Yakuza 0

If there is a game that fully embodies and actually easily overcomes the definition of "complete package," that's Yakuza 0. It's a rich, colorful and engrossing experience that I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves the genre, Japanese culture, or simply a very, very good story with some of the best and most genuinely likable characters you'll ever encounter in gaming.

Yakuza 0 is a great starting point to one of the best JRPG series out now, and luckily, it works flawlessly on the Steam Deck.

If you’re a Yakuza game veteran, Yakuza 0 should be considered absolutely essential, though it provides a great starting point for those wanting to get into the series too. There’s no better a time to get into it either, what with a remaster of the original title, Yakuza Kiwami, due in the west later this year. It may look a little dated at times and be a bit rough around the edges, but it offers a compelling story alongside some seriously enjoyable gameplay that is as varied as you want it to be. And not only that, but it does it whilst constantly surprising you with its mix of melodrama, cha...

The weird and wonderful Japanese action game series finally arrives on PC.

Yakuza 0 excels in all that it sets out to do and may well be on its way to becoming a modern classic.

We've bounced around the underbelly of Tokyo and have our Yakuza 0 review ready for you. Come and see if the wait for localization was worth it!

It features all of the best aspects of the series with very little of the negatives, making for a game that I’ll probably still be digging through by the time Kiwami releases over here.

With a great story and a wide selection of crazy mini-games, Yakuza 0 is worth a look for series fans and newcomers alike. Some padding, some stiff animations in minor missions, and a couple of kinks with the camera and targeting in combat are all that hold this game back from becoming a legend.

Yakuza 0 is another sprawling entry in the open-world series, packed with an extraordinary amount of things to do and centred around a genuinely compelling crime story. Since it’s a prequel, it’s also unburdened by the series’ increasingly intricate backstory and thus far more approachable for newcomers than the last few Yakuza games. While its melee combat may lag slightly behind modern genre standards, Yakuza 0 still hits far more than it misses and is a big, bold and bruising tour through the Japanese underworld.

Yakuza as a franchise has so far failed to gain any traction in the west- if ever that were to change, there is no better game than Yakuza 0 for that to happen with.

Republished on Wednesday, 10th August, 2022: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of August's PS Plus Extra, Premium lineup. The original text follows.

Beyond the era and location-specific authenticity strived for and achieved in this title, both the dated combat and graphics leave something to be desired.