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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Chapa9dj
    Mar 23, 2017
    10
    For those of us who loved Shenmue I & II, this is a must. It is exceptionally good, the story is so well written and the characters so good. I really like Kiryu, it reminds me or Ryo from Shenmue in some ways, but Majima is amazing.
    The side-quests are hilarious and the game is so bizarre i just can't put it off. I'm not even half the game and i'm over 40 hours doing a few main missions,    For those of us who loved Shenmue I & II, this is a must. It is exceptionally good, the story is so well written and the characters so good. I really like Kiryu, it reminds me or Ryo from Shenmue in some ways, but Majima is amazing.
    The side-quests are hilarious and the game is so bizarre i just can't put it off. I'm not even half the game and i'm over 40 hours doing a few main missions, but mostly side-quests, messing around in the city, playing in the arcades, Ufo Catcher, Darts, Bowling and many other activities.

    I'm looking forward to Yakuza Kiwami and i hope Sega brings them all to the west. I would love to see a remake of Yakuza 2 and bring all the PS3 versions to PS4.
    Truly great stuff, one of the best games i've played this year and would recommend to anyone.

    Wish i had more time to play it. 3 or 4 hours a day is not enough.    … Expand
  2. tbouniverse
    Mar 9, 2018
    10
    I had so much fun every moment with this game. Kiryu and Majima are such awesome mains. The story is so interesting that I found myself pulling off 5-hour sessions because I could not contain the hype.

    If you were expecting a Japanese GTA, you're wrong. This is a complete original. Even if this isn't your type of game, you have to try it.
  3. PictoPirate
    Oct 2, 2019
    10
    Yakuza 0 is the antitheses of 99% of open world games today. It is packed full of content that isn't just mindless repetitive filler. You will run a hostess club, act in a music video, buy porn for a little kid, take part in underground fights against serial killers, perform job interviews and even go fishing. That is without mentioning the plethora of random mini games including bowling,Yakuza 0 is the antitheses of 99% of open world games today. It is packed full of content that isn't just mindless repetitive filler. You will run a hostess club, act in a music video, buy porn for a little kid, take part in underground fights against serial killers, perform job interviews and even go fishing. That is without mentioning the plethora of random mini games including bowling, dance battles and a fully stocked arcade with full versions of Outrun, Space Harrier and even those little teddy grabbing claw machines. To say the game is packed with things to do is an understatement.

    Leaving aside all the random fun there is a cracking single player focused game with an engaging story, wonderfully deep characters and a fun, accessible fighting system. The story will have you laughing and crying, in a weird organised crime soap opera kind of way. This was my first look at the Yakuza series and I cannot wait to try the next one to find out what Majima and Kazuma get up to next.    … Expand
  4. Jtbone417
    Mar 2, 2017
    10
    This is my introduction to the Yakuza universe, and it did not disappoint. This game is an absolute masterpiece in every way. Fantastic story, hilarious interactions, fabulous mini-games, and enough distractions to keep the attention of an ADHD patient who skipped his meds. Everything about this game is perfect and I cannot wait to be introduced to more.
  5. Chiyou
    Mar 5, 2017
    10
    My favorite in the series, it has storytelling like no other game. The combat system has come a very long way, there are so many styles. The mini games are really good too, and whenever i have a chance to be in 1980's japan to play some outrun at the arcades you can bet i'm interested.
  6. RememberTheAGES
    Jul 16, 2018
    10
    When I first started playing Yakuza 0 I wasn't sure what to expect. Chapter 1 was mildly interesting and I wasn't sure why everyone was so very much excited about this series. As I continued playing though the game ramped up quickly and the protagonists Kiryu and Majima really started to become fleshed out.

    I'm not even sure how to explain this game. There is so much to do in Yakuza 0    When I first started playing Yakuza 0 I wasn't sure what to expect. Chapter 1 was mildly interesting and I wasn't sure why everyone was so very much excited about this series. As I continued playing though the game ramped up quickly and the protagonists Kiryu and Majima really started to become fleshed out.

    I'm not even sure how to explain this game. There is so much to do in Yakuza 0 and everything for the most part is fun from doing the main story to playing baseball or sharing your phone card collection as you come the street for all the hidden ones to oh so much more. I would do a chapter and then hit up mini games to break of the seriousness of the main story which gets ridiculously good quite quickly and becomes one of the most amazing crime dramas I have ever seen!

    From a game that started off as unsure why everyone loved so much to becoming one of my favorite games speaks volumes to this series. This game made me a fan for life and I have the long journey of obtaining the rest of the series to see how everything turns out.

    I love this game, and I love you Kiiiiiryu-Chan!    … Expand
  7. Hilarious
    Jul 24, 2022
    10
    I wasn't sure if this game would be for me. Gameplay looked like some old clunky game, it was an open world with no car driving and a really tiny city. Combat - cartoonish, plot - convoluted, but... When I finally played it I was hooked right from the start. Everything works so fine here.
  8. Cy_Chosis
    Dec 14, 2021
    10
    This is one of the best (collections of) games I've ever played. The main game is good, but there's also dozens of mini games within the game which combined are better than most full games I've played without even taking the main game (which is good) into account. The only minus I can think of is the ill-thought-out fact that it allows you to skip the fully voiced and animated storyThis is one of the best (collections of) games I've ever played. The main game is good, but there's also dozens of mini games within the game which combined are better than most full games I've played without even taking the main game (which is good) into account. The only minus I can think of is the ill-thought-out fact that it allows you to skip the fully voiced and animated story scenes, but you cannot skip the boring text dialog scenes.… Expand
  9. hazartas
    Jan 7, 2018
    10
    My personal GOTY of 2017, Yakuza 0 is probably the peak of human creative genius. This game is the best gift you can buy for yourself, don't even hesitate, just buy right now!
  10. mac_s1
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Fantastic game, it has amazing presentation, a story that is completely unpredictable, and satisfying gameplay. At times the game may seem a little slow however when it gets going, it booms. You can be sure when there's a cutscene **** about to go down, first 5 chapters alone and I am already loving it and very much into the game.
  11. SuperJamaican
    Mar 26, 2017
    10
    Wow what can I say...1st would be if you are a fan of old school arcade brawlers like final fight or streets of rage this will be right up your alley. I've never played a yakuza game before and the only reason I took interest into this game is because of Angry Joe. That being said while 60 bucks being spent I decided to give it a go. Its been a while since I've felt so overwhelmed withWow what can I say...1st would be if you are a fan of old school arcade brawlers like final fight or streets of rage this will be right up your alley. I've never played a yakuza game before and the only reason I took interest into this game is because of Angry Joe. That being said while 60 bucks being spent I decided to give it a go. Its been a while since I've felt so overwhelmed with joy while a play a story driven game. The story while boring at first is excellent, and its great how the sub character Majima literally outshines the main character Kiryu, makes for some great balance tho.

    The fighting mechanics are simple enough for anyone to pick this up but deep enough to keep you entertained throughout the entire game. Enemies for the most part are very varied (depending on current situation in story) and pose a challenge every now and then. Story is great but if you cant tolerate READING probably not for you since entire game is done in Japanese. I actually prefer it that way but thats just my preference and to each their own. Which comes to my favorite part of the game....Sound?!?!? Yes the soundtrack to this game is ultra top tier, voice acting the best ive seen in a game yet (check out the lieutenant Awano) and sound effects are excellent. You will just enjoy grating an enemies face against concrete or beating the hell out of them with all allotted weapons.

    If you own a ps4 and you have time and havent given this a try yet shame on you. If your on the fence on this one at least red box it if you can find it that is, its worth it.    … Expand
  12. Deependra
    Aug 7, 2018
    10
    Yakuza series is known for it's brutal action by protagonist and for it's story. The yakuza world is not so large when we compare to other games, but it has many many side activities which are interesting as well. The game design is good. Since you can smash out many combos while the heat is on. There are unique style of both the playable characters and I can guarantee you that not evenYakuza series is known for it's brutal action by protagonist and for it's story. The yakuza world is not so large when we compare to other games, but it has many many side activities which are interesting as well. The game design is good. Since you can smash out many combos while the heat is on. There are unique style of both the playable characters and I can guarantee you that not even for a second you will get bored or skip the cut scenes because of it's interesting plot. What's so special about this game?
    1. Game effects while you are combating against enemies.
    2. Good combat style with alots of variations
    3. Great story mode with plot twist
    4. Great side activities.
    If you are bored of non japanese styled games and would love to taste something different, then what are you waiting for? Just grab this game blindly. :)    … Expand
  13. pongkrit03
    Sep 16, 2018
    10
    My first Yakuza I have great experience more than I have expected. I love the story very much both main quests and side quests. I would say this game has the BEST WRITER EVER. Main story is intense and has a lot of plot twists and side stories, some are hilarious, some made me shed tears. Yakuza 0 is the epitome of how to create great story for a game. GREAT MINI GAMES are also one thingMy first Yakuza I have great experience more than I have expected. I love the story very much both main quests and side quests. I would say this game has the BEST WRITER EVER. Main story is intense and has a lot of plot twists and side stories, some are hilarious, some made me shed tears. Yakuza 0 is the epitome of how to create great story for a game. GREAT MINI GAMES are also one thing that need to be mentioned. This game contains several great mini games and some are super fun, such as Cabaret Club, Real estate business. Seriously I spent 60 hours+ into the game, more than half are from mini games and side quests. It is safe to say that Yakuza is one of the best games in term of making mini games as well.

