Yakuza 0

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 60 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Yakuza 0 Game Cover
If there is one game you decide to take a chance on this year, please let it be Yakuza 0 - a game that is as fun and intelligent as it is silly and violent.
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"Yakuza 0" is a prequel set in the 1988 criminal underworld of Tokyo and Osaka, following protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation during a debt collection, and Goro Majima, who manages a cabaret club. The game features intense combat and explores the protagonists' complex pasts, providing insight into the events leading up to the first game in the Yakuza series. Players will navigate through the decadent and ruthless world of the yakuza, uncovering a web of secrets and betrayals.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Xbox One
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews
story18 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • Yakuza 0 features a gripping story with memorable characters and a unique blend of humor and drama.
  • The game offers a vast array of activities, including engaging side quests and fun mini-games, providing significant replayability.
  • Combat is satisfying and varied, with a well-implemented melee system that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
  • The graphics can be inconsistent, with some dated textures and a lack of polish in certain cutscenes.
  • Combat can become repetitive over time, and random encounters may feel like a nuisance with little variety.
  • The dialogue is lengthy and entirely in Japanese, which may be challenging for slower readers to keep up with.
  • story34 mentions

    The story in Yakuza 0 is widely praised for its coherence, depth, and engaging character development, effectively blending serious themes with absurd humor and emotional storytelling. Players appreciate the captivating main narrative, complemented by a wealth of side quests and activities that enrich the experience. While some critiques mention predictability and occasional cheesiness, the overall consensus highlights a gripping and entertaining plot that resonates well with fans of the series and newcomers alike.

    • “The main story manages to captivate the whole way through and pulls the player in with a unique and dramatic hook.”
    • “This game features a very well-told story that's filled with an assortment of great characters and memorable moments.”
    • “Yakuza 0 delivers spirit, humor, and a twisting story, perfectly capturing the series in its long-awaited debut.”
    • “The story is a bit predictable and cheesy.”
    • “Its story is cheesy and melodramatic at times, and the graphics are a bit outdated.”
    • “Some may find side quests silly or frivolous.”
  • gameplay7 mentions

    Gameplay in Yakuza 0 is characterized by a unique blend of open-world exploration, beat 'em up mechanics, and a compelling narrative that seamlessly intertwines emotional storytelling with dynamic action. While some players note inconsistencies between character behavior in cutscenes and gameplay, the overall experience is praised for its fluidity, variety of activities, and high production values, making it a standout in the genre.

    • “Yakuza 0 segues between those two adjectives surprisingly well in a poignant narrative with fluid gameplay.”
    • “It’s inconsistent between cutscenes and gameplay, saying the characters would never kill a man before having you snap twenty necks and shotgun a crowd of people.”
    • “If you love that open-world, beat ’em up gameplay style and emotional, dramatic storytelling the series is known for, you need look no further, as this game does it and does it well.”
    • “A novel twist on familiar gameplay elements, Yakuza 0 once again delivers a unique blend of real-world immersion, humanistic storytelling, and some of the best action gameplay on the market.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    Overall, the graphics have received mixed reviews, with some praising the charming 80s vibe and solid art direction, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking in detail. Despite the visual shortcomings, the game's immersive environment and engaging gameplay elements still appeal to many players.

    • “The graphics are great, the music is solid, the 80’s vibe is charming, the story, while still ridiculous and fantastic, is much more coherent and focused.”
    • “Beyond the era and location-specific authenticity strived for and achieved in this title, the graphics are impressive and contribute significantly to the overall experience.”
    • “The great art direction enhances the visuals, creating a captivating atmosphere that draws players into the game world.”
    • “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.”
    • “The graphics are disappointing; the story is a bit predictable and cheesy.”
    • “Great art direction doesn’t fully make up for the dated graphics.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of absurdity and heartwarming moments, featuring genuinely funny writing and a variety of comedic elements. Players appreciate the snappy dialogue, wacky humor, and entertaining side quests that complement the gripping story and challenging combat. Overall, the game delivers a rich and engaging comedic experience within its dense open world.

    • “Plenty of humor and heartwarming moments as well.”
    • “It has the challenging combat and wacky humor that you’d expect, and the story is top-notch.”
    • “Gripping story, relentlessly absurd humor, generous selection of fun minigames, small but dense and entertaining open world.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is consistently praised for its quality and engaging 80's vibe, contributing to the overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the amazing soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the emotional depth of the story and complementing the gameplay experience. Additionally, the voice acting is noted for its strong performance, further elevating the game's musical and narrative elements.

    • “The graphics are great, the music is solid, the 80’s vibe is charming, the story, while still ridiculous and fantastic, is much more coherent and focused.”
    • “Amazing soundtrack, great voice acting.”
    • “Oh, and the soundtrack is pretty rad as well.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game excels in delivering a blend of emotional and dramatic storytelling, complemented by humor and heartwarming moments, making it a standout experience in the open-world, beat 'em up genre. Players appreciate its ability to evoke genuine feelings while tackling themes of desperation and conflict, all wrapped in an engaging narrative.

    • “If you love that open-world, beat ’em up gameplay style and emotional, dramatic storytelling the series is known for, you need look no further, as this game does it and does it well.”
    • “Plenty of humor and heartwarming moments as well.”
    • “Comfortably the best, funniest, and most heartwarming game about a desperate battle over real estate, now available on PC as a good port at a generous price.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is praised for its impressive presentation, effectively supporting the narrative through high-quality voice acting and emotional facial capture. Additionally, the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, contributing to a well-rounded performance despite hardware considerations.

    • “Away from hardware performance, one thing the developer has been good with the series is offering a fantastic presentation and how it uses it to support the story.”
    • “While I don’t know Japanese, the voice-over performance comes across well, with facial capture displaying emotions and the tone/delivery of words enabling me to clearly understand the emotion on display. Oh, and the soundtrack is pretty rad as well.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game boasts incredible replayability, with players noting that it can easily exceed 100 hours to achieve full completion.

    • “Incredible replayability, and easily takes over 100 hours to 100% complete.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game features a deep and well-written plot complemented by strong character development, enhanced by numerous side missions that enrich the narrative experience. Additionally, classic Sega mini-games provide further engagement and depth to the characters' journeys.

    • “The deep and well-written plot, combined with strong character development, makes for an engaging experience.”
    • “The character development is impressive, with each character feeling unique and evolving throughout the story.”
    • “The game offers tons of side missions that enrich the character development and add depth to the overall narrative.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for its incredible sound design and satisfying combat, creating an immersive experience filled with nuance and depth. Players appreciate the engaging story and the abundance of activities, along with elements of fan service that resonate with long-time fans.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible, with great sound design that enhances the experience.”
    • “The game features an extremely satisfying combat system set against a backdrop of a rich and immersive atmosphere.”
    • “There's a lot of nuance and depth in the atmosphere, making every moment feel engaging and alive.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with some missions feeling repetitive and lacking polish, as evidenced by cheap-looking cutscenes and subpar textures.

    • “The grinding feels tedious, with some missions lacking creativity and featuring cheap-looking cutscenes.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes the experience feel monotonous, and the visuals sometimes suffer from poor textures.”
    • “I found the grinding aspect to be frustrating, as it often involves completing dull missions that don't add much to the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

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