Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Reviews
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is recommended because it is a remake that respects and updates the classic. It offers many hours of fun and a solid narrative experience. The combat system has been revamped and still includes a wide variety of missions/activities. It also includes a new story featuring Yoshitaka Mine. Without a doubt, it is an excellent opportunity to delve into this chapter of the saga.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It’s hard not to feel conflicted about Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, because while it plays smoother and looks cleaner, many of its story changes and cut content weaken what originally worked. The remake still has solid moments, especially with Dad Kiryu, but combat, pacing, and Dark Ties often feel shallow or stretched out. It’s not a bad time, just a messy step forward that doesn’t fully honor what makes the Yakuza series work.
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Review in Italian | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties delivers a refined take on one of the series’ most emotional entries, modernizing its storytelling, combat, and character depth while introducing a compelling prequel that expands the lore. With a heartfelt focus on Kiryu’s role as a father and a meaningful expansion in Dark Ties, this package solidifies its place as a worthy revisit for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties brings one of Kiryu’s most personal chapters back with smoother combat, stronger pacing, and a clearer sense of place. The remake respects what made Yakuza 3 different, while Dark Ties adds context without pulling focus away from the main story. It isn’t flawless, but as a complete package, it’s an easy chapter to return to and play through.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is the complete package. You get not one, but two fully-contained campaigns, with all the violence and drama you’d expect in any Yakuza story. Having both games unlocked from the start is great for anyone who’s played the original Yakuza 3 and just wants to get to all of the new stuff, though any players new to Yakuza 3 will probably want to play Yakuza Kiwami 3 first to get more familiar with the story. Playing either game is guaranteed to be a good time.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties has no interest in the source material other than trying to adapt it to the tired formula of mass appeal that Masayoshi Yokoyama perfected when he took over as head of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. In the process, the game forgets everything that made the original story a landmark of the franchise and replaces it with a thick coat of corporate varnish. Unfortunate associations and certain narrative decisions also make the experience hard to swallow. A true disappointment in the franchise, of the kind that has, unfortunately, become more common over time — perhaps it's time for the end of the annual format.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 is more than just a graphical update to one of the series' most human classics, it's an expansion with lots of fun new content, but the combat leaves a lot to be desired while Dark Ties is totally unnecessary.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is, above all, a celebration of what the series does best. The package strikes a smart balance between nostalgia and modernization, revisiting a key chapter in Kazuma Kiryu’s journey while expanding the universe with an original story that adds depth to one of the franchise’s most compelling antagonists. It’s not a revolutionary game, but it is a very welcome refinement of a formula that still works.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a reinvention of a classic entry in the franchise, but it's far from being its definitive version. (Review written in Portuguese for Entertainium Brasil)
Anyone who's never played "Yakuza 3" will definitely have fun with "Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties." The story is exciting, there's plenty to do everywhere, and the new mode with Mine as the playable character is sure to provide many hours of entertainment. However, all in all, this third "Kiwami" installment just doesn't quite gel. This is certainly due to the numerous removed elements from the original, the lack of depth in the new features, and the reuse of familiar structures from other RGG games. Aside from the roguelike mode, which isn't exactly groundbreaking either, many things are just another copy that's rather unexciting.
Review in German | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is essential as a complete narrative package. It takes the heart of the series, Kiryu’s struggle to find peace, and gives it the presentation it deserves. Dark Ties puts the spotlight on an underutilized and misunderstood antagonist in a campaign that is over all too soon. If you don’t mind some of RGG Studio’s choices regarding casting and delisting Yakuza 3 Remastered, then I’d say this is a must-play.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 + Dark Ties is an ambitious remake that modernizes a pivotal chapter of the franchise while preserving much of its emotional core. Refined combat, rebuilt visuals powered by the Dragon Engine, and a more mature narrative make it especially rewarding for long-time fans. However, controversial changes to the ending, explained through the Dark Ties expansion. may frustrate series veterans, and the inconsistent English voice acting undermines immersion at key moments. Performance on Switch 2 is solid and meaningful for the series. Not an ideal entry point, but still a rich and memorable experience, albeit one that will likely divide its audience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, burdened with the series’ greatest expectations and doubts, set out to preserve the original story while filling its gaps. Though not flawless, it ultimately overcomes its limits, coming closest yet to the “Kiwami” ideal.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties together form a great game that tells a well-rounded story, showcasing not only Kiryu's more human side but also Mine's darker side. Thanks to the new content, Mine's character has a deeper development, solidifying her status as one of the best villains in the series. Additionally, it features a wide selection of minigames and new missions and story arcs not present in the original version. However, just as the third installment marked a turning point for the franchise, its reimagining has revealed a possible stagnation or fatigue with the formula.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a welcome surprise from a title that many long-time fans, myself included, once considered the weakest entry in the Like A Dragon series. Where the original often felt overshadowed by its more explosive predecessors, the Kiwami remake breathes new life into this quieter chapter, elevating it into something far more memorable. Playing through Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties was a genuine joy, and it now feels like a worthy addition to the Kiwami brand of remakes.
There is precious little to enjoy about Yakuza Kiwami 3. From problematic casting to combat that feels near mindless compared to the series’ usual output, incredibly dull side content to story changes that seem to actively disdain the work of the original writers, Yakuza Kiwami 3 lacks charm, heart, and a clear direction, resulting in a new low point for the venerable series.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a reimagining of the original, featuring modernization across several aspects, highly welcome additions, and an excellent experience for every type of player—whether new to the franchise or a longtime fan. The Dark Ties campaign stands out as an intriguing element, opening the possibility for RGG to apply this strategy to other beloved characters from the series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While it's sure to get longtime fans talking with its new twist ending, there's no doubt that Yakuza Kiwami 3 plays much better than the original.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties is an exceptional entry in the Yakuza series, with a strong story, great combat, plenty to do, and gorgeous visuals.