    Combat system is good, not the best though. It is more like Street fighter in 3 dimensions, rather than other action games like Batman. The way enemies attacking you is kind of random, but it is still fun nonetheless. There are many cool animations when you use heat gauge, especially with new environment or equipment. It is subjective one but those who like fighting should like this one as well.

    Next is cutscenes. There are many cutscenes here. and again ONE OF THE BEST CUTSCENES game I ever saw in my 20 years gamer. Facial expressions look so real, they thrill me every time. Voice acting is top notch too.

    One last thing I have to mention is the soundtracks. This game has ones of THE BEST SOUNDTRACKS ever. You may not notice while you playing the game because you may be busy with fighting but if you check out Youtube, there are tons of soundtracks and most of them are great, especially Kuze song.

    In conclusion, YAKUZA 0 strongest strengths are STORY, MINIGAMES, CUTSCENES and SOUNDTRACKS. Combat is good too but it is subjective one. Game length is long. No negative comes to my mind at all. Definitely deserves my 10/10 score. However, this game has a ton of texts to read and sometimes long cutscenes, so those who don't like reading, might not enjoy as much. I will look forward to play KIWAMI 1 and KIWAMI 2.    … Expand
  14. lebk2440
    Sep 17, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a game, from the incredible story to the engaging combat, side stories and mini games, Yakuza 0 is a masterpiece. 

    The story is the highlight of the game, the characters are really well developed. The voice acting is fantastic, even though I do not speak Japanese, I could really feel the emotion of the characters. The cast of voice actors fits extremely well with the character design, especially Kuze, damn his voice fit that character like a glove. It works so well because they seemed to have modeled the characters after their voice actor. The story is a prequel to the other Yakuza games, which I have not played yet. You follow parallel stories of two characters, Majima Goro and Kazuma Kiryu, which inevitably end up intertwining as you approach the end. Both of these characters have strong backgrounds and their stories are so well constructed it's like watching a very good movie but in a very good video game. The cut scene can be quite long but not once did I mind them, I just wanted more. When the credits rolled I was just sad that the story ended there, but good thing there are 6 other Yakuza games ahead of me. 

    The combat gameplay is phenomenal, Majima and Kiryu are just unbeatable in combat. They can literally take on armies of men, which is hilarious and over the top fun. The special combat moves are crazy fun and brutal, like I don't know how these people can get up after you smash a heavy motorcycle on them!

    There's a ton of mini games, like darts, billiard, baseball, old Sega arcade, a very intricate RC car competition network and so much more. You could spend hours and hours just playing through these. 

    You also have the option of watching video of real Japanese women in bikinis, that was definitely strange to see in a video game to say the least. 

    There's a huge side quest where you start your own real estate business. You buy properties, invest in them, manage them, and can farm a whole lot of cash really fast that way. Make sure you do some side quest first to recruit good investor, managers or security guards. 

    I could go on and on about this game. I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to play the next one.    … Expand
  15. Kai82
    Jan 19, 2020
    10
    The best game in the Yakuza series. It shows the beginnings of the later Legends Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Maijima within a genuine and compelling story. I will praise the developers for the story and the well implemented characters. The main story is about a huge governmental founded construction project in Tokyo where the planing phase is nearly finished when it is discovered that a smallThe best game in the Yakuza series. It shows the beginnings of the later Legends Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Maijima within a genuine and compelling story. I will praise the developers for the story and the well implemented characters. The main story is about a huge governmental founded construction project in Tokyo where the planing phase is nearly finished when it is discovered that a small piece of estate (The empty lot) is not purchased and the owner is nowhere to be found. This can stop the project so the small piece of estate is worth hundreds of millions if not billions of Yen. Now the struggle for power and money begins as the Yakuza and others want use this opportunity for their gains. All characters are connected somewhere to this or get dragged into and of cause there is a lot more to it than you think. The game starts with the story of Kiryu for 2 chapters, then switches to Maijima and later back and forth between them. At first you are puzzled how the stories are connected but with each twist new pieces of the puzzle are connected and unfold an incredible story with a satisfying conclusion. Be warned! There will be sad revelations and victims. Destiny has often a cruel hand. For the characters: Kiryu is the stoic archetype of a hero who has his code of honor and while he will struggle will not fall or falter to do what is right. Goro Maijima is the complete opposite from the other games. This should anger fans but his story arc and development is so believable and natural that no one can complain. Then there are the higher ups in the Dojima family. Each one is in competition against each other. There is Daisuke Kuze while he is the oldest guy is still a formidable adversary and gave one advice that can be used in real live: As long as you can stand up (again) and continue you are not truly beaten”. Then there is Hiroki Awano which is a master of persuation (He will make offers you cant refuse;-). The last of the three lieutenants is Keji Shibusawa, he is the man of few words who works behind the scenes and the person you should always be paying attention. The patriarch Sohei Dojima is a schemer and plotter which uses the lever of competition on his lieutenants and stays behind to avoid troubles. He was only a plot device in Yakuza 1 and they gave him a lot of personality here. There is also the friendship / brotherly relation between Kiryu and Akira Nishikiyama. This is a welcome backstory addition as it makes the story of Yakuza 1 deeper (Wont spoil). For the others: Tetsu Tachibana is a force to be recognized and with Makoto Miura one of the best additions this game makes to the franchise (Cant spoil). There is also the story of Tsukasa Sagawa who is an interesting character and schemer with lot of connections who is holding Maijimas string. At last there is Jun Oda the right hand of Tachibana. He has made a past mistake that haunts his live. Lets talk about the greatest strength of the Yakuza games: The side activities / quest. While the games are probably the smallest open world games they are filled to the brim. You've got a lot of side quest which gave you money items or unlock characters for other mini games. They have arcade games of the Sega classics Outrun, Super Hang On, Space Harrier and Fantasy Zone. You can play Poker, Blackjack, Roulette, Bowling, Pool, Darts, Shogi, Mahjong, Koi-Koi and Cho Han (I am probably forgetting some activities). You can bet on Cat Fights (No not animals), participate in Pocket Racing, try to get Home-runs at the battering center or play a fishing mini game. There is of cause an Underground fighting arena and a Boss walking on the streets you can fight for insane amounts of money. You lose all your money if you lost except you have the right item then you lose only a big amount. The boss gets stronger after each defeat. Two side activities have their own story arc and an awesome reward for completing (Both are also a good source for money). There is the real estate business for Kiryu. Where you try to beat the leaders of the districts and their shady businesses. You do this by acquirement and development of real estate objects until you became the top dog in the district which leads to a boss fight. My favorite is the Cabaret Club Management for Maijima. You become the manager of a club and try to compete with the other higher ranked clubs. You recruit, train and outfit your team. The mechanics are easy to learn with some depth. The battle system is also really good. You will get 3 styles and eventually unlock an ultimate style. All styles can be upgraded and you can unlock new attacks / moves. This gives you a good amount of variety. I want also mention the cameos. Because its the eighties you will met Steven Spielberg, Michael Jackson and Vladimir Putin (Last one is not named but I will bet money that's really him). Overall this is a masterpiece I can recomened to evryone.… Expand
  16. Bitrip
    Jan 27, 2017
    10
    This is the best RPG I've played on the PS4 so far. The combat mechanics are solid and the story is good. The real draw however, is the city itself. There is so much to do and most of it is really fun. There are minigames galore, secret/hidden sidequests, and so much more. If you are on the fence like I was, hopefully this is enough to push you over!
  17. slim1985
    Jul 18, 2018
    10
    i'm a fan since 2005 i have played the original and i loved the series i have played all yakuza games except y5 and dead souls but i will for sure. yakuza 0 is the most complete yakuza game imho and one of the best games i have ever played thanks to the deepemotional story and fun gameplay i would highly recommend this game to someone who want to spend 6-7 hours a day doing some storyi'm a fan since 2005 i have played the original and i loved the series i have played all yakuza games except y5 and dead souls but i will for sure. yakuza 0 is the most complete yakuza game imho and one of the best games i have ever played thanks to the deepemotional story and fun gameplay i would highly recommend this game to someone who want to spend 6-7 hours a day doing some story missions and getting lost in fun mini games simply this game is BIG i have spent 160 hours and enjoyed evey bit of it a truly masterpiece… Expand
  18. don_tim
    Oct 28, 2017
    10
    Excellent story! Addictive gameplay!!! This game was a hell of a ride and such a great experience. This was the first Yakuza game i've ever played. Now I'm up for the challenge to complete them all.
  19. Bolkie
    Feb 13, 2017
    10
    It's hard to explain how special Yakuza 0 is, I'll try though.
    Had never heard of the Yakuza series until I noticed a PSN friend of mine playing the game for hours on end, every day. His enthusiasm led me to buy the game, that was 10 days ago. Since then, I've been playing it every day, and when I'm not, I'm looking forward to the next time I will be able to play it.
    Hard to compare to    It's hard to explain how special Yakuza 0 is, I'll try though.
    Had never heard of the Yakuza series until I noticed a PSN friend of mine playing the game for hours on end, every day. His enthusiasm led me to buy the game, that was 10 days ago. Since then, I've been playing it every day, and when I'm not, I'm looking forward to the next time I will be able to play it.
    Hard to compare to any other game I've played before, but already it's at least in the top five of my favourite games. The story is so good, better than any other story I've experienced. It's like watching a thriller. On the other hand there is a lot of humour and the sub stories......the sub stories. Wow, they are sometimes very corny, but oh so nice play.
    The mini games: bowling, batting, betting, Outrun, Claw contraption game, Mahjong, darts, pool.... They are worth buying the game for alone. And...there are erotic video's lol. I couldn't believe it. For some reason these video's fit perfectly into the game without being distasteful. Only at chapter 5 (13/14 chapters?), and it's getting better and better. At least a hundred hours of fun in this game.
    The fighting: this is a main part of the game, and it's incredibly fun, and has a lot of depth.
    This is a game which will appeal to a very wide gaming audience, in spite of it's "niche" history.
    Enough written, time to get back to the game!
    Take care.    … Expand
  20. Fishyfishy
    Mar 26, 2017
    10
    As someone whose never played a Yakuza game before, I've been completely blown away. The story is gripping and intense, the combat is fun and satisfying, and the side missions are incredibly goofy and entertaining distractions from the main story. Don't hesitate to jump into the series with this game, it is well worth it.
  21. Seyta
    Jan 31, 2022
    10
    The best Yakuza of the entiere serie. If you hesitate between yakuza dragon and this one to start, definitely play this one.
  22. Derpmeowslurp
    Nov 23, 2018
    10
    Giving any media a 10/10 score always seems so ridiculous when I see it anywhere. In any media, you want to be entertained, sometimes you look for depth of story or some emotional connection. In Yakuza 0, there's a little bit of everything and it takes almost none of it seriously. The exception being the main story line, which is packed full of drama. It's such a bizarre juxtapositionGiving any media a 10/10 score always seems so ridiculous when I see it anywhere. In any media, you want to be entertained, sometimes you look for depth of story or some emotional connection. In Yakuza 0, there's a little bit of everything and it takes almost none of it seriously. The exception being the main story line, which is packed full of drama. It's such a bizarre juxtaposition between the wackiness of the side stories and the seriousness of the main story. Somehow, it works incredibly well. If I had to rate Yakuza 0's main story, I'd give it a 9, it was compelling and interesting and despite the heavy use of cutscenes and dialog, I still never lost interest.

