fun game, solid combat, good story, good characters and bizarre sidequests. All of this things will get you entertained for hours and hours of gameplay, definitely worth checking out.
  79. deathgun
    Aug 6, 2023
    9
    This game was my first yakuza game that I've played and it was awesome especially in story it has the best story in the first 4 games I have played, it was fun playing the game but the fighting was better in next games, though I loved this game .
  80. superpyro296
    Jan 15, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the best games I have played on PS4. The major strength of Yakuza 0 is the story. I felt so engaged in the quest. The voice-acting is amazing and the characters are really believable. There are multiple epic moments during the playthrough. This is the type of game you won't forget.

    There is also a lot of content (I did the main quest + extras) and I spent 92 hours in total. The businesses of the 2 main protagonists are also interesting, especially the cabaret club. Some mini-games are also really well designed. I recommend to try those ones in priority: Karaoke, disco, the sega arcade games, telephone club, bowling and pool.

    I repeat the fact that the story is really engaging and this is something uncommon in most of the other video games I played. I'm afraid I will always have higher expectations now for the stories after I've played Yakuza 0

    My heart would like to give 10/10 to this game but my mind tell me I can't because of a few cons. Here they are:
    1. Graphics look like PS3 or even PS2 sometimes (don't play this game for the graphics)
    2. Some mini-games are not really polished or relevant (didn't like the pocket car racing or the cat fight)

    Otherwise, this game is perfect and I highly recommend it. I would recommend playing the main story + the substories + the business part + a few mini-games. I wouldn't try to platinum this game though as I would need more than 200 hours and I don't think it is worth it

    This game has a lot of content, the gameplay is fun and the story is better than a lot of real movies !    … Expand
  81. deho7
    Sep 24, 2018
    9
    It really feels like you are in Kabukicho in Tokyo except that you are playing the hero yakuza Kiryu Kazama who solves everyone's problem. The story is well written and has a twist to it. The sub stories also teaches you to choose the moral choice and awards you for it. i spent around 100 hours playing this game and it was never a boring moment in it.
  82. Onask
    Oct 16, 2018
    9
    Personalmente, el máximo exponencial de la saga Yakuza (Ryu Ga Gotoku).

    Yakuza 0 no solo es el mejor juego de la saga, sino que además tiene una historia que (voy a permitirmelo decir) es de las mejores que he podido ver en un videojuego (e incluso en el cine). La manera de narrar, la presentación de Kiryu y Majima y el como vas cambiando de personaje durante la historia es simplemente    Personalmente, el máximo exponencial de la saga Yakuza (Ryu Ga Gotoku).

    Yakuza 0 no solo es el mejor juego de la saga, sino que además tiene una historia que (voy a permitirmelo decir) es de las mejores que he podido ver en un videojuego (e incluso en el cine). La manera de narrar, la presentación de Kiryu y Majima y el como vas cambiando de personaje durante la historia es simplemente sublime.

    Personalmente, creo que cuenta con el mejor sistema de combate y con las localizaciones muy bien diferenciadas con ambos personajes.

