Lost Judgment Reviews
In short, Lost Judgement takes everything that was great about the original and makes it that much better. It’s got a magnificent story, great characters, an enormous amount of side characters, and great combat all in one package. It’s just one of those games that you won’t want to put down for bed while also being the reason you get up early for work in order to play just a little bit more. Lost Judgment is simply a perfect sequel.
Lost Judgment is nothing short of stunning. It's tightly-packed narrative never fails to enthrall, while its gameplay systems make navigating to each of its engrossing narrative beats an exciting experience in its own right. While Judgment felt a bit more like a proof of concept for how a Yakuza spin-off could be done, its sequel is evidence there needs to be more. Lost Judgment is a defining release from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, one of 2021's best games, and the rare sequel that preserves its series' identity while improving on nearly every element of its predecessor.
If you exclusively follow the main narrative then you’ll find that in Lost Judgment, Ryu Ga Gatoku Studio has delivered something every bit as compelling and interesting as anything Raymond Chandler ever wrote. The central crime story is a riveting and often uncomfortably poignant reflection on society (and also Japan’s legal system). If, on the other hand, you’re more interested in more Yakuza-style zany side-styles and a deep collection of highly playable mini-games, the Lost Judgment has you covered there, too. I can’t see how anyone could fail to love this game.
Building upon its predecessor in every conceivable way, Lost Judgment is a superb sequel that tells a story that will leave you asking yourself what justice means to you. It’s a gripping thrill ride full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. And even after the credits roll, the city streets will call you back for more with their countless distractions.
Lost Judgment is a natural evolution of Judgment and it brings an absolutely incredible story with very modern themes. The whole package comes with an absurd amount of content for both the main and optional adventures. The excessive amount of mechanics could be cut or properly deepened, but that's a small problem in an absolutely phenomenal package.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio establishes itself as one of the most consistent and fittest development teams today. Lost Judgment is an authentic work of craftsmen in which not only have all the mechanics of its predecessor been polished and refined, but also have been expanded to provide the game with an endless amount of content wrapped in a story that, despite the slowness of some sections is unforgettable and will make us reflect on the true meaning of the word "justice". A round sequel.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Lost Judgment is a gigantic, immense work, full of unique content. A gift for fans of this type of games and the culmination of a subgenre created and cultivated by the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. A fantastic detective thriller, able to make us feel like real detectives as few games have achieved.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Lost Judgment is essential gaming this year. Packed to the brim with intensity, and engaging sequences that will leave you floored upon completion. The sensitive themes addressed here will leave players shook, and somewhat perturbed but unequivocally entertained to say the least.
Lost Judgment is an exceptionally dark adventure that takes on sensitive topics teeming with outstanding action that shouldn't be overlooked.
Even if you do the minimum amount of side content and just stick with the main story as much as possible, you’re in for a long, interesting, and fun game. The story matter is heavy, though, and might tax some players into taking breaks more often than they might typically. To balance that, there is a lot of good humor and zaniness that you would expect from this studio, but also some endearing missions in the School Stories section where you do everything from lead a dance team, help engineer robots, box, join a motorcycle gang, and partake in a Virtua Fighter 5 tournament. Additionally, the changes that LJ has compared to the original are all positive, too — big new areas to explore, new gameplay elements in both the action and adventure portions of the experience, and yet the best parts of the original are carried over. Ultimately, this is an excellent game that I readily recommend.
Lost Judgment proves that, not just because it’s a sequel, but because it’s a damn good game that feels like it contains all the elements that have made the Yakuza series great while maintaining its own identity. The detective gameplay still needs some work, and the plot stumbles a bit from time to time, but I have never been happier to dive back into this world, nor sadder to leave it once the game is finished.
It was time to follow the good streak and is that Lost Judgment is, without a doubt, one of the most colorful games and with better graphics that I have played on my Xbox Series X. And that I have used the mode that prioritizes performance, but already in that mode the modeling, lighting and textures are wonderful. Yes, we still find some element in the scenario that squeaks, but the real-time modeling is a real madness.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you liked Yakuza, you will definitely feel at home in (Lost) Judgment and get your money's worth. If you really want to get into the game, then play Judgment first and only then the sequel. You don't need any knowledge from the first part, but you can identify much better with the characters in some dialogues and also see how they have developed in each case. To make it clear again: You don't need to have played Judgment to follow Lost Judgment!
Review in German | Read full review
Lost Judgment is the best work without discussion by Toshihiro Nagoshi. What began with Shenmue and Yakuza takes on special importance in a delivery that polishes all the details to become something very special whose criticism and argument will conquer your complicity as a player.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Lost Judgment delivers another fantastic thriller that ups the ante when it comes to its intricately woven plot and interesting cast of characters, all while making you question where the line is drawn between the law and true justice. And when all is said and done, you can sit and celebrate with some sushi.
With its excellent detective story, extremely likable characters, and welcome improvements to combat and investigation mechanics, Lost Judgment won't disappoint any fan of the original, of the Yakuza series, or anyone looking for a very mature story. The game doesn't try to shake up the original formula, which may definitely put some players off, but this is hardly a problem when quality is as high as it is in the latest game from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.
A fantastic action adventure that taps directly into the root DNA of the Yakuza franchise, Lost Judgment not only manages to simultaneously boast both the darkest and the goofiest storylines of any title in the series to date, but it also stuns the player with an absolute avalanche of hugely entertaining side quests and activities. More than that though, Lost Judgment also provides solace for those who found themselves turned off by the turn-based combat system that the mainline Yakuza series now seems to favour, while welcoming newcomers to one of the best new Japanese franchises of the last two decades.
Lost Judgment is a big step forward, with many updates based on audience reception of the original title. Sega released a game that elevates the Judgment franchise to a whole new level.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Lost Judgment is a phenomenal improvement over its prequel and becomes a must-have for all Yakuza series fans out there.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Judgment was already very good. Lost Judgment is much better. It's as simple as that. The Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has built a titanic adventure on the already very solid pillars of the first episode. Basically, the game features a captivating main story that shows Japan like few games have done. In parallel to this, he unfolds a second plot at least as dense that really plunges into a Japanese high school. And on top of that, the title has the luxury of offering dozens of quests and side business. All helped by improvements to the gameplay and sprinkled with new mini-games. Rumors claim that Lost Judgment could be the last episode of the series because of disagreements between SEGA and Takuya Kimura's agency.
Review in French | Read full review