Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Reviews
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has crafted a thing of beauty here. Managing to send the already finely balanced franchise into the land of absurdity with the pirate theme, the studio still pulled together a tight enough experience that’ll have you laughing, shouting, crying, and enjoying every single moment. More Majima moving forward, please.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii throws Majima into a pirate adventure with naval combat, treasure hunts, and chaotic brawling. Ship battles and exploration bring fresh mechanics, while the story blends absurdity with heartfelt moments. Some ship encounters feel repetitive, and visuals show their age, but the combat, side content, and wild setting make for a fun, unpredictable experience.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii isn't the best game in the Like a Dragon series, or of pirate games in general, but it offers a solid representation of both. It features one of the best protagonists in the series, tells a fairly compelling story, and fills in many of the gaps left by Infinite Wealth.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii brings about solid 3D brawling combat back to the series alongside tonnes of minigames, fun pirating sections, and intense set piece battles the series is known for. It’s more Yakuza—are you going to say no to that?
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii feels like a sidequest of the main series: absurd at times, often reusing old content and settings in a new way. It features fan favorite madman Majima but feels less epic and wild than it could have been. Especially sailing feels more arcadey than grandiose.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
After tackling its most serious story, the latest Like a Dragon embarks on its most lighthearted adventure. Majima and the pirates are a perfect match, and the narrative ties up neatly in a single installment. Pirate ship battles may feel light, but Majima’s determination to fulfill a ten-year-old boy’s dream is anything but.
Review in Korean | Read full review
It’s fair to say that following up Infinite Wealth was always going to be a difficult task and one that RGG Studios have neatly sidestepped with Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. It’s offbeat premise and relative brevity make it an easy game to like for Yakuza/LaD veterans but much like the similarly asset reusing Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, it would make an odd place to begin the series given how much it does differently.
A chaotic yet charming pirate adventure that blends Like A Dragon-style madness with engaging seafaring gameplay. The start of the game however is a bit slow, before the story gets interesting.
Review in German | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a bizarrely unique experience. Addressing many of the main concerns players had about the previous Gaiden, Ryu Ga Gotoku did an excellent job of creating a soulful adventure for what is certainly one of the most beloved characters in the fan community.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
An adventure that incorporates and renews many of the action and exploration elements of the Like a Dragon series, but with more irreverence on the high seas, where pirate clashes take us back to the Age of Discovery.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Without the, ahem, near-infinite wealth of content of its predecessor, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is unlikely to be anyone’s favorite Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio game. But as a side story? It’s a great time. Reviewed on PlayStation 5.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a fantastic entry in the series, and while it doesn't reach the heights of Infinite Wealth, it's still a joy to play. The story is filled with great moments and a cast of memorable characters, along with solid gameplay mechanics and a ton of activities to partake in. The progression systems were okay, with ship navigation and crew formation feeling a little underwhelming, but the choices you have and activities to do make up for it. For a spin-off entry in this franchise, RGG Studio succeeded in creating an engaging, gripping experience that paid off in the end. And while there are some compromises needed, Pirate Yakuza is a fantastic time on the Steam Deck. It is optimized enough to be very versatile, whether you want a high framerate for smooth gameplay or the highest quality settings with upscaling, all while retaining its visuals. I am so glad it runs as well as it does, and I can happily recommend it to anyone who would mainly play this on the go.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is, in part, exactly what was expected from the moment it was announced: a completely over-the-top title that doesn’t take itself too seriously, allowing Majima—one of the series’ most beloved characters—to steal the spotlight and shine on his own. This departure from the main Yakuza storyline makes the game an excellent entry point for newcomers eager to discover what makes the franchise so entertaining and iconic, all while offering a gameplay experience packed with engaging elements that remain consistently enjoyable. On the other hand, however, the game suffers from the same narrative shortcomings as Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, with questionable writing choices from the development team—one that has, since the very inception of Yakuza, set a high standard for exceptional storytelling.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii may not be moving the series forward in much regard to its gameplay and story, but at the end of the day, it does what it sets out to do. It’s fun and provides fans with a wild, over-the-top adventure full of eccentric characters, absurd humor, and dramatic plot twists. If you wanted to spend more time in Hawaii after Infinite Wealth, Like a Dragon Yakuza in Hawaii has you covered, offering a unique spin on the Yakuza formula while keeping things as entertaining and chaotic as ever
What remains is a "Yakuza" spin-off that was made with a lot of heart and soul and, despite its small weaknesses, can already be counted among the coolest pirate games of recent years.
Review in German | Read full review
Everything in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Like a Dragon series dialed up to a hundred, and while other series would long ago have gotten stale, sometimes injecting a large dose of stupidity can go a long way.
In Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, fan-favorite Goro Majima leads a gloriously absurd spin-off where you play as a pirate in a modern world, summon sharks and jellyfish, and bombard enemies with cannonballs, all while indulging in minigames, references, and crew recruitment; though limited to two fighting styles and a sometimes uncooperative camera, its compact playtime, lower price, and classic beat-‘em-up action make it a wild, worthwhile ride for Like a Dragon fans.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
A swashbuckling spin-off that delivers the charm and chaos of the Like a Dragon series, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii shines with its action-packed combat, quirky side content, and Majima’s magnetic presence.
Although Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a spinoff, it boasts a wealth of content that gives it the feel of a full-fledged game. The familiar gameplay elements of exploration and engaging side activities are preserved while adding an exhilarating yet straightforwardly simple naval combat that enhances the experience. Players may find themselves spending countless hours sailing, battling pirates, and discovering hidden treasures.
The game has a very fast and dynamic combat system, ship battles that are very fun to face, a good range of customizations for both the protagonist and the ship, a light and unpretentious plot, crazier substories than ever to follow, lots to do, minigames, in short. Everything we want. Except for the unimpressive visuals, the shrinking of heat actions and the usual reuse, I don't have much to complain about.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review