    What sets it apart from most media, for me, is the enormous amount of fun things to do in the game both during the story and after the story. I have spent more time playing mahjong and dancing at the disco than I have in the main story. It's packed full of fun content and worth every penny. For a medium that ultimately boils down to whether you'll have fun, I can't imagine anyone not finding something here they will love and keeping coming back to.    … Expand
  23. SofaTrooper
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    Yakuza 0 is one of the most surprisingly brilliant games I have played in recent years. Amazing story with some of the best acting in gaming. Lots of content and crazy fun. Absolute Gold. 10/10
  24. MuheMadrid
    Mar 16, 2023
    10
    I'm not big on Yakuza games and certainly not big on JRPGs. But this game makes me consider playing the other Yakuza titles.
    It has one of the best video game stories with so many twists and turns, lots of sidequests and a tonne of extra content and fun activities for explorers. The gameplay is solid and fun , and the 1980s Japan setting is flawlessly captured.
    Story 10/10 Characters    I'm not big on Yakuza games and certainly not big on JRPGs. But this game makes me consider playing the other Yakuza titles.
    It has one of the best video game stories with so many twists and turns, lots of sidequests and a tonne of extra content and fun activities for explorers. The gameplay is solid and fun , and the 1980s Japan setting is flawlessly captured.
    Story 10/10
    Characters 10/10
    Graphics and Atmosphere 10/10
    Sound and Music 10/10
    Gameplay 9/10    … Expand
  25. VelvetYork
    Feb 27, 2019
    10
    If I didn't give a game like this or Persona 5 a 10/10, it'd be a pretty useless number while reviewing, one of my favorite games of the modern age of gaming.

    Great characters, great writing, quality content, super long to give it more value, some of the best side-quests in gaming (coined substories), unique combat that is simple but has depth when you actually level it up and    If I didn't give a game like this or Persona 5 a 10/10, it'd be a pretty useless number while reviewing, one of my favorite games of the modern age of gaming.

    Great characters, great writing, quality content, super long to give it more value, some of the best side-quests in gaming (coined substories), unique combat that is simple but has depth when you actually level it up and understand it better, etc etc.

    Characters = everyone, including henchman of bad guys are believable/have their own motiviations, even comedy based substory characters.

    Writing = Melodramatic but is an extremely interesting story that is competently written, better than a lot of games that get unwarranted praise for their writing.

    Quality Content = A lot of meaningful content, from stuff like karaoke, to a whole game related to running a hostess club, etc etc. Not only is the story lengthy and interesting/hype, the side content is worth doing. This includes substories which range from touching, to hilarious wackiness (done right)

    Combat is 3d beat em up where you do combos, but also have stuff like heat actions, heat bars, parries, iframes, having to dance around many opponents who aren't going to attack you one at a time, weapons, changing stances, etc etc.

    Just an amazing game that everyone should try, just know that it has as low start.    … Expand
  26. Hellome7
    Feb 10, 2017
    10
    I have played practically all Yakuza games and by far this is my favorite! Not only because technically speaking it's objectively the best but also the story and the characters are top notch. The game feels a bit silly at start but trust me, wait until it catches up and hey, you'll be in for a treat!
  27. bxgdvn
    Jul 30, 2019
    10
    Best game. Darts, bowling, pool, ramen, schoolgirl panties, arcades, fishing.

    And yes in the end, awesome fighting and exquisite cinema level cutscenes.
  28. scruffy_77
    Nov 22, 2017
    10
    Well what can I say, I refer to metacritic for game reviews based on user opinion rather than corporate reviews, the latest call of duty reviews showed the country mile of difference between user and company reviews on all platforms! Based the reviews below I delved into this new world of Yakuza. At first I was apprehensive, thought perhaps I had made a bad decision, but I kept on... andWell what can I say, I refer to metacritic for game reviews based on user opinion rather than corporate reviews, the latest call of duty reviews showed the country mile of difference between user and company reviews on all platforms! Based the reviews below I delved into this new world of Yakuza. At first I was apprehensive, thought perhaps I had made a bad decision, but I kept on... and oh my days, this game has immersed me beyond reproach. The story is epic, I could have never guessed the way it would turn out. The side stories, the mini games, the club management, the real estate. The laughs I had at the telephone dating. Sega have outdone themselves, it is such a shame a game of this calibre has no media coverage in the west. Yes the graphics are not the best and not cutting edge... But if you want pointless eye candy that looks good with no substance then purchase one of the many other titles currently available. For a newbie Yakuza player, this has been amazing, entertaining, funny, addictive and immersive. Sega, a hat tip from my childhood with Sonic, and a hat tip as an adult for Yakuza... In a word, brilliant!! This game can only deserve a 10/10 from me.… Expand
  29. The_BlueRose
    May 19, 2018
    10
    Yakuza 0 delivers a brand new story with two characters: Kiryu and Majima in a non stop action game that surprises as more as you play.