    Imrpescindible.    … Expand
  83. VokrugVostok
    May 10, 2020
    9
    Отличная, атмосферная игра.
    Сначала скачал кивами, но пройдя её на половину, решил начать с самого начала, то есть с Yakuza 0.
    Вчера выбил платину и остаюсь доволен каждым из 200 часов, проведённых в ней. Если вы устали от гта и хотите попробовать иностранного калорита, то серия якудза для вас. Порок вхождения - минимальный, занятий - сотни, сюжет - до слёз.    Отличная, атмосферная игра.
    Сначала скачал кивами, но пройдя её на половину, решил начать с самого начала, то есть с Yakuza 0.
    Вчера выбил платину и остаюсь доволен каждым из 200 часов, проведённых в ней.
    Если вы устали от гта и хотите попробовать иностранного калорита, то серия якудза для вас.
    Порок вхождения - минимальный, занятий - сотни, сюжет - до слёз.
  84. Jvbcdtm3
    Nov 4, 2018
    9
    Story:9
    Sounds:9
    Gameplay:10
    Mechanics:10
    Details:8
    Characters:9
    Must have !
  85. nieXas
    Dec 22, 2018
    9
    This is like watching a great anime or a mafia movie, but you have to make some actions there... Though I cannot give a maximum review, because this game is limited to what you can do compared to other masterpieces, but the story is a must see.
  86. BulgarianCritic
    Jan 9, 2019
    9
    At the start it goes really slow and its kinda boring but then you hit chapter 2 baby and it becomes one of the best games ever.Amazing characters a story with great twists cool gameplay mechanics and so so so so many things you could do on the side nibba you can play in a bowling tournament and win a chicken who then becomes one of your managers lmao.It has a bittersweet ending which madeAt the start it goes really slow and its kinda boring but then you hit chapter 2 baby and it becomes one of the best games ever.Amazing characters a story with great twists cool gameplay mechanics and so so so so many things you could do on the side nibba you can play in a bowling tournament and win a chicken who then becomes one of your managers lmao.It has a bittersweet ending which made me shed a tear GORO IM ROOTING FOR YOU BUDDY.PLAY DIS GAME MAJIMA CONSTRUCTION 4 LIFE… Expand
  87. tucano
    Nov 22, 2018
    9
    Realmente uma obra prima da Sega. Trazendo o inicio de tudo. Poderia ter legendas em PT, mas nada que um ingles intermediário não resolva.
  88. wastedwallabie
    Oct 12, 2020
    9
    Please buy this masterpiece. The story is the amalgamation of 10 years of yakuza without needing you to know the lore. Combat is smooth and progression is paced well. Without spoiling anything the story is one of the best in the series with incredibly emotionally moment. Not to mention the insane amount of side content. After finishing the story in 50 hours I had only completed 18% of thePlease buy this masterpiece. The story is the amalgamation of 10 years of yakuza without needing you to know the lore. Combat is smooth and progression is paced well. Without spoiling anything the story is one of the best in the series with incredibly emotionally moment. Not to mention the insane amount of side content. After finishing the story in 50 hours I had only completed 18% of the total game.… Expand
  89. Daniel0809
    Jan 24, 2021
    9
    One of my favorite yakuza games. Yakuza is pretty much yakuza each game, id give the entire serial a 9 because they are just so much fun to play and the story line is very good
  90. SHiiK3n
    Aug 11, 2019
    9
    Very slow paced but worth the wait amazing story played with 2 awesome protagonists, gameplay is fun in general, great OSTs will never forget this experience.
    Btw this game makes you run a business with a chicken, Fight off mafia to start modeling the hostess to a open a night club.
  91. Kostas101
    Aug 8, 2021
    9
    This game depicts the dark underworld of Japan perfectly, the story is amazing full of plot twists and crazy moments, incredible writing and great characters, it was such a treat to experience. The gameplay though, it's enjoyable and overall good, but it does get repetitive, you don't really unlock any new moves after the first few hours in the game. The side content is more than enough,This game depicts the dark underworld of Japan perfectly, the story is amazing full of plot twists and crazy moments, incredible writing and great characters, it was such a treat to experience. The gameplay though, it's enjoyable and overall good, but it does get repetitive, you don't really unlock any new moves after the first few hours in the game. The side content is more than enough, there is a lot you can do such as play arcade games, sing in the karaoke, dance in the disco club & maaany more, and there are also some interesting side stories. I got to say, I'm very happy I finally played this game, it was a fantastic experience.… Expand
  92. RED1004games
    May 13, 2019
    9
    An absolute must play both for the fans of the series and newcomers. Even though it is a prequel, my recommendation would be to play the rest of the series first so you could have a better understanding of events that transpire within the game. An enticing story, not my favourite of the entire series but still a serviceable and interesting story with it's hooks, twists and turns. ComplexAn absolute must play both for the fans of the series and newcomers. Even though it is a prequel, my recommendation would be to play the rest of the series first so you could have a better understanding of events that transpire within the game. An enticing story, not my favourite of the entire series but still a serviceable and interesting story with it's hooks, twists and turns. Complex and rewarding combat with enough variety for it to never get boring. My biggest gripe with the game won't really affect the majority of the player base, but it's connected to completing the game (100%). It can get a bit annoying when trying to complete the gambling aspect of the mini games, which can get a bit annoying because of the randomness but then again it's realistic so it doesn't bother me a whole lot.
    TL;DR fun game with good story, interesting combat and a bunch of fun side activities.    … Expand
  93. serges17
    May 27, 2020
    9
    Excellent game. I bought it with discount not expecting very much but happens is one of the best games of this generation.

    Good: + Main story is thrilling with two very charismatic characters, is at the level of games of God of War or Horizon Zero Dawn, uou´ll love Kiryu, Majima, and the secondary characters like Nishiki, **** Sagawa. + Insane amount of content: You will be    Excellent game. I bought it with discount not expecting very much but happens is one of the best games of this generation.

