Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Reviews
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties delivers a complete remake of the third game in the series alongside a new story episode that complements the narrative of Yakuza Kiwami 3 by delving even deeper into the motivations and desires of Yoshitaka Mine. Yakuza Kiwami 3 presents a more compact version of Yakuza 3’s story, making some questionable choices by relocating certain content to side activities, in addition to introducing significant changes to Kiryu’s gameplay. Dark Ties, on the other hand, succeeds by focusing exclusively on Mine’s deeper character development, offering a short campaign that knows when to end, despite falling a bit short in terms of secondary content.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It’s not easy to refresh and improve a game that was already excellent from the very start. Too often the remakes go too far and lose the original’s atmosphere in the process. However, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio once again proves that they are masters of both creating new titles and revitalizing older ones. Yakuza Kiwami 3 not only preserves the best elements of the original but also fixes all of its flaws and limitations. It’s an almost perfect remake and an absolute must-play!
Review in Polish | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is not a simple remake. It is a reappraisal of an underestimated chapter. Kiwami 3 finally gives Kiryu’s story the mechanical weight it deserves, while Dark Ties proves that the series has the courage to seriously question its antagonists.
Review in German | Read full review
Story-wise Yakuza Kiwami 3 brings little that is new, but its improved presentation, welcome side content—especially the character-building Morning Glory moments—and the added value of Dark Ties make it a solid remake with better visuals and tighter gameplay that’s highly recommended for newcomers who enjoyed Kiwami 1 and 2, though it likely won’t change the minds of those who disliked the original.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
I’m a bit annoyed at our 5-point scoring system right now. Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a classic 7/10 kind of game. The foundation is solid, the story is gripping, and the amount of side content is generous. But what good are 100 side quests if 90% of them are painfully boring? Why isn’t Okinawa used to its full potential? And why does Dark Ties feel more focused on Kanda than on Mine? In the end, that leaves a slight sense of disappointment — and the question of whether RGG Studios can find their footing again. I really hope they do.
Review in German | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is another great remake in the Yakuza series, bringing a good title from the series into a new era with new features and improvements that make it more accessible, as well as greater attention to its main villain. The game is beautiful to play, fun, packed with content, and features the excellent gameplay that the series has made famous.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties delivers phenomenal storytelling, endlessly engaging activities, and heartfelt character moments that shattered every preconception I had about the franchise.