    - The story is great, with to cities to play and two diferent stories with superb moments. Also subsries are fun as hell and the metagames (real-state and caba-club) are really fun to play. - The combat: with 3 combat (4 with the ultimate) styles    Yakuza 0 delivers a brand new story with two characters: Kiryu and Majima in a non stop action game that surprises as more as you play.

    - The story is great, with to cities to play and two diferent stories with superb moments. Also subsries are fun as hell and the metagames (real-state and caba-club) are really fun to play.

    - The combat: with 3 combat (4 with the ultimate) styles each character that gives the player oportunities to face enemies and change them fluently. Heat actions and progresion are unique, investing money to get habilities in a charming skill menu that shows the japanesse culture and style.

    - Graphically: can be improved, there is an old engine with its flaws but running at 60 fps. The main characters models are quite good and cinematics are at other level.

    - In general: is a great game that gives a lot of surprises and leaves no one indiferent about its quality.    … Expand
  30. Skitzofreniq
    May 16, 2017
    10
    Wow. I had never played a Yakuza game before and after finishing with Yakuza 0 I kind of realised I've been missing something great my whole life. The main story is so well written, the Japanese voice-acting is amazing, the cutscenes are beautiful, the sub-stories are hilarious. I can't remember the last time I was laughing my ass off this much with a video game. The gameplay is superb asWow. I had never played a Yakuza game before and after finishing with Yakuza 0 I kind of realised I've been missing something great my whole life. The main story is so well written, the Japanese voice-acting is amazing, the cutscenes are beautiful, the sub-stories are hilarious. I can't remember the last time I was laughing my ass off this much with a video game. The gameplay is superb as well since you have six different fighting styles to choose from which gives you variation.

    I just finished the main story in 40+ hours while doing substories here and there that crossed my path and I was only on 26% completion. If that doesn't give you your bang for your buck than I don't know what will.

    All I can say now is that they got a new fan in me and I can't wait for Yakuza Kiwami, which comes out in August 2017. DAY ONE PURCHASE FOR SURE!    … Expand
  31. eyelidsz
    May 22, 2017
    10
    Yakuza 0 is another great entry in the series, and may just be my favorite so far. Like previous Yakuza titles, it features memorable characters, strong writing, funny side stories, and fun mini-games. The addition of 4 fight styles for each of our playable characters Kiryu and Majima improves the gameplay from previous entries. Simply put, fights have never been better in the series.Yakuza 0 is another great entry in the series, and may just be my favorite so far. Like previous Yakuza titles, it features memorable characters, strong writing, funny side stories, and fun mini-games. The addition of 4 fight styles for each of our playable characters Kiryu and Majima improves the gameplay from previous entries. Simply put, fights have never been better in the series. Also, the soundtrack is once again fantastic and enhances the experience in its own way. Yakuza Kiwami is next!… Expand
  32. TheT800Warrior
    Mar 17, 2017
    10
    Where do i even begin with this game! It is just absolutely amazing there is no other game that delivers that ultimate badass feeling you get when you fight your way through an entire bulding and dropkick a dude out of a window while epic music plays, it is truly a one of a kind and an absolute blast! Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the entire series so it's great for newcomers and long time fansWhere do i even begin with this game! It is just absolutely amazing there is no other game that delivers that ultimate badass feeling you get when you fight your way through an entire bulding and dropkick a dude out of a window while epic music plays, it is truly a one of a kind and an absolute blast! Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the entire series so it's great for newcomers and long time fans alike. The entire game is 60FPS which makes for very smooth gameplay which feels great to play. The minigames are tons of fun and addicting especially the cabaret management. The story is absolutely amazing as well as the soundtrack. it is jam packed with so much great content a single play is easily 50-130+ hours of gameplay. i highly recommend this game to anyone who wants a fresh revitalizing gaming experience!… Expand
  33. megabear
    Feb 9, 2017
    10
    I bought three GTA series, and didn't enjoy any of them. After a while everything felt like a chore. In Yakuza 0 I found myself actually caring about the main character and look forward to the story progression. I wish I pre-ordered it and saved myself some money but oh well, it was worth my $60.
  34. TheMegaGodz
    Nov 5, 2020
    10
    An absolutely phenomenal game! Yakuza 0 is one of those games if I wanted to find a fault in, I'd have to get hyper-analytical and nitpicky. Amazing story, great characters, an absolute banger of a soundtrack, and much more await anyone plays this. If you're a Yakuza fan, it's a must play. If not, I still highly recommend it!
  35. DeathDrager
    Jul 27, 2020
    10
    You can literally play all the yakuza games then play yakuza 0, and you can replay the yakuza games once again with different opinion about the characters and story.
    A masterpiece, Majima goro is the real Protaginist here.
  36. waatwaat
    Feb 3, 2017
    10
    Easily one of the best game this year. Many fun mini games and side quests. Master piece plot and story telling. You can't miss it! Get much more fun from this than GTA 5.
  37. BrandonTjon
    Jan 24, 2017
    10
    Bringing back the fun in video games

    The Yakuza series deliverers yet again with a awesome addition. This time it's set in the 80s. The plot follows both Kiryu & Majima and is executed really well. While the first two chapters are a bit slow the rest of the game is so much fun. The Main story is really dark and grim but is balanced really well with the side content. I really love the    Bringing back the fun in video games

    The Yakuza series deliverers yet again with a awesome addition. This time it's set in the 80s. The plot follows both Kiryu & Majima and is executed really well. While the first two chapters are a bit slow the rest of the game is so much fun. The Main story is really dark and grim but is balanced really well with the side content. I really love the crazy side of the game with all the weird subplots and mini games. They make the game a unique experience. Definitely recommended for both newcomers and fans.    … Expand
  38. Jus7ice
    Jan 24, 2017
    10
    It hasn't been a long time since Yakuza 5 released on NA. And Yakuza 0 improves it in a lot of ways. Nagoshi-san is one of those developers that knows how to improve a franchise over the years.

    10/10
  39. fantasticknight
    Jan 24, 2017
    10
    Yakuza - this is one of the best series of games for all the existence of the gaming industry! This game is simply gorgeous. Not nearly turned bad, but on the contrary has become more colorful and better.
    Story+
    Main Character+
    Gameplay+
    Graphics+
    Music+
    Magnificent quests+
    Be sure to play this masterpiece!
  40. kojishindo
    Jan 24, 2017
    10
    One of the best games in the "Yakuza" series.
    Charismatic characters and villains, nice story, a looot of substories, funny minigames, cool battles with a mature battle system, wonderful soundtrack and the nice taste of 80s.
    The graphics is a little outdated but at least it run at 60fps. It will take you 20-30 hours for the main story and around 100 hours if you want to take the    One of the best games in the "Yakuza" series.
    Charismatic characters and villains, nice story, a looot of substories, funny minigames, cool battles with a mature battle system, wonderful soundtrack and the nice taste of 80s.
    The graphics is a little outdated but at least it run at 60fps.
    It will take you 20-30 hours for the main story and around 100 hours if you want to take the platinum trophy.
    And being a prequel will be enjoyable even by the new comers! You have absolutely to play it :D    … Expand
  41. c25ha2U
    Jan 27, 2017
    10
    Played Yakuza 1-4, did not played Yakuza 5, and based on my experience this is a huge improvement. Stationary bystanders do not move like robots by moving their head and not their body. Not going to lie since a lot of features have been implemented, it took me awhile to get used to the game like the stance change between rush and brawler. Also seems that they "nerfed" the weapons beingPlayed Yakuza 1-4, did not played Yakuza 5, and based on my experience this is a huge improvement. Stationary bystanders do not move like robots by moving their head and not their body. Not going to lie since a lot of features have been implemented, it took me awhile to get used to the game like the stance change between rush and brawler. Also seems that they "nerfed" the weapons being picked up and increase the fighting damage.… Expand
  42. BeerNinjaUK
    Feb 21, 2017
    10
    I loved this game, it's a lot fun. Sure it isn't the best graphically but I believe it is a port of a PS3 game anyway and in my opinion, graphics aren't the most important thing.

