8.5 /10 17

Yakuza 0 (known in Japan as Ryu ga Gotoku Zero) stands as the undisputed champion of entry points for SEGA’s long-running crime saga. Released originally in the West in 2017 and maintaining a massive following in 2025, it serves as a prequel set in the decadence of 1980s Bubble Era Japan. What makes Yakuza 0 unique is its masterful tonal balance: it oscillates instantly between a heart-wrenching, noir-style yakuza conspiracy and some of the most absurd, hilarious side content in gaming history. By controlling two protagonists—the stoic Kazuma Kiryu and the chaotic Goro Majima—players get two distinct combat systems and narratives that eventually weave into one. In an era of bloated open worlds, Yakuza 0’s dense, compact districts of Kamurocho and Sotenbori prove that map size is irrelevant compared to content density.

How to Play Yakuza 0

The game is a third-person action-adventure brawler with RPG elements. You explore open city districts, fight street thugs, and engage in minigames.

1. Controls – Combat is combo-based (Square/X for light, Triangle/Y for heavy). The learning curve is gentle, but mastering the “Heat Action” system requires timing and environmental awareness.
2. Progression – Uniquely, money is XP. You literally eat money to upgrade your abilities. Defeating enemies causes cash to explode out of them, fitting the 1980s economic bubble theme.
3. Combat/Mechanics – Both characters have three distinct fighting styles (e.g., Kiryu’s Brawler, Rush, Beast) that can be switched on the fly. Unlocking the secret fourth “Legend” style requires completing major side businesses.
4. Tips – Do not rush the main story. The “Real Estate Royale” and “Cabaret Club Czar” minigames are massive campaigns in their own right and provide the best unlocks.

Who Should Play Yakuza 0

This game caters to those who love Japanese culture, melodrama, and arcade-style combat. It is a dense, text-heavy experience.

• Player 1 – Fans of martial arts movies and crime dramas who appreciate a serious, high-stakes plot involving honor and betrayal.
• Player 2 – Completionists who enjoy “gamey” video games; the sheer amount of minigames (karaoke, disco, bowling, pocket circuit) is staggering.
• Player 3 – Newcomers to the Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise. This is chronologically the first game and requires no prior knowledge.
• Skip if – You dislike reading subtitles (the game is fully voiced in Japanese with English text) or prefer realistic, slower-paced Western open worlds like RDR2.

Yakuza 0 Platform Performance

While Yakuza 0 runs on an older engine, it performs reliably on modern consoles via backward compatibility. It does not have a native PS5/Series app, but the brute force of new hardware ensures a lock.

Yakuza 0 System Requirements

The game is incredibly well-optimized for PC, running on the older engine before the switch to the Dragon Engine, allowing it to run on potato hardware.

Similar Games to Yakuza 0

Yakuza occupies a unique niche, but there are other games that capture aspects of its city exploration and combat.

• Sleeping Dogs – A grittier, Hong Kong-based open world that focuses more on driving and Arkham-style counter combat than Yakuza’s arcade brawling.
• Shenmue I & II – The spiritual predecessor; much slower and more simulation-focused, but shares the detailed Japanese city exploration DNA.
• Judgment – A spin-off by the same studio set in the same city (Kamurocho), featuring a detective protagonist and updated combat mechanics.
• River City Girls – A 2D beat-’em-up that captures the arcade brawling spirit and humor, though in a very different visual style.

Yakuza 0 vs Competitors

Yakuza 0 offers an absurd value proposition in terms of content-per-dollar compared to other open-world action games.

Yakuza 0 Story & World

Set in December 1988, the story revolves around the “Empty Lot,” a tiny patch of real estate in Kamurocho that becomes the center of a bloody war between rival yakuza families. You play as a 20-year-old Kazuma Kiryu, framed for murder, and Goro Majima, a disgraced yakuza managing a cabaret club in Osaka. The narrative is a masterclass in crime noir, featuring betrayals, political maneuvering, and intensely emotional character arcs. The world captures the neon-soaked excess of the Bubble Era perfectly, where taxis are hard to hail because everyone is rich, and the streets are filled with aggressive salarymen and thugs.

Yakuza 0 Multiplayer & Online

Yakuza 0 is primarily a single-player RPG, but it features limited local multiplayer functionality for its minigames.

• Local PvP – Two players can compete in bowling, darts, and disco dancing minigames locally.
• Online Climax Battles – There are online leaderboards for the “Climax Battles” challenge mode.
• Poker/Mahjong – These can be played against AI only; there is no online gambling with other players.
• Cross-Play – Not applicable as there is no online matchmaking.

Yakuza 0 DLC & Expansions

The Western release of Yakuza 0 essentially includes all the content that was originally DLC in the Japanese version, integrated into the base game.

• Item Packs – Various “care packages” of items and outfits can be claimed from Bob Utsunomiya at the shrine.
• No Story DLC – The game is complete on arrival; no additional story chapters were sold separately.
• Digital Deluxe – Usually includes wallpapers or avatars, but no gameplay content differences.
• Free Updates – The game is stable and no longer receives content patches.

Yakuza 0 Community & Support

The Yakuza community is one of the most positive and passionate in gaming, often referred to as “Kyodais” (brothers).

• Ryu Ga Gotoku Subreddit – A massive, active community sharing memes, tips for Mahjong, and lore discussions.
• Modding Scene (PC) – Active modding community on NexusMods improving textures, restoring licensed music, and altering fighting styles.
• Steam Guides – Essential for players trying to understand the complex rules of Japanese gambling minigames like Mahjong and Shogi.
• Updates – While official support has ended, the community patches on PC keep the game modernized.