Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Reviews
Unfortunately, Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is the weakest Yakuza title in quite some time. The original game had its flaws, and Kiwami addresses some of those flaws, but the new content is of a mixed quality. There's some notably missing content, and some of the storyline changes are inexplicable. The improved combat and emphasis on Kiryu's time with the orphans are by far the best part of the experience. Mine's story is fun enough but not something that's worth it unless you already like the character. At its heart, Kiwami 3 is still a Yakuza game and still mostly a good time, but despite the improvements, it's more of a sideways step than an upgrade of the original.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Tides modernizes a divisive entry in the series with improved combat, progression, and added content. While the remake is more fun and accessible than the original, some changes affect narrative pacing and emotional impact. Dark Tides complements the package with a brief but engaging prequel focused on Yoshitaka Mine, adding valuable context to the overall experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a project that was realized after years of requests from fans. However, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio didn't stop there and tried to exceed expectations, which resulted in them taking two steps forward and three steps back.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Wanting something more compact after recently spending time with Yakuza 0, Kiwami 1, and Kiwami 2 on Switch 2, Dark Ties was a perfect encapsulation of what makes the series so fun and charming, without the bloat that can creep in from time to time. Mine's combat style is simple but fast-paced, meaning random street encounters with unfriendly Yakuza never lasted more than 30 seconds. It may hit differently if you choose to roll credits on Kiwami 3 first, but for what it is, Dark Ties represents a welcome pack-in and the type of additional content I hope we see with the next Kiwami remaster.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a remake that retains only a small essence of the original work. Despite being quite faithful to the story, some script decisions leave something to be desired, and the secondary content, with the exception of Daddy Rank, goes from something new to just "more of the same." Dark Ties is an interesting addition, but it could also have a better-developed story. On the other hand, the gameplay of both titles remains fluid and with fun new combat styles to master. The final experience is somewhat bittersweet, being a remake well below the original, but one that provides many hours of fun.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties delves into Kazuma Kiryu's past to bring back one of the best episodes of Yakuza. Ryu Ga Gotoku refines the original title with brutal combat, new activities, and plenty of mini-games that aid exploration to create bombproof gameplay. New stories, improved storytelling, Spanish subtitles, and the addition of Dark Ties make this pack one of the studio's best remakes. It's the perfect excuse to relive Kiryu's past and understand his role in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased his Name and Infinite Wealth.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 improves on the original 2009 version both visually and in terms of gameplay, while also offering an all-new prequel that isn't essential but is still enjoyable for fans of the series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties was always going to be a hit with me as a fan of the series. A lot of the amendments to modernise the game and make it more fun and interesting have hit the spot with me. Although its not the strongest story in the series, coupling it with the Dark Ties side story brings an interesting dynamic on the story which I enjoy. But a horrifically bad casting choice has completely tarnished the game and left me with mix feelings.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties arrives with the thankless mission of revisiting one of the saga's most divisive chapters while at the same time proving that RGG Studio still knows how to honor the legacy it built.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 definitely succeeds in what it set out to do: bringing a beloved entry in the series to a new generation on the current systems while giving longtime fans a polished reason to revisit Kiryu’s story. The visual improvements, detailed recap system, and fluid/simple combat make the experience welcoming and entertaining, while the series’ signature blend of intense drama and absurd humor remains as charming as ever. At the same time, some elements, like the Dark Ties chapter and main character development, feel like missed opportunities to dig deeper into the emotional core of the story. Still, thanks to its engaging combat, memorable characters, and improved presentation, the remake stands as a solid entry in the franchise. It may not reach the heights of the very best Yakuza titles, but it’s a worthwhile journey for both newcomers and returning fans.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is an interesting, but very controversial package. The recasting issues, changes to the series’ continuity, and massive drop in sidestory quality were disappointments, something I rarely see in a RGG Studio game, but there’s no denying that, when it comes to gameplay and content, this game is an exponential improvement over the original. The combat mechanics are near-pristine, the heartfelt moments with the orphans are still adorable, and the Dragon Engine keeps on impressing with ultra-detailed worlds to explore, and tons of elements onscreen at any given time.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is yet another excellent installment in a saga that has now spanned more than twenty years. The remake of the ill-fated third chapter in the adventures of Kazuma Kiryu reworks the gameplay, story, and content to make it a fresher and more appealing product. Not only is the main campaign now more fun and fluid to play, but the brand new appendix dedicated to Yoshitaka Mine adds a touch of extra variety to an unquestionably solid package. Much has been said about the controversies surrounding the title (mainly related to narrative and casting choices, as well as new content that in some cases has replaced older content), but honestly, it seems to us that they are talking about everything except the validity of the title itself. The saga will inevitably have to deal with the near future and all that it entails. But returning to the Morning Glory orphanage after all these years couldn't be more comforting.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a safe and superficial remake that's just another way for SEGA and RGG to release their anual Yakuza/Like a Dragon game. I do not recommend buying this its lackluster Dark Ties expansion, but, if you've never played Yakuza 3 before, this is not a bad way to do it, even if it's growingly clear that when Toshihiro Nagoshi left the studio in 2021, the series' creativity left with him.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
“Even an unambitious Yakuza can be trusted.”
Review in Finnish | Read full review
I’m somewhere in the middle, I’m curious as to what the team will be doing moving forward, but a tad weary at the approach. Like a Dragon as a franchise will likely continue indefinitely, but Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will probably be remembered as an inflection point amongst the fanbase.
"A Remaster That Respects the Spirit of the Original" Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties succeeds in delivering an enhanced version that retains the essence of the original experience while significantly improving combat and side content. The Dark Ties chapter adds a new narrative dimension that expands understanding of the game world, while the open world and diverse activities bring a sense of life and interaction. However, the remaster suffers from visual inconsistencies in some technical elements and occasionally inconsistent voice acting.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 delivers a polished return to familiar settings, with improved combat and presentation, but it also suffers from pacing issues and content cuts. Dark Ties, meanwhile, struggles to justify its inclusion, offering a filler‑heavy side story that adds little to the overall package. Still, there is plenty of fun to be had, even though some odd decisions dampen the mood.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Despite the controversy and the plethora of missing content, I still had a pretty great time during my nearly 40 hours with Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Tides. It makes some unnecessary changes, that’s for sure, some of which are quite disappointing (including the needless retcons at the end that will have serious ramifications for Yakuza 4‘s story), but the combat’s so much better than the original’s that it’s hard for me to be too cross about it.
Kiwami 3 is a complicated homecoming; while the Dragon Engine overhaul finally fixes the original's sluggish combat, it sacrifices a wealth of legacy side content in the process. The "Dark Ties" prequel adds needed depth to Mine, but uneven visuals and significant cuts make this remake feel more like a lateral move than a definitive upgrade.
The substories and main story were what made me keep playing Yakuza 3 Remastered, as after playing Yakuza Kiwami 2, the gameplay felt somewhat like a slog to me. Yakuza Kiwami 3 changed both of these reasons in ways that I mostly disapprove of, plus the character changes, but it made the gameplay considerably better, and added a lot of side content that was enjoyable, so it balanced it out. In short, Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a decent game for both newcomers and returning players, but I’d advise the former to play the original before this version.