Yakuza 3 & Dark Ties Is a Near Perfect Remake for the Series Oddity

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a full remake of Yakuza 3 that was originally released on the PlayStation 3 in 2009. Powered by RGG Studios’ in-house Dragon Engine, Yakuza Kiwami 3 has been modernised for the current generation with improved visuals, gameplay and modes.

However, before we jump into Yakuza Kiwami 3, it comes with an all-new story, Dark Ties, a prequel story that can be considered somewhat of an expansion to the base game. The game advises you to play Kiwami 3 first, due to Dark Ties concluding with the events of the base game, but considering that I’m already familiar with Yakuza 3, I jumped in to see what Dark Ties has to offer.

Dark Ties Is a Worthwhile Prequel Tale

Remaining spoiler-free, Dark Ties follows the story of Yoshitaka Mine, the protagonist of Yakuza 3. In the base game, Mine is the chairman of the Hakuho Clan. He’s a ruthless villain and hungry for power. In Dark Ties, we learn some of Mine’s backstory with somewhat humble beginnings.

Don't get me wrong, when I say humble beginnings, he’s still a very successful businessman. But when his peers turn against him, and he’s forced out of the company he built, his thirst for power leads him to the life of a Yakuza.

Mine is a master manipulator and will use every resource to climb from the bottom and work his way to the top. Money is no object, and with Kamurocho being a Yakuza cesspit where money, corruption and power run deep, Mine will do all that is necessary to get close to the sixth chairman of the Tojo Clan, Daigo Dojima.

Mine and Kanda in Dark Ties, SEGA

Much like in the base game, Mine has loads of activities to keep him busy in Kamurocho, from golf, bowling, pool, darts, karaoke and much more. Speaking of karaoke, sadly, in Mine’s story, he only has one song, which is a shame. Thankfully, that is not the case with Kiryu Kazuma in Kiwami 3. Playing all the minigames and the side missions, you will not only earn in-game currency, but also the all-important XP to level up Mine’s strength and abilities.

Let’s Talk About Combat, a Huge Part of Any Yakuza Game.

Mine’s combat is a shoot-boxing style, fast and efficient, just like his businessman-like qualities. It’s always fun beating up the silly folk of Kamurocho, who never seem to learn their lesson of starting random fights, and I’m certainly grateful for their stupidity. Mine also has an ability gauge, and when triggered, his “Dark Awakening” unleashes a barrage of ruthless attacks, inflicting heavy damage on his opponents.

Exclusive to Dark Ties, Mine can also test his combat skills in ‘Hell’s Arena’, an underground fight club in Kamaourcho. Players can either choose to run a roguelike gauntlet to take on a wave of enemies in the hope of earning rich rewards or take on opponents in the more traditional one-on-one ‘Hellish Brawls’ tournaments.

One of the tools that Mine manipulates to move up the Yakuza ranks is Tsuyoshi Kanda, a dumbass and crude member of Tojo Clan's Nishikiyama Family. Kanda wants to build up his rep in Kamaourcho, but he’s too lazy to do so. Thinking he’s the one pulling the strings, he sends Mine on errands to improve his reputation with the citizens of the city. Whether it's taking on quirky missions, such as investigating a panty sniffer or beating up thugs, Mine will build up Kanda’s reputation and build a bond to continue his manipulative tactics.

Mine punching a silly thug in Dark Ties, SEGA

All in all, Dark Ties is a fun experience and provides a valuable backstory to Yoshitaka Mine that we might not have otherwise known, especially when it comes to his complicated relationship with Daigo Dojima. It won't surprise seasoned vets of the series, but during the eight to ten hours it will take to finish, it’s an absolute blast.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 Is the Remake the OG Needed

I’ll openly admit that I love the Yakuza series for better or worse. I even love the PS3 spin-off, Yakuza: Dead Souls, a game that is somewhat of an ugly duckling of the series. I guess the combination of the wackiness of the franchise with zombies is an easy winning formula for me.

As for the mainline entry in the series, the original Yakuza 3 that was also released on the PlayStation 3 isn't the most well-received, as reflected by its 79 Metacritic score. I get it, while the gameplay, combat and side-activities are a blast, the story does take a while to get going. That being said, originally released in 2010, much of what made the game fun back then feels rather dated. Which is why Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a welcome remake.

In Yakuza Kiwami 3, Kiryu is attempting to cut all ties with the Tojo Clan, for which he was the fourth chairman. If you’re familiar with this series, Kiryu's trying to escape the Yakuza life never goes quite according to plan, but that’s all part of the fun.

