Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 81 | 200 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 83 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 83% | 76 | 709 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 87% | 80 | 55 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 157 reviews sampled · 141 total reviews in window · weighted 113.2 up / 17.3 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (134)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Yakuza Kiwami is an excellent remake of the cult classic PS2 game, with completely redesigned graphics, a new soundtrack and updated mechanics. Unfortunately, developers failed to completely get rid of the shortcomings of the original, which are expressed in navigation problem in the middle of the game and a small variety of locations. Nevertheless, incredibly charismatic characters and an interesting plot make this game very memorable.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If Yakuza 0 didn't exist, we would probably rate Yakuza Kiwami higher. But we're in kind of strange situation right now: before playing Kiwami, you should finish the prequel, but because of that you will be left with a game of smaller scale and a bit worse quality.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Yakuza Kiwami is a stripped-down, basic version of a winning formula, but there's no denying it still wins.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Yakuza Kiwami manages to be a great value for money purchase. A solid narrative, fantastic combat, and a plethora of activities to partake in make it an easy recommendation for long-time fans and newbies alike.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“No matter how significant the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series might have become, this first instalment is a mixed bag. At times Yakuza Kiwami is full of life and ambition. At other times it's as frustrating and seems too willing to draw things out in a slightly over-indulgent way. Experimenting with the battle system is satisfying for as long as the game gives you space to do it. But the game's pace-killing negatives, the difficulty spikes and the quickly diminishing returns of wandering the Tokyo streets, marred by random battles and fetching items, hold it back from being an easy recommendation. You may well enjoy yourself during your playthrough, but we'd bet a few thousand yen that some of the less-streamlined elements will test your patience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Yakuza Kiwami is a great game. Certainly not everybody’s cup of tea, especially those that aren’t a fan of Japanese culture or media in languages other than English. But I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with Yakuza Kiwami. While not as long as other games in the Yakuza franchise, it’s great story and substories(side quests) combined with it being the perfect jumping on point for anyone looking to dive into the series for the first time make it well worth the asking price.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“In essence, Kiwami is a remake of the original Yakuza, released for PS2 in 2005. Rather than porting, Sega has pushed the story into the new engine, giving the feel of the newer games but retaining most of the narrative from the original. For those who have not played Yakuza before, this means you take on the role of Kazuma Kiryu, a member of the Tojo Clan who spends far less time being a yakuza than you would think in a game with the word in its title.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Despite these minor quibbles, nearly every aspect of Yakuza Kiwami remains a colossal step up when compared to the original 2005 release. New movesets, more varied minigames and side quests, alongside the massively improved graphical fidelity make Kiwami the much preferred way to play through the classic story. It is a safe retelling that helps lay the groundwork for future titles, and that’s plenty.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I really can't recommend this title enough. It may not hit as high as Zero did, but it does a damned fine job modernizing a game that fans fell in love with a decade ago. Tack that on with a budget price and an abundance of gameplay, and you'll be finding yourself among the ranks of Yakuza fans, as I have.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A great game, but one that pales in comparison to Yakuza 0. Still, if you enjoyed Yakuza 0, you'll enjoy Yakuza Kiwami, though the story is different and the gameplay might have taken step back.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Yakuza Kiwami is an exceptional game with exceptional action and exceptional stories. There are so many things to do and experience here that $30 for Yakuza Kiwami feels almost like highway robbery. Throw in Yakuza 0 and you are set for about 100 hours of great gaming.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Sega’s Yakuza series finally makes it way to Switch, bringing with it an epic story, varied beat-em-up action, and plenty of odd “sides””
read full review ↗
GameMAG
3DNews
Slant Magazine
Gadgets 360
Nintendo Life
ani-game.com
Invision Community
Gamer Escape
Kinglink Reviews
Total Gaming Network
Nindie Spotlight…and 122 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch 2.13Jan 23, 2026