While it may not be a next-gen game exactly, I was surprised to see the announcement of Yakuza Kiwami coming to the Nintendo Switch. As the console sits comfortably in its twilight years, the addition of a beloved game in a franchise experiencing a historic run of success and growth in its fandom is a welcome addition.

Although the gameplay might harken back to the early days of the series, the core elements that make Yakuza games so beloved are here. Whether you’re looking to walk the streets of Kamurocho again or looking for an entry point into these games, Yakuza Kiwami is a near-essential addition to your library. Here’s our review of Yakuza Kiwami for the Nintendo Switch.

As a remake of the original Yakuza game, Yakuza Kiwami is the best way to play the first game in the franchise as well as a great place to start for newcomers. It’s worth noting that the gameplay, particularly the combat, looks a bit different in newer games. The Like a Dragon series, which is the newest iteration of the Yakuza franchise, utilizes turn-based combat whereas Yakuza Kiwami and other earlier titles utilize a brawler-style fighting mechanic. This new addition to the Switch library does incorporate a deeper fighting system like the Xbox One and PC versions but is largely the same game as the original with minimal upgrades or remaster effects.

Yakuza Kiwami explores the life of a man named Kazuma Kiryu who is demoted from his clan after taking the blame for his boss’s murder. After a decade in prison, Kiryu seeks out his old friends and partners while battling the effects of what prison has transformed in him. What works so well in this game is its simplicity and structure. There’s a main story you progress with mission-style entries in your journey, as well as a slew of side quests to participate in should you choose. There’s nothing revolutionary here, but it’s a joy to play from start to finish. Revisiting the game for this Yakuza Kiwami Nintendo Switch review took me about 23 hours.

Performance-wise, as I mentioned, there isn’t a full remaster experience here. It’s basically the PS4 version, but given that it’s on the Switch and can be played portably, it looks wonderful. Frame rates in docked mode are stronger than handheld, but I didn’t have a moment or sequence where the performance became a bother. This is a well-optimized game, and a good one at that, on a console well past its prime. In terms of execution on that front, three cheers all around for the development team. While I wish a bit more fine-tuning could have updated the game to 2024’s luxuries, it still provides a fun time for players.

It’s hard to not knock it for this, but the game does feel like a step back from newer Yakuza and Like a Dragon games. By that, I mean that it looks like a PS4 game and plays like one too. The clunkier movement is a bit of an adjustment for those who have played newer entries in the series, but certainly not something that makes this feel like a relic of an unknown time in gaming. As a point of entry to the series, however, and as a way to get acclimated to the incredible character of Kazuma Kiryu, I can’t think of a reason to skip this game if you’re a fan of action-adventure titles and have shown interest in the series from afar.

From iconic side quests and mini-games to a story that delicately balances over-the-top action and emotionally complex characters, Yakuza Kiwami is a wonderful game that is a marvel as a handheld experience. The Nintendo Switch might not be the only way to play high-quality AAA games in the palm of your hand anymore, but it still feels great playing it and revisiting this wonderful start to a historic series. Don’t skip Yakuza Kiwami if the franchise interests you. At $20, this game’s release on the Nintendo Switch comfortably places it among some of the most no-brainer games to pick up for your Switch library.

A review code for Yakuza Kiwami was provided by SEGA for this review.

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Yakuza Kiwami

$19.99

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• A great way to jump into the Yakuza franchise
• Great performance on the Switch in both handheld and docked mode
• An easy-to-follow action game with plenty of side quests to explore

Cons

• The game feels dated, and could have really used a few fine-tuning additions
• Not quite the way the franchise plays now, but still fun to revisit this era of the series