    The game has loads to do; the main storyline was gripping, there are also a load of fun sidequests and awesome mini games. I have seen some people say the battle system is old or outdated or whatever, but again    I loved this game, it's a lot fun. Sure it isn't the best graphically but I believe it is a port of a PS3 game anyway and in my opinion, graphics aren't the most important thing.

    The game has loads to do; the main storyline was gripping, there are also a load of fun sidequests and awesome mini games. I have seen some people say the battle system is old or outdated or whatever, but again in my opinion, it is a lot of fun.

    There is a lot of humour in the game and this combined with the awesome world and engaging main story, fun side quests and mini games, Yakuza 0 is one of my top games.    … Expand
  43. VivaLaMayo
    Feb 21, 2017
    10
    Fun,Fun,Fun and more Fun.Probably one of the best Yakuza games in the series.A crazy but intriguing storyline that keeps you glued to the game,never a dull moment in the game apart from the old silly objective lol.But besides the storyline what you can do within the world of yakuza 0 is very interesting and extroadinarary i was left speechless but in a good way.I dont want to spoilFun,Fun,Fun and more Fun.Probably one of the best Yakuza games in the series.A crazy but intriguing storyline that keeps you glued to the game,never a dull moment in the game apart from the old silly objective lol.But besides the storyline what you can do within the world of yakuza 0 is very interesting and extroadinarary i was left speechless but in a good way.I dont want to spoil anything by mentioning some of stuff you can experience with the game but going to say,this game is must buy,this is a real gangster game with tonnes of fun to be had and will put a smile on your face everytime you indulge into the world of Yakuza 0.(10//10 for pure fun and thats what gaming is all about!)… Expand
  44. edermath
    Mar 13, 2017
    10
    The story, voiceacting, characters, side quests, soundtrack, minigames and tons of hours of content make this game worthy, there are a few issues with some textures and invisible walls that I hope they patch them, it's a 9.5 for me
  45. kaminokaz
    Mar 1, 2017
    10
    story is well planned and very unpredictable. it even made me cry at one of the cut scenes. the voice acting is amazing and the town is just packed full of distractions that you can just spend hours n hours doing.
  46. Leenat40
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    This was my very first Yakuza game. I watched a lot of gameplay and reviews, and because I like deep narratives and anime, I decided to buy it. Got home, put the disc in and I didn't even understand how much I was enjoying it. The deep and intriguing narrative, a fun combat system!
    Everything was great up until the ending, and now it sits at my favorite ps4 games ever, even higher than    This was my very first Yakuza game. I watched a lot of gameplay and reviews, and because I like deep narratives and anime, I decided to buy it. Got home, put the disc in and I didn't even understand how much I was enjoying it. The deep and intriguing narrative, a fun combat system!
    Everything was great up until the ending, and now it sits at my favorite ps4 games ever, even higher than Last Of Us. PLAY IT!    … Expand
  47. Berrlett
    Mar 20, 2018
    10
    If you never played Yakua then this is a great entry to the series. One of the best stories you'll come across in gaming accompanied by great character design, fighting styles are just sublime and a very good soundtrack. highly recommend it.
  48. havoc94
    Mar 25, 2017
    10
    Easily the best game I've played in about two years, comparable with the likes of Folklore, Drakengard 3, and other true auteur titles - yet somehow Yakuza 0 lacks the flaws those games had. Combat? Great, Writing? Even better. Music? Perhaps the best I've ever heard in any beat-em-up. Pacing, Length, Sidequests are just ridiculously fun to do. This is a true video game.
  49. Elite74
    Mar 27, 2017
    10
    Pros:
    -Great Story
    -Immersive game play
    -Hilarious side quests and Minigames
    -More than 100 hours of content
    -Character Development

    Cons:
    Outdated Visuals
  50. Neerolyte
    Mar 30, 2017
    10
    First Yakuza game for me, and it is one of the best game I ever played. The story is absolutely fantastic, and thrilling. Combat, while repetitive, is very over-the-top and fun, with different styles to choose from. While it is strictly an open-world, the map is quite condense, but with LOADS of activities. The dark story combine with humorous side-quests, running real estate, run aFirst Yakuza game for me, and it is one of the best game I ever played. The story is absolutely fantastic, and thrilling. Combat, while repetitive, is very over-the-top and fun, with different styles to choose from. While it is strictly an open-world, the map is quite condense, but with LOADS of activities. The dark story combine with humorous side-quests, running real estate, run a cabaret, fishing, bowling, gambling, watching sexy girls catfight, and watching money fly everywhere, makes this game the best experience I ever had in a long time. Platinum will take easily 150+ hours.… Expand
  51. Chillywilly23
    Apr 13, 2017
    10
    Great game. The story will have you hooked and the fighting is so satisfying. Plenty of activities too many to name them all. For anyone new to the series its a beatem up with a Japanese mafia storyline. Karaoke,batting practice,classic arcade games like outrun,rc car racing and so on. Def worth it with many hours of fun.
  52. YamadaSan
    Dec 10, 2017
    10
    amazing game amazing well written story & hilarious substories, i cant wait till Yakuza Kiwami 2 get release in west whoever vote negative can suck it
  53. Akuaku17
    Apr 21, 2017
    10
    Great game. For any newcomers to the Yakuza series on the fence about trying this game out, go for it as this is the most fun i have had with a game in years and you will not at all regret it.
  54. Dollface45
    Apr 21, 2017
    10
    The Japanese renaissance continues. Along with Persona 5, Nier: Automata and Nioh, Yakuza 0 is another fantastic purely one of a kind experience from Japan. It is a true job well done from Sega. There may not be anything completely new here if you've played other games in the series, but even judged on it's own or as a prequel. Yakuza 0 is bonkers, pulp nonsense. And it is downrightThe Japanese renaissance continues. Along with Persona 5, Nier: Automata and Nioh, Yakuza 0 is another fantastic purely one of a kind experience from Japan. It is a true job well done from Sega. There may not be anything completely new here if you've played other games in the series, but even judged on it's own or as a prequel. Yakuza 0 is bonkers, pulp nonsense. And it is downright artistic more often than not. While not truly an open world game - it's often very linear, the game delights more with the details and side activities than with the overall game design. There may be a peppering of long in the tooth JRPG random battles as you walk through the streets. There may be Guitar Hero style karaoke sing alongs. And there may be button mashing combat encounters, all of which you may have seen hundreds of times in dozens in other games, but none with the dry humor or atmosphere of Yakuza. I could make a list of all the small frustrations you could encounter in the game too, but this game is almost above any sort of focused criticism. Yakuza is just a good time and it maybe even one of the best gangster tales told in the last 15 years too.… Expand
  55. Chaotic_Zombie
    Apr 29, 2017
    10
    Games like these where you actually be very happy to pay $60

    I dn't even know where to start about how perfect this game has in many aspects but i will try to make it short and with no spoilers. 10 - The storyline: In the past few years we couldn't really find a game with a good story except games like the witcher 3 maybe but yakuza 0 proves that it actually has the best if not one    Games like these where you actually be very happy to pay $60

    I dn't even know where to start about how perfect this game has in many aspects but i will try to make it short and with no spoilers.

    10 - The storyline: In the past few years we couldn't really find a game with a good story except games like the witcher 3 maybe but yakuza 0 proves that it actually has the best if not one of the best storylines in the gaming industry especially for the fans who played the other yakuza games.

    10 - Voice Acting: Yakuza is one of the very very few games that people who hate japanese voice acting and prefer english dub wouldn't either be disappointed with this game because you can actually feel the emotions of every character and you will care for every character because the game actually cares.

    9 - Sountracks: The soundtracks are very well done, especially in some boss fights and you will feel those 80 vibes when you go to places like disco's, karaoke's etc...

    10 - Characters: Like i mentioned before,every character is important in the game and the villains are one of the best introduced which will make them very likeable too.

    9 - Gameplay: The gameplay is pretty amazing especially compared to previous entries in the series and there are 3 fighting styles for both main characters. Some might find it pretty repetetitive but there is an ability later on which makes you avoid random street fights.

    9.5 - Graphics: For a game which has low budget compared to other triple A titles, the graphics are pretty amazing especially in cutscenes...not to forget this was originally on a ps3 and later on released on ps4.

