Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Reviews
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.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 on Xbox Series X is a brilliant remake that preserves the tone and atmosphere of the franchise, whilst modernising the experience. If you’re a die-hard Yakuza fan like myself, then you’ll love this one. Having this as a double release with two different angles shows just how talented and strong Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio are. Kiwami 3 will offer you a huge feast of content with an engaging storyline, plenty of action, turf wars, and more. Dark Ties is a shorter campaign, which will take around 15-20 hours to finish, which is a welcome addition when Kiwami 3 takes around 60-70 hours.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a much-needed remake in the Yakuza series, offering the fans a boatload of new content and streamlining some of the most controversial sections of the original game. With the addition of richer visuals and the excellent Dark Ties expansions, and despite some overly aggressive cuts and mandatory pace-breaking side activities, the final result is definitely a game that the series' fans shouldn't miss.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties should have been a much better experience, given the studio’s ability to reform and rebuild so much of what worked in the original. However, with poorly implemented pacing, a ton of cut content, and an awful casting choice, the title only succeeds in any real way due to the main story. Kiryu’s journey to find that normal life is one worth seeking, as well as diving into the criminal mind of Mine, should you be able to put up with a host of various issues, and that Yakuza elephant in the room.
With Yakuza 3 Kiwami & Dark Ties, RGG Studio has made a decidedly divisive choice, once again reshaping what was never the most beloved entry in the series. Their decision to alter or remove original content in favor of new interactions won’t please purists, but it does make the experience fresher and less predictable, even for longtime fans. The Mine-focused expansion is a welcome addition: not essential from a gameplay standpoint, but effective in enriching the narrative context. In the end, it remains a polarizing chapter—now as much as back then—but unquestionably the best and most modern way to experience Kiryu’s first adventure in the waters of Okinawa. As for me, the changes are more than welcome; if I wanted the PS3 version, I’d just dust off my 2009 Blu‑ray.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is an overall great package that retains or expands on most of what made Yakuza 3 great while also adding a welcome new story from Mine’s perspective. Some of the cut content and added content can be just a little bit puzzling, and I’m a little nervous about the altered story content, but otherwise, this is a brilliant way to revisit one of the most underrated Yakuza titles.
Yakuza Kiwami 3: Dark Ties is a successful modernization of a misunderstood classic. By fixing the combat frustrations of the past and adding the meaningful "Dark Ties" campaign, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has turned a "black sheep" into a must-play. While the early story pacing is a bit clunky and the handheld resolution could be sharper, the heart of the game is bigger than ever.
The original Yakuza 3 was already a great game with an emotional story, but Yakuza Kiwami 3 adds so much more with new story elements that make Kiryu’s relationship with everyone more personal ever, upgraded gameplay and loads of side activities. Dark Ties explores the motivation behind the main antagonist of the main game and what led him to leave his successful business behind and enter the seedy underbelly.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is an impressive package that successfully brings an outdated classic into the modern era, and whilst a questionable recast, some stiff facial animations, and cut-down side activities might hold it back from perfection for purists, the sheer amount of heart on display makes up for it. Between the fantastic combat overhaul, the addictive orphanage management, and the surprisingly deep Dark Ties prequel (as well as the insanely addictive ‘Hell’s Arena’), Kiryu’s island getaway has never been better.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a distinctly unambitious game. It is utterly uninterested in functioning as a faithful remake of Yakuza 3 or pushing the series forward in any meaningful way. RGG Studio has created a Frankenstein’s monster of thrown together mechanics from past entries that wears the skin of a flawed, but significant and in many ways beloved legacy title, and bundled it with an ultimately meaningless spin-off that only escalates growing concerns with the franchise’s future.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties delivers emotional character depth and strong value, but its structural age and uneven pacing prevent it from reaching the heights of the series’ best.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 is divided between new and old fans, but it still delivers a wonderful story and takes on the task of expanding the title's content to an unexpected size.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties brings quite a lot to the table in terms of a remake, with its refined combat mechanics along with new story content and mini-games. While the pacing and visual changes might be offputting to veteran fans, this is a sleek and modernized way to play this entry.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties trims content, adds recycled ideas, and delivers uneven additions, leaving its strong combat to carry an otherwise shaky remake.
Even with its weaker combat compared to its predecessors, the fights remain incredible to watch. Despite the questionable character model changes and the inclusion of a non-grata voice actor in the cast, its story is even more engaging, its characters remain amazing, the exploration is even more immersive, and above all, Yakuza maintains its strong and admirable spirit.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a mostly competent remake of an original that needed an update. The combat and upgrade changes are welcome, though those in the ending and its attempt to justify the expansion are not.
If there’s one remarkable thing I can say about Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties it’s that it truly made me empathize with its protagonist more than any other game in the series, as just like Kiryu, I spent the entire experience wishing I were sitting on a beach with my loved ones.
Overshadowed by a very troubled production and awful casting choices, Kiwami 3 is still a worthwhile expansion of the Yakuza saga.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 + Dark Ties makes plenty of necessary improvements, but some of the changes make it hard to recommend over the original.