Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is an action-adventure beat 'em up and a prequel to the Yakuza series, set in 1988 Japan during the country's economic bubble era. The game follows two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu in Tokyo's Kamurocho district and Goro Majima in Osaka's Sotenbori district. Players alternate between their stories as they navigate the criminal underworld, engaging in street fights using multiple switchable combat styles, managing businesses, and participating in a wide variety of side activities and minigames. The game is largely credited with bringing the long-running franchise to mainstream Western attention.
What it feels like
Despite comedic minigames and absurdist side content, the main narrative and character arcs are played with sincere emotional weight. Story beats feature heightened operatic emotion, tragic backstories, and dramatic confrontations typical of yakuza fiction.
What it's about
The yakuza underworld, organized crime syndicates, and gang hierarchies form the entire narrative and setting foundation. Set in 1988 Japan during the economic bubble era with authentic period detail and recognizable cultural touchstones. Yakuza politics, faction wars, and shifting power dynamics between criminal organizations drive the main plot.
How it plays
Beat 'em up combat with multiple switchable fighting styles is the core moment-to-moment interaction and absolutely central to the experience. Fast-paced melee against groups of street enemies with flowing, flashy attacks and environmental interaction define combat encounters. Multiple combat styles and weapon switching emphasize stylish, expressive execution of melee combos against varied enemy types.
How it looks and sounds
The camera follows characters from behind as they explore the city and engage in street combat. Urban streets, neon signs, worn establishments, and detailed environmental decay evoke 1980s Japanese city grit.
How it's structured
Designed as a single-player narrative experience, though with optional co-op leaderboard features noted in tags. Players freely explore Tokyo's Kamurocho and Osaka's Sotenbori districts between story missions, with numerous side activities and shops scattered throughout. A linear main story spine of two alternating character arcs punctuated by large explorable urban districts and extensive optional content.
Kindred games
Shares Melee Combat, Character Action, Crime & Underworld, Hack-and-Slash.
Both lean into Single-Player, Melee Combat, Character Action, Crime & Underworld.
Shares Melee Combat, Crime & Underworld, Third-Person, Hack-and-Slash.
Both lean into Single-Player, Melee Combat, Crime & Underworld, Third-Person.
Shares Melee Combat, Third-Person, Open World, Crime & Underworld.
Both lean into Melee Combat, Third-Person, Open World, Crime & Underworld.
Closest hidden gems
A lesser-known kindred — Hack-and-Slash, Third-Person, Character Action, Earnest. 91% positive across 4,466 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Hack-and-Slash, Single-Player, Third-Person, Character Action.
A lesser-known kindred — Melee Combat, Open World, Third-Person, Character Action. 90% positive across 4,775 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Melee Combat, Open World, Third-Person, Single-Player.
A lesser-known kindred — Third-Person, Hack-and-Slash, Open World, Party Management. 89% positive across 4,940 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Third-Person, Single-Player, Hack-and-Slash, Open World.