    10/10 - Overall: Imo this game is worth buying a ps4 alone and you will never regret my words, i woud even recommend playing it before titles like Uncharted 4. Hope everyone enjoys this wonderful game before the release of Yakuza Kiwami which is the remake of yakuza 1 on August 29 2017.    … Expand
  56. ripperroo9977
    Jun 28, 2017
    10
    My first game in the Yakuza series, and fortunately one that is basically the first in the canon. Setting up the characters and the overall story for the other games which are supposedly being re-mastered for PS4 (and possibly PC?). This game was absolutely exceptional. It was a mix of 80's nostalgia, coupled with old school beat 'em up gameplay, and an edgy story which borders onMy first game in the Yakuza series, and fortunately one that is basically the first in the canon. Setting up the characters and the overall story for the other games which are supposedly being re-mastered for PS4 (and possibly PC?). This game was absolutely exceptional. It was a mix of 80's nostalgia, coupled with old school beat 'em up gameplay, and an edgy story which borders on ridiculous and painfully real at times. The game is entirely in Japanese, so if you don't like reading subtitles this might not be for you. I didn't mind, though, due to the exceptional voice acting and translation work. Despite being a fictitious rendering of the Yakuza, I found myself doing a lot of reading about the real-life Yakuza after playing this game and found that the game doesn't hit too far away from home in that instance. I'm definitely looking forward to playing the other games in the series.… Expand
  57. stefanaras
    Nov 3, 2018
    10
    Manliest game ever. You'll love it.
    Jokes aside, the fun gameplay, the numerous side activities that can be incredibly hilarious and addicting, the amazing story and presentation alongside the awesome soundtrack, incredible voice acting and characters makes this game a delight. I went into this completely blind and what I got was much much better than I initially thought it would be. If    Manliest game ever. You'll love it.
    Jokes aside, the fun gameplay, the numerous side activities that can be incredibly hilarious and addicting, the amazing story and presentation alongside the awesome soundtrack, incredible voice acting and characters makes this game a delight. I went into this completely blind and what I got was much much better than I initially thought it would be. If what I described sound right up your alley and you don't mind long, but engaging cutscenes, give this a try and you won't regret it.    … Expand
  58. Maddog5511
    Aug 19, 2017
    10
    Just amazing. I have just finished this game and honestly I am now wanting to play the whole series because this installement was just so good. The story is one of the best in a game I have played, with some very well done characters and the gameplay is so fun. Just give it a chance when you have the time it deserves all of it.
  59. MetroidDime
    Aug 22, 2017
    10
    This game is so damn good, man.

    The fighting is like magic. I mean, it's seriously fluid. I really dig the different fighting styles, and the different tracks playing behind the fighting styles. The story is so gritty, so violent, so dreary, and so **** enjoyable. The cutscenes boast powerful vocal performances and always grip your attention. They give you a pair of two great main    This game is so damn good, man.

    The fighting is like magic. I mean, it's seriously fluid. I really dig the different fighting styles, and the different tracks playing behind the fighting styles. The story is so gritty, so violent, so dreary, and so **** enjoyable. The cutscenes boast powerful vocal performances and always grip your attention. They give you a pair of two great main characters. Kiryu and Majima are so unique. Kiryu is a straight-faced, no **** kind of dude with a good heart, and seeing him in the situations he's put through is interesting and often humorous. Majima is a showman, stealing every cutscene he's in. He has this cool air about him, he is confident and clever in and out of battle. Just off these elements alone, you've got a fantastic video game...

    But god damn is this game FUNNY. Like, holy **** it's straight up hilarious. There are so many encounters, so many events in Yakuza 0 that you can just stumble upon, and they're each funny, in the most wonderful Japanese way possible. It is your favorite comedy anime, fully playable. The dialogue is so well-written. It is absolutely corny at times, but it is always self-aware.

    It is such a sweet mix. You get this intense, angry main story; then you explore Kamurocho and bump into a clown who gives you free **** Or maybe you **** meet Michael Jackson. You **** do. You do and it's as ridiculous as you want it to be.

    My ONLY gripe, and it is kind of a big one, is the map. It is a little snug in Kamurocho. It really feels limited and, while there's always something to do, you can't help but feel like there's not enough room to do it in.

    Listen; Yakuza 0 is a masterpiece. It's so out there. It's so oddball. It's so much fun.    … Expand
  60. ryderbro
    Sep 6, 2017
    10
    this was the first yakuza game I played i loved it to the point where i wanted to play the campaign again which is strange for me because even with games like GTA5 and god of war I didn't want bother playing them anymore because they just bored me with doing the exact same thing over again and giving me nothing to do after i completed the campaign but yakuza somehow gives me more contentthis was the first yakuza game I played i loved it to the point where i wanted to play the campaign again which is strange for me because even with games like GTA5 and god of war I didn't want bother playing them anymore because they just bored me with doing the exact same thing over again and giving me nothing to do after i completed the campaign but yakuza somehow gives me more content with a low budget than a game with a ridiculous budget like destiny. point being you have to try this game its just that good… Expand
  61. Lilahkiz
    Oct 15, 2017
    10
    Great entry into this awesome franchise so much content though Yakuza 5 has the biggest amount in the series a great story though 2 is good and 2 ctities and you can now play as Majima :)
  62. Archound
    Feb 22, 2019
    10
    One of the best story in video games. Grudge, Vengeance, Estate, Money, Business. Great, interesting, funny gameplay. 9+/10, must have for PS4 owners!
  63. Pauboman
    Nov 20, 2017
    10
    One ofthe best in Yakuza series and a must have for 2017. A thrilling experience that combines both drama and action in a cinematic experience and updated with a superb and renovated fighting style.

    I hope everyone could enjoy a game like this
  64. Zomgclaude
    May 20, 2018
    10
    I know that many users have only 2 scores they can give a game: 0 or 10.

    I use my 10s with extreme parsimony. But in the case of Yakuza 0, it's the only score I could consider giving. I bought this game based on the hype and a at a PS Store sale price. It took me a few months to even start it up. At first, I was put off by the relatively small map, the lack of vehicles and the last    I know that many users have only 2 scores they can give a game: 0 or 10.

    I use my 10s with extreme parsimony. But in the case of Yakuza 0, it's the only score I could consider giving.

    I bought this game based on the hype and a at a PS Store sale price. It took me a few months to even start it up. At first, I was put off by the relatively small map, the lack of vehicles and the last gen graphics. Yet, despite its shortcomings, it remained unexplainably appealing, so I stuck with it.

    Simply put, this game offers some of the best storytelling and voice acting I have ever encountered in 33 years of playing video games. And through side quests and mini-games, the replayability of Yakuza 0 is undeniable.

    And because it took so long for this series to gain traction in North America/Europe, there will be many more games for you to play after this one. Yakuza 1 was remade as Yakuza Kiwami, the 2nd game's Kiwami version comes out this summer. Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 are available on PS3, with 4 and 5 also being carried on the PS Now service. Hours and hours of entertainment.

    If you haven't already (and unless it's for a child, which would be super inappropriate), give this game a try. It's well worth your time.    … Expand
  65. Denolact
    Apr 4, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I made a Metacritic account just to write about how f**king amazing Yakuza 0 is, I'm almost 100% sure that it's my new favorite game of all time. I have completed about 20% of the game and I'm over 35 hours into it, there's so much to do. Here's just a few of the things you need to do to 100% the game's completion log:
    - Eat everything at every restaurant in Sotenbori and Kamurocho
    - Spend, get and invest over 1,000,000,000 yen
    - Complete the 100 substories, there are 40 for Majima and 60 for Kiryu
    - Collect every telephone card on the map to befriend Mr Libido
    - Go to a telephone club and befriend three girls
    - Travel 100 km by foot (trust me, it takes way longer than you think, after over 35 hours of almost only walking around doing side stuff, I have yet to pass 50 km)
    - Defeat 200 enemies in the 6 different fighting styles (3 for Kiryu, 3 for Majima)
    And all of that isn't even close to everything. Some examples of especially great subquest from where I am at is:
    - Producing a tv show without knowing anything about producing
    - Helping a dominatrix get better at her job
    - Speaking through a portable phone (again, trust me, it's harder than you'd think)
    - Defeat a huge guy who, if you don't defeat him which is very likely you don't, will steal all the money you currently have on you
    - Helping a hardcore band be actually hardcore (this one's probably my favorite of all of them so far)
    - Going full real estate, buying buildings, collecting money, hiring staff, all while trying to get a hold of
    Kamurocho from The Five Billiionaires
    - Helping a kid get an adult mag while other people are watching
    And just to top it off, the best features of the game:
    - A fantastic story with fantastic pacing
    - Fantastically written characters
    - Tons of side content to do after you're done with the story, though I highly suggest people do them as they play the story
    - Amazing simple to learn, hard to master combat
    - Memorable layouts of the open worlds
    - Some of the best villains in any game period
    - Fantastic controls
    - Fantastic soundtrack (especially Judgement) and sound design, and finally...
    - THE ABILITY TO PAUSE A CUTSCENE WITHOUT SKIPPING IT!
    10/10. That's what the game gets, and it gets what it deserves. The only games that even come close to rivaling it for me is Persona 5, Psychonauts and Dark Souls, but even they struggle. It is just a pure gaming masterpiece, and a PERFECT introduction to any series. I can't wait to move on to the other games after I finish it, but I will take it slow and try to do as much as possible in this game before going over to Kiwami.    … Expand
  66. xdino6
    May 2, 2018
    10
    this game is pure joy with its magnificent main story and funny side quests .
    this is one of the best games i ever played