    Good:

    + Main story is thrilling with two very charismatic characters, is at the level of games of God of War or Horizon Zero Dawn, uou´ll love Kiryu, Majima, and the secondary characters like Nishiki, **** Sagawa.

    + Insane amount of content: You will be playing this game a lot because there are a lot of thing to do like doing the substories, minigames (arcade games, darts, pool, toy car races,

    + Excellent music: The bgms are good but this game shines because it has many original songs masterfully done. You´ll listen to this stuff in the Karaoke bar and the Maharaja (disco), very catchy songs which fits pretty well the 80´s style, some of them being parodies of that age hit songs.

    The Bad:

    - Progression system: The game requires a huge amount of grinding from minigames (real state, cabaret club) in order to get the money to buy skills. There is a gap when most people decide not to learn more skills and finish the game with just half of them.

    - Combat system could be better: It´s not solid and doesn´t encourage you to learn all the basics of the combat system, for example, you can beat most parts of Majima easily just with the Breaker style because it´s so broken.

    Love the game, it´s one of those that you will remember for the rest of your life, you will love the characters.    … Expand
  94. itsArtie
    Dec 8, 2020
    9
    Truly beautiful story and character development. Combat is fun with a lot of unique moves, also side quests and mini-games are pretty interesting. Some minor things do get repetitive but nothing that ruins the experience. The game is worth the money, especially now with discounts, I give it 8.7/10.
  95. Mattyc96
    Jan 13, 2022
    9
    Fantastic story. Brutal combat with great bosses. Many well executed minigames. Yakuza 0 almost makes GTA look shallow in comparison. Incredibly well executed. This would almost be a perfect video game if it wasn't for some of the intentional design choices like invisible walls. It can also be kind of annoying trying to restart a minigame or a substory , But that didn't stop me fromFantastic story. Brutal combat with great bosses. Many well executed minigames. Yakuza 0 almost makes GTA look shallow in comparison. Incredibly well executed. This would almost be a perfect video game if it wasn't for some of the intentional design choices like invisible walls. It can also be kind of annoying trying to restart a minigame or a substory , But that didn't stop me from putting over 100 hours my first playthrough.… Expand
  96. Hashirama
    Apr 17, 2020
    9
    Never felt like this about a game since Majoras Mask....no doubt the amount side-quests, mini-games and weird charcters are similar.

    The moon is not falling down, but everyone is going crazy over a small piece of land and that's fantastic. There are also quick time events during boss battles and action levels, which reminds me of naruto storm and heavy rain.
  97. Fallingroy
    Apr 22, 2020
    9
    The story can be a bit hiccupy at times, the big map with tones of sidestories and two protagonists give this game tones of replay values. Even if you aren’t familiar with the series you can still totally enjoy this game.
  98. Limari
    May 6, 2020
    9
    Gran juego , lastima que no esté en español. Su historia atrapa, te puede agotar si eres ansioso, hay que jugarlo con mucha calma
  99. Throughawindow
    May 3, 2020
    9
    This is basically ‘side quests: the game’ but in the best way possible. If your gonna make your game mostly side quests and mini games, at least make them funny and enjoyable like this. That said, I do really wish the main story was longer and stronger.
  100. VashloveNpeace
    Jul 24, 2020
    9
    If you like the yakuza series then you will like this installment. This is basically an origin story to the yakuza series. And Goro Majima is an awesome character. So much feel in this game.
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Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best PS4 Game of 2017
22
#22 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
19
#19 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 87 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 87
  3. Negative: 0 out of 87
  1. RPG Fan
    Aug 8, 2018
    85
    Yakuza 0 is a lot of Yakuza, showing a great deal of excess, brilliance and occasional frustration in equal fashion. There's lots and lots to do, a great story to breathe in, and wonderful characters who play well off each other. At the same time, 0 lacks some of the innovations and gameplay conceits that came with later titles, and it's also just as frustrating in places as some of the franchise's more egregious offenders.
    Read full review
  2. PLAY! Zine
    Oct 12, 2017
    90
    Yakuza Zero is a fantastic game. Spectacular main story combined with great diversity of sub-stories and solid gameplay create a rather unique game.
    Read full review
  3. Games Master UK
    Apr 2, 2017
    90
    A fantastically bonkers open-world gem that finally opens up the magic of the series to everyone. [March 2017, p.64]
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