Summary
- Sega has unveiled some of the many mini-games players will find in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
- These include karaoke, Dragon Kart, Crazy Delivery, and more.
- The game is scheduled for release on February 21, 2025.
Many of the mini-games in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii have been unveiled by Sega, and some of them may look very familiar to fans of the franchise. Set for release in February, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a stand-alone spinoff game that takes place after the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Players will take control of franchise icon Goro Majima in a strange and zany pirate adventure that also features naval ship combat.
Yakuza fans have been treated to a lot of Like a Dragon content over the past two years. In 2023, Sega released its remake of Like a Dragon: Ishin, which made its Western debut for the first time. Later that year, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name was released and served as a bridge for newer players, following Kazuma Kiryu's story from the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. While both of those games were smaller adventures, 2024 saw the release of the next big RPG title, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which received glowing reviews and has even been nominated in two categories at The Game Awards: Best Narrative and Best RPG.
How Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's Trailer Hints at an Old Feature's Return
Amidst all of the action in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's trailer, there's a hint at a new version of a previous mechanic.
With about two months to go until the release of the next entry in the storied Yakuza franchise, Sega has just posted a short 30-second video to YouTube showcasing some of the mini-games players will be able to enjoy in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Of course, karaoke has been a mainstay of the Yakuza franchise, and it'll make its return in Pirate Yakuza, but the title will feature other mini-games that also look quite familiar, like the return of Dragon Kart from 2020's Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Crazy Delivery, which was introduced in Infinite Wealth. Lastly, the trailer concluded with a vague reveal of something called Masaru's Love Journey. It's unknown what exactly this mini-game will entail or whether it has anything to do with Infinite Wealth's Miss Match dating app mini-game.
Sega Reveals Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Mini-Games
Despite Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii being a smaller side entry, these games are usually packed with even more mini-games than Sega chooses to reveal ahead of their release. Since many of the ones shown are being carried over from past games, there could likely be even more mini-games in store for players, perhaps in some of the game's new explorable areas, such as Madlantis or even out on the open sea on Goro's pirate ship. With that said, some of Infinite Wealth's larger mini-games, like Sujimon or its Animal Crossing-like Dondoko Island village builder, don't seem likely to return for Pirate Yakuza.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to release on February 21, 2025. It's dropping in an incredibly busy month alongside huge titles like Assassin's Creed Shadows, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Avowed. Despite all this, the game is sure to stand out among the crowd with the help of its wild reputation and its collection of wacky and over-the-top mini-games.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
- Released
- February 21, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
WHERE TO PLAY
A new legend begins as you step into the steel toe boots of Goro Majima, a man who has lost his memory and reinvents himself as a pirate on the open sea.
Embark on an over-the-top, modern-day pirate adventure with an ex-yakuza, now pirate captain and his crew as they engage in exhilarating combat on land and sea in the hunt for lost memories and a legendary treasure.
PIRATE YAKUZA ADVENTURE AHOY!
Goro Majima, a notorious ex-yakuza suddenly finds himself shipwrecked on a remote island in the Pacific. Unable to remember even his own name, he sets sail in search of clues to his lost memories, accompanied by a boy named Noah who saved his life. Before long, they’re caught up in a conflict between cutthroat criminals, modern-day pirates, and other scoundrels over a legendary treasure.
GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER
Assemble a one-of-a-kind crew while upgrading your ship as you explore the open sea and forge your legend in the cannon fire of foes, unexpected friendships, and immense riches made along the way.
When an enemy pirate ship catches you in their sights, an exhilarating real-time cannon battle breaks out. Quickly maneuver into position while avoiding fire, then deliver devastating damage to board the enemy ship and take down the captain in all-out crew vs. Crew brawls. Conquer the seas, discover hidden islands and acquire loads of loot like a true yakuza pirate!
KICK ARRRSS WITH CREATIVE COMBAT
Dynamically switch between the “Mad Dog” and “Sea Dog” fighting styles to mix-up attacks and deliver explosive combos, juggles, and aerial takedowns that reward your creativity with over-the-top action.
With “Mad Dog” style, utilize speed, agility, and flair to deliver precise yet powerful blows that stun your enemies into submission. Or make enemies walk the plank with the “Sea Dog” style that has you dual-wielding short swords and deploying tricky pirate tools to kick some serious booty.
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- Franchise
- Yakuza
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
