Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Game Information
- Developed by RGG Studios
- Published by SEGA
- Released in 2025
- Available on Xbox One/S/X, PS4/5, and PC (Steam)
Taken To Its Kiwami
Though its presence in the Japanese video game industry has been stable since its inception in 2005,
the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series has only recently become a breakout success in Western
spheres. To finger one aspect of the games as the secret to success in the West would be a disservice to
the rest of the ideas that make Like a Dragon so great. And yet, it is undeniable that part of this
success is due, in part, to the reputation of 'sillyness' the series has garnered. Though the Yakuza
games are serious crime dramas at heart, there is this certain dichotomy between serious and silly sprinkled
throughout the content seen in-game, particularly in the mini-games and 'sub stories' players can opt to do.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (hereby shortened to Pirate Yakuza) flies in the face
of this delicate balance, presenting itself as a more light hearted adventure with the ridiculous premise of
starring fan-favorite character Goro Majima as the captain of a pirate crew in modern-day Hawaii.
All of this is not to say that Pirate Yakuza has completely abandoned the crime drama identity its
predecessors are known for, not at all. The game certainly maintains grit and violence within its unique setting,
though rather than being crucial pillars of the game's themes, they serve as a means to an end to drive the narrative
home. With this in mind, how does Pirate Yakuza hold up? Join me on an amnesiac Goro Majima's adventure with
his unlikely savior, a 10-year-old Noah Rich, as they search for the forgotten treasure of Esperanza.