    !0/10 would complete again
  67. Spideyfan4Life
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    I started with Yakuza 0 and it was the perfect entry point into this absolutely phenomenal series. Enough said.
  68. EurosauRuss
    Oct 4, 2018
    10
    Yakuza0 got one of the best ingame minigames
    absoloutly great voice acting cant imagine better
    amazing soundtrakcs
    and most importanly the story is just freaking amazing .
    Never enjoyed story that much for long time!
    Only one bad thing and its stucking in tight street form various things but it never effect gameplay so for me 11/10
  69. justmytwocents
    Oct 18, 2018
    10
    One of the best Yakuza game if not the best. I really enjoyed it. Especially the Real Estate mini game.
  70. KratosKong
    Jan 22, 2020
    10
    Conocía la saga desde PS2 pero hasta que un amigo no me hablo de ella en profundidad no le hice nada de caso. Lo que encontré aquí no era algo muy normal, normalmente los juegos japoneses suelen ser de corte muy manga/anime y se podían contar con los dedos de una mano los que adquirían una estitica puramente realista y esta saga nos ofrece eso mismo. Concretamente este titulo, el primeroConocía la saga desde PS2 pero hasta que un amigo no me hablo de ella en profundidad no le hice nada de caso. Lo que encontré aquí no era algo muy normal, normalmente los juegos japoneses suelen ser de corte muy manga/anime y se podían contar con los dedos de una mano los que adquirían una estitica puramente realista y esta saga nos ofrece eso mismo. Concretamente este titulo, el primero de manera cronologia se implica mucho en su historia y en sus personajes de una manera que muy pocas veces me ha hecho sentir videojuego alguno. El juego en si lo considero como una conversión perfecta del beat em up estilo Street of Rage perfecta a las 3D, también cabe mencionar que es un titulo muy completo repleto de cosas por hacer, lo que demuestra que no hace falta un mundo abierto gigante y vacio para crear una obra maestra.… Expand
  71. Ryderbro1
    Oct 21, 2020
    10
    The yakuza series is my 2nd favorite series just beaten by devil may cry, can't say much but do what did for this game, grab it of a shelf, expect to see some game you've played before with a different paint job, than be shocked to realise that most Japanese games are not western games where they follow trends and actually create games that are there own thing.
  72. Balrock1230
    Mar 12, 2019
    10
    I can't be very objective as a SP guy and Yakuza fan. The story is superb you feel with all of the characters and the stories of the side missions over top funny.

    One of the best gaming series ever made can't wait for the other Yakuza games to be released on the PS4.
  73. Razzee
    Jun 7, 2019
    10
    YAKUZA 0 is the best game ever made. It's not an easy task to put together a plot that incites interest of the player, a functional and fun combat mechanics, memorable OST, not to mention an infinitude of side content without quality pending more to one than to the other, but SEGA reached the sun with this game. Although I love the other games of this franchise as well, no one can beYAKUZA 0 is the best game ever made. It's not an easy task to put together a plot that incites interest of the player, a functional and fun combat mechanics, memorable OST, not to mention an infinitude of side content without quality pending more to one than to the other, but SEGA reached the sun with this game. Although I love the other games of this franchise as well, no one can be compared to 0.… Expand
  74. Arcticsurface
    May 9, 2019
    10
    Dude, i god damn love this game and this franchise, its soooo good, 0 is a prequel to the series and is an EXCELLENT starting point for newcomers, its amazingly good, great, testosterone filled boss fights, PHENOMENAL music, a crapload of side content that is ACTUALLY fun (weird right?) and worth doing, the entire game was made to be fun (contrary to the "AAA" games that infest the gamingDude, i god damn love this game and this franchise, its soooo good, 0 is a prequel to the series and is an EXCELLENT starting point for newcomers, its amazingly good, great, testosterone filled boss fights, PHENOMENAL music, a crapload of side content that is ACTUALLY fun (weird right?) and worth doing, the entire game was made to be fun (contrary to the "AAA" games that infest the gaming market nowadays), i couldnt possibly recommend this game more, i can safely say, after 23 years of living on Earth, Yakuza 0 is my MOST favourite game ever, the Yakuza series as a whole is my MOST favourite gaming series ever, AND the development studio behind the Yakuza games, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is DEFINITELY my favourite gaming studio ever, needless to say, this game gets 100 out of 10.… Expand
  75. A7madAssassin
    Jul 18, 2020
    10
    Yakuza 0 is a masterpiece, it became one of the best games I have ever played in my life and after finishing the whole series, this is my favorite one.
  76. TechGnome7916
    Jun 2, 2019
    10
    One of the best games of this generation. I didn't know it would be this good.
  77. StarsWitch
    Feb 3, 2020
    10
    ome of my favorite games ever, my introduction to the series, the story and combat are so amazing it's such a great game I can't stretch this enough
  78. Wweald
    Dec 28, 2021
    10
    Amazing game, very funny and also very emotional. Amazing story and characters and the side content is a lot of bonus fun. The combat feels great especially with the different stances for both characters.
  79. PanWasidlo
    Sep 24, 2021
    10
    One of the best games I have played. Story, characters, everything is at the highest level. Great title, I recommend it to anyone who hasn't played yet
  80. Mazhi
    Oct 4, 2020
    10
    Creo que es el mejor Yakuza que se ha hecho nunca (me faltan por jugar el 6 y 7).

    Coge todo lo bueno que tienen los otros Yakuza y lo lleva al siguiente nivel. Se merece un 11 solamente por 24 hour cinderella.
  81. grit7
    Jul 29, 2022
    10
    A great introduction to the series. The story, gameplay and characters are pure quality.
  82. Samur4i
    Aug 11, 2020
    10
    Baka mitai kodomo na no ne
    yume wo otte kizu tsuite
    uso ga heta na kuse ni waraenai egao miseta I LOVE YOU mo roku ni iwanai kuchibeta de honma ni bukiyou na no ni na no ni **** sayonara wa ieta no dame da ne dame yo dame na no yo anta ga suki de suki sugite dore dake tsuyoi osake de mo yugamanai omoide ga baka mitai baka mitai hontou baka ne anta shinjiru bakari de tsuyoi onna no furi    Baka mitai kodomo na no ne
    yume wo otte kizu tsuite
    uso ga heta na kuse ni
    waraenai egao miseta

    I LOVE YOU mo roku ni iwanai
    kuchibeta de honma ni bukiyou
    na no ni na no ni ****
    sayonara wa ieta no

    dame da ne
    dame yo dame na no yo
    anta ga suki de suki sugite
    dore dake tsuyoi osake de mo
    yugamanai omoide ga
    baka mitai

    baka mitai hontou baka ne
    anta shinjiru bakari de
    tsuyoi onna no furi
    setsunasa no yokaze abiru

    hitori ni natte san-nen ga sugi
    machinami sae mo ****
    na no ni na no ni ****
    miren dake okizari

    honma ni roku na otoko ya nai
    soroi no yubiwa hazushimasu
    zamaa miro seisei suru wa
    ii kagen mattete mo
    baka mitai

    dame da ne
    dame yo dame na no yo
    anta ga suki de suki sugite
    dore dake tsuyoi osake de mo
    yugamanai omoide ga
    baka mitai

