5 things I hope to see in Yakuza Kiwami 3

✓ Videogamer Summary

• The first Yakuza game was released in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2.
• Almost every game features an arcade that allows players to access games from SEGA’s past.
• In total, the Yakuza series has sold almost 30 million copies worldwide.
• A TV show based on the series Like a Dragon: Yakuza debuted on Amazon Prime Video in October 2024.
• The newest game, a remake of Yakuza Kiwami 3, is scheduled for release in February 2026 for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series S|X, and PC.

After various leaks, Yakuza Kiwami 3 has finally been confirmed. Since its debut on the Sony PlayStation 2 in 2005, the Yakuza franchise has grown into a series followed by devoted fans worldwide. This latest remake lines up as a do-over and a chance at redemption for one of the series’ less well-received entries.

Yakuza 3 was released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, introducing enhanced graphics and gameplay mechanics, as well as two distinct locations: Kamurocho and Downtown Ryukyu. Although fans enjoyed the title, many found its opening to be slow-paced and had much to complain about regarding enemies with difficult hit points. With Yakuza Kiwami 3 coming soon, we’re listing five things we hope to see, namely, to remedy some of the original’s flaws.

Streamline Kiryu’s backstory

When you start a Yakuza game, you expect to step right into the action, scrapping with a rival gang down some dingy alley in the middle of the night. However, in Yakuza 3, you spend several hours at an orphanage that Kiryu set up after the events of Yakuza 2. Despite this narrative making sense for the character, it doesn’t make much sense for the player to participate in this over the course of several chapters.

Instead, let’s see this section slimmed down in Yakuza Kiwami 3. Perhaps have the bulk of this as optional cut-scenes, and build out the subsequent chapters where Kiryu finds himself back in Kamurocho. This way, we can touch on what Kiryu has been up to, without having to deal with hours of tedious exposition.

New arcade games

Arcade games in the Yakuza series are seen as spiritual successors to those in SEGA’s iconic Shenmue series, where you could walk into an arcade and play games like Out Run and Space Harrier. The Yakuza followed suit by allowing you to do very much the same, sampling SEGA classics in bite-sized chunks at your discretion.

From Virtua On to Virtua Fighter 5 Showdown, there’s been plenty to play. In Yakuza 3, you could take a break from the main story by dipping into titles like Out Run, Space Harrier, and Boxcelios, but let’s see some more in Yakuza Kiwami 3. Much like how Yakuza Kiwami 2 added new arcade games, I’d like to see titles like Virtua Fighter 3, Fighting Vipers, or Crazy Taxi make an appearance in the remake.

Better storytelling

Yakuza 3’s beginning drags before you get into the action proper due to the focus on Kiryu setting up an orphanage. But there are other points where the overall plot isn’t as sharp as previous Yakuza games. Other moments veer off from and take too long to get to the crux of what matters, getting in the way of what Yakuza 3 is trying to achieve.

For Yakuza Kiwami 3, it would be fantastic to see errands and side-missions cut back, making way for snappier access to the main plot. Granted, some players like the narrative the original tells, but it’s often a bit too much, hindering the superb moment-to-moment gameplay for which Yakuza is known. If the remake keeps things tighter, it would address some fundamental issues faced by the 2009 original.

Expanded first person view

Yakuza 3 introduced a first-person view, setting it apart from its predecessors. It was reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid 2’s take on this, where players could look around an area while also holding up guards or shooting at objects. However, Yakuza 3’s approach was limited to simply looking around. To see this expanded in the remake would elevate the experience..

With the numerous weapons and locations players progress through, an expanded first-person view would enable more and deeper interactions. From talking to people to combat, it would help immerse the player even further in Yakuza Kiwami 3’s world.

All-Star Tournament improvements

A prime feature of the Yakuza series is the post-game content once you’ve wrapped up the main story. In Yakuza 3, a mode called All-Star Tournament stages fights against enemies from the game in a 1-on-1 mode. As you progress, you also face exclusive characters, ramping up the challenge even more. It’s a mode that’s fondly remembered by players, but it could be so much more in Yakuza Kiwami 3.

Let’s see an expansion where even more characters appear—perhaps from other games in the series, such as Yakuza Like A Dragon, or Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Other features, such as leaderboards or multiplayer, could elevate All-Star Tournament into something entirely more exciting.

FAQs

References

1. Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties on Steam (Steam)