Kiryu is now running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa, a much quieter place than the bustling, yet seedy city of Kamarucho. Trying to keep the plot vague for spoiler purposes, someone is trying to force Kiryu and the children of the orphanage off the land to build some sort of resort. However, as the story unfolds, there are sinister intentions in the works, and Kiryu will stop at nothing to fight the good fight, especially when it comes to his children, whom he has sworn to protect.

Kiryu and his children, SEGA

Being a remake, there are some changes, such as the obvious world looking visually more pleasing, with its world and NPCs recreated. Without giving anything away, there are some additional cut-scene moments and some changes to the story. But unless you’ve played the original game a ton, I doubt that it will bother most, and if you’re new to this game, then you’ll have no worries whatsoever. Remaining vague as a returning fan, I appreciate the subtle story changes because it makes it feel a little fresher.

That being said, visuals and added story context aside, the biggest improvement made in this game is, without a doubt, the combat. The combat was always fun in Yakuza 3, but in Kiwami 3, it feels a lot more free-flowing and more responsive. As with other recent games in the series, you can switch Kiryu’s combat on the fly with the old-school brawling ‘Dragon of Dojima’ style and the weapon-based ‘Ryukyu Style’. The latter of which includes weapons such as spears, nuncajus and more. It’s a lot of fun. As always, you can upgrade Kiryu’s abilities, but he can also learn more moves at a dojo to make the combat just about as deep as you’d want it to be. If not, you’ll always have a blast continually punching grunts in the face.

There are some new mini-game to Yakuza Kiwami 3, other than the typical karaoke, darts, pool and whatnot. Many of those new min-games will be encountered at the Morning Glory Orphanage. They consist of helping kids with school work, cooking, sewing, growing vegetables in the garden and more. Completing these mini-games will strengthen your bond with the children to build your ‘Daddy Rank’. This was an element not in the original game, and I think it adds more ways to have fun in the remake.

Also new to Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is the inclusion of SEGA Game Gear titles, the ill-fated but beloved handheld console of the '90s. There are tons of games to discover and purchase in the game, such as Sonic Chaos, Pac-Man, Columns, The G.G. Shinobi and much more. You also have the choice of the Japanese and NTSC versions. The best thing about these games is that you no longer have to worry about the Game Gear batteries dying every half-an-hour.

What else is new to Yakuza Kiwami 3?

Kiryu kicking ass, SEGA

You may also be pleased to know that there are three new arcade games in Yakuza Kiwami 3. Those games are Emergency Call Ambulance, which is kinda like Crazy Taxi, but your passengers will die if you don't reach the hospital in time (which is nice). Magical Truck Adventure is a quirky racing game on a hand-operated rail cart, where you’re being chased by bad guys who throw objects at you. And the final arcade game is SlashOut, a sequel to the brawling game, SpikeOut, which has appeared in previous games in this series.

Additionally, there’s a new side mode called Bad Boy Dragon. This is basically like the ‘Goro Pirates’ mode in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. But in Yakuza Kiwami 3, as Kiyru, you’re the chairman of a badass girl biker group, who fights other groups for dominance in Okiwana. You can recruit more members. The more you brawl other gangs, the more they’ll level up and unlock cool items. It’s a fun mode for what it is, but it wasn't something that really caught my attention. It’s something extra to keep you busy if it tickles your fancy.

Customisation Is Huge!

Finally, one of the other big changes in Yakuza Kiwami 3 is that you’re now able to change Kiryu’s clothes, unlike in the original game, where you had to wear what you were given. Now, just like Goro Majima in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza, you can dress Kiryu as you please, even customise his mobile phone and motorcycle in the ‘Bad Boy Dragon’ mode.

All in all, Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a worthwhile remake that follows on from the great work achieved in the original Kiwami and Kiwami 2. The game feels fresh in all areas that it needs to be, without losing the identity of what made this game popular in 2009. The combat is fluid and fun, the graphics are sharp, the camera is not restrictive, and there are some new elements, such as cut-scenes, modes, and mini-games that help make the game feel somewhat fresh. Simply put, if you’re already in love with the Yakuza series, then you’re gonna love Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties.

Pros: Combat is better than the original, looks fantastic, new cut-scene moments, loads of fun side-activities

Cons: One of the weaker Yakuza games (but it’s still great)

For fans of: Both previous Yakuza Kiwami remakes, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

8/10: Excellent

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties releases on 12 February 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5 (version tested), PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch 2. A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.