    honma ni roku na otoko ya nai
    soroi no yubiwa hazushimasu
    zamaa miro seisei suru wa
    nan na no yo kono namida
    baka mitai
    I think I don't have to say anything else    … Expand
  83. DespairZz
    Dec 3, 2019
    10
    Well ... I can't find any disadvantage in this game. Perhaps it's only my opinion. Perhaps i'm totally wrong.
    But I like this game. Great dramatic plot and cool fought system. Oh, sure, how can i forgot? It's very funny japaneese absurd style.
    Main story almost make me cry, but much of substories make me laught! Wonderful balance, one of my favorite game and all series of the "Yakuza" too.
  84. EnsarO
    Jun 28, 2022
    10
    Story:10
    Sounds:10
    Gameplay:10
    Mechanics:10
    Details:10
    Characters:10
    Must play it!
  85. Arata84
    Apr 21, 2021
    10
    Being familiar to the Yakuza games I knew what I was getting in to. But as always this franchise is as great as it comes. Compelling story with leads you can only grow to love. Yakuza 0 gives you an origin story that's everything you'd want it to be. Kiru is truly a man that we all should model us after. Of course the game has it flaws, to name 2, It isn't the most visual pleasingBeing familiar to the Yakuza games I knew what I was getting in to. But as always this franchise is as great as it comes. Compelling story with leads you can only grow to love. Yakuza 0 gives you an origin story that's everything you'd want it to be. Kiru is truly a man that we all should model us after. Of course the game has it flaws, to name 2, It isn't the most visual pleasing game, the combat isn't all too deep with enemies being very one pattern. But when it comes to enjoyment and immersion there are few games that comes close to it for me. So that 10 I give it, is fully deserved.

    Let alone that like with every Yakuza game, it can keep you busy to no end with some funny, enjoyable substories, mini-games that can keep you endlessly busy to the point that mastering some of them can be damn frustrating. In short, definitely worth its every cent, especially for the bargain prices you can pick it up these days.    … Expand
  86. Nick_Scratch
    Oct 16, 2022
    10
    My first introduction to this series. The story is simple yet emotional & engaging, and the combat is bonkers fun that does not get stale. I absolutely can not wait to dive into the rest of this series' entries.
  87. Kells_ExE
    Jul 10, 2020
    10
    The best Yakuza game there is in my honest opinion, Yakuza 6 was actually a lot worse than 0
  88. DevilSurvivor
    Nov 18, 2021
    10
    It's a phenomenal game with a lot of fun activities to do, and even if you see it as "a bunch of minigames", I assure you that it feels much more than that. The story is phenomenal, and even though it suffers from a poor choice of narrative (every two chapters you switch between two characters obligatorily), it keeps you hooked right until the end.

    There are no downsides to this game as    It's a phenomenal game with a lot of fun activities to do, and even if you see it as "a bunch of minigames", I assure you that it feels much more than that. The story is phenomenal, and even though it suffers from a poor choice of narrative (every two chapters you switch between two characters obligatorily), it keeps you hooked right until the end.

    There are no downsides to this game as a Yakuza game, and if you haven't tried any of them out, this is the perfect one. Though be warned, none of them will be as good as Yakuza 0.    … Expand
  89. itachi_uchiha
    Jul 18, 2020
    10
    One of the greatest game series ever created! Highly recommend this game! Gameplay, story, quests, characters are amazing!
  90. doproyee
    Jan 13, 2021
    10
    one of the masterpiece in japanese games. facial expressions, characters, actions, music and story are absolutely satisfying. even more there's super good sub contents.
  91. ehtaco
    Sep 13, 2022
    10
    Best Yakuza game of all time, imo, and I don't think there's a single bad game in the bunch. They're all good to great, but this one takes the cake. Everything great about the series is fully on display here and it's great to play.
  92. RoninNinjaXL
    Sep 18, 2020
    10
    AMAZING must buy BADASS SLAP CERTIFIED
    Story: 10
    Gameplay: 10
    ost: 10
    Characters: 10
  93. Markov94
    Sep 25, 2020
    10
    The perfect game! A lot of storytelling, less fighting, but when you do, you literally punch the koney out of people. This game will make you feel excited, happy, then it will make you cry. Everything in this game is so satisfying.
    Even though, after playing this, kiwami feels a lot worse... :(
  94. Elayat89
    Oct 11, 2020
    10
    One of the best series in gaming, honestly. Each game has a charm like no others, and you get to watch reoccuring characters grow and change over time. The district of Kamurocho, which is the main city district featured in all the games, is like a character, living, breathing, getting older and also changing with the times. I cant say enough to describe how much i fell in love with YakuzaOne of the best series in gaming, honestly. Each game has a charm like no others, and you get to watch reoccuring characters grow and change over time. The district of Kamurocho, which is the main city district featured in all the games, is like a character, living, breathing, getting older and also changing with the times. I cant say enough to describe how much i fell in love with Yakuza 0 and both Yakuza Kiwami's ... this series has a charm that i cant describe... no wonder why its Sega's best selling masterpiece. From funny side stories to Dramatic ones and the Main plot of each game are all masterpieces. Sadly until now there are only 3 Yakuza games on PC Yakuza 0, Kiwami and Kiwami 2 which i finished them all and im really waiting now for the rest of the series to be released on PC ... i really find it difficult to find any games as charming as the Yakuza series they are really incomparable.… Expand
  95. Pr0ject0r
    Oct 28, 2020
    10
    Yakuza 0 is one of the best games in the series. It is also a prequel to meeting both of the characters: Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. While the main plot is serious, all the fun and jokes were filled inside substories and mini-games. Every minigame is entertaining and every substory is great. Overall I really loved the game
  96. soki98
    Jul 6, 2021
    10
    easily the best yakuza game ever , the way the story is told by using both characters its just amazinggggg
  97. Sora-Jin
    Nov 21, 2020
    10
    Just a great game. everything in this game, Characters , Soundtracks, storyline.
  98. tigor23
    Dec 8, 2020
    10
    Simply the most complete game in the Yakuza series and one of the best in the industry, hours and hours of fun guaranteed!
  99. Bakha
    Sep 16, 2021
    10
    This is the best game that I played in my life. The strictness of the main story and unbelievable substories made this game the best. Especially Majima's introduction was AMAZING that I will never forget about. I played KIWAMI as well but it wasn't that good enough to be a better game than Yakuza 0.
  100. moyaiman
    Dec 12, 2020
    10
    An essential pick for anyone interested in beatem' ups, Japanese culture or just having a generally good time, yakuza 0 is quite possibly a perfect example of a narrative driven game that doesn't take itself too seriously.
    The gameplay is solid, if not a little on the easy side for the most part. You have an insane amount of special moves and fighting styles between both characters (six    An essential pick for anyone interested in beatem' ups, Japanese culture or just having a generally good time, yakuza 0 is quite possibly a perfect example of a narrative driven game that doesn't take itself too seriously.
    The gameplay is solid, if not a little on the easy side for the most part. You have an insane amount of special moves and fighting styles between both characters (six normal styles and two secret styles) leading to a variety of gameplay that never gets old. The "Heat Move" system is quite possibly the best addition to the combat, allowing you to perform one of many over the top special moves on people. Highlights include:
    Salting someone's eyes.
    Bowling!
    Bonking people with a baseball bat.
    Straight up launching people off of the bridge in sotenbouri.
    Orange you glad you got hit with this?
    And many, many more.
    If fighting isn't in your nature, or you just want a break from the action, yakuza 0 can provide. It's side content is ridiculous, from karaoke (insert obligatory baka mitai joke here, because its so funny) to disco or bowling (again). You are never short of things to do in this game, and that can actually be seen as detrimental if you want to go for 100% (fair warning, you gotta learn majhong).
    The plot to this game is pretty good, having everything tie up in a pretty satisfying way if not having a few leaps in logic. The plot doesn't really matter too much, when you are smashing, crashing and dashing through entire buildings worth of Asian people who don't seem too happy to see you.
    This games art style is realistic, but the graphical fidelity is somewhat lacking. Its good enough, but isn't going to knock socks off or anything, like the sequel "yakuza kiwami 2". The graphics aren't bad however, just somewhat lacking.
    This games sound design is flawless. It's satisfying to hear people get smacked, its satisfying to listen to the music whilst causing chaos. Speaking of, this games soundtrack is one of my favourites, highlights include the entire karaoke line up, FRIDAY NIGHT, all of Goro Majima's fighting music, Interplanetary Spark and Pledge Of Demon being some of my personal highlights. The music fits the mood of upbeat hyperviolence well.

    Fun little factoid, you canonically don't kill anyone in this game. Crazy, because you slam peoples faces into hotplates and ****

    TL:DR
    Yakuza 0 is amazing, buy that ****    … Expand
prev
Page:

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]
See all critic reviews »