Skip to main content

Yakuza Kiwami 2

Yakuza Kiwami 2 Game Cover
37%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
optimization, gameplay
37% User Score Based on 97 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassCloudPlaystation 4Xbox OneXbox Cloud GamingXboxNVIDIA GeForce NOWWindowsPlayStation
Buy Nowfrom €10.99
Buy NowGet on Steam €10.99Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store
Yakuza Kiwami 2 Game Cover

About

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a single player open world hack and slash game. It was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and was released on July 29, 2020. It received negative reviews from players.

"Yakuza Kiwami 2" is an action-adventure game set in the criminal underworld of Japan. It's a remake of the original "Yakuza 2" game, featuring enhanced graphics and gameplay mechanics. The player controls former yakuza lieutenant Kazuma Kiryu, who becomes embroiled in a brutal power struggle involving rival gangs and corrupt politicians.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Yakuza Kiwami 2 screenshot
Yakuza Kiwami 2 screenshot
Yakuza Kiwami 2 screenshot
Yakuza Kiwami 2 screenshot
Yakuza Kiwami 2 screenshot
Yakuza Kiwami 2 screenshot
Skip User Reviews

37%
Audience ScoreBased on 97 reviews
story6 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Yakuza Kiwami 2's new version offers significant performance improvements, including better anti-aliasing and support for modern upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR, making it a smoother experience for players.
  • The game retains its engaging story and enjoyable combat mechanics, with a rich variety of side activities that enhance the overall experience.
  • Existing owners of the original Kiwami 2 receive this new version for free, which is a positive gesture from the developers.
  • The delisting of the original versions of Yakuza 0, Kiwami 1, and Kiwami 2, along with the lack of save file transfer, has frustrated many fans who feel disrespected by these anti-consumer practices.
  • Many players believe that the changes in the new version are minimal and could have been implemented as a simple update rather than a separate release, leading to feelings of confusion and disappointment.
  • The new version has introduced some bugs and performance issues, such as problems with the Toylets minigame and inconsistent frame rates, which detract from the overall experience.
  • story
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of Yakuza Kiwami 2 is praised for its emotional depth and character development, particularly the contrast between Kazuma Kiryu's honor and Ryuji's ambition, which adds weight to their conflict. While the game offers a rich narrative filled with subplots and engaging side activities, some reviewers feel that it falls short compared to its predecessors, particularly in character utilization and resolution. Overall, it is considered a compelling experience for newcomers, despite criticisms regarding certain story arcs feeling incomplete.

    • “The story places Kazuma Kiryu once again at the center of a spiraling conflict he desperately wishes to escape.”
    • “The contrast between Kiryu’s restrained sense of honor and Ryuji’s raw ambition gives the story real emotional weight, making their inevitable clash feel personal rather than purely symbolic.”
    • “Among the first three titles of this series ('Yakuza 0', 'Yakuza Kiwami', and 'Yakuza Kiwami 2'), this is the most complete, emotionally layered, and thematically rich story.”
    • “The story is a prime example of having no idea how to wrap things up and use characters.”
    • “The storyline pulls you in, but is also a massive letdown with multiple characters being wasted (Ryuji and Sayama are the prime two examples). Look, this is a good game; this review simply aims to emphasize that if you are coming from 0 or Kiwami, the drop in storytelling is shockingly bad.”
    • “This next part of my review is dedicated to the Majima short story included in 'Yakuza Kiwami 2', a sort of closure to the events that happened after Yakuza 0.”
  • optimization
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the optimization of Yakuza Kiwami 2 has received positive feedback, with significant performance improvements over the legacy version, particularly in terms of framerate, load times, and graphical customization options. The update addresses previous issues like poor anti-aliasing and enhances the experience for low-end PCs, making it a more enjoyable play. Users appreciate the addition of upscalers and frame generation, which contribute to a smoother gameplay experience.

    • “Before bashing out on the bad things, I will still be thumbing up this re-release because the optimization was actually very meaningful for PC and makes the experience a lot more enjoyable. The engine was massively improved here; I can't emphasize enough how rough the Dragon Engine 1.0 (OG Kiwami 2 and 6) was to run on PC. It runs much better now, with more graphic customization options too. The core game is untouched, but the technical experience got a massive step-up.”
    • “Now Kiwami 2 has proper anti-aliasing and support for upscalers and frame generation, better fonts, and overall better performance on low-end systems since the game won't hog the GPU anymore for no reason.”
    • “Unlike Yakuza 0 and Kiwami 1, which are paid updates that do not improve or arguably even worsen the game, Kiwami 2's free update fixes one of the main gripes I've had with the original port since its release, which was its absolutely unacceptable anti-aliasing and performance.”
    • “In my experience, much like in the original version of Kiwami 2, performance is rough.”
    • “The only major differences are upscalers added to improve performance.”
  • gameplay
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay in the latest release is characterized by minimal changes from previous versions, with some users noting that while the cinematic presentation and seamless transitions enhance the experience, core mechanics remain flawed, such as the "hold x to sprint" feature and a convoluted experience system. Boss encounters are praised for their dramatic flair, but the overall gameplay experience is seen as lacking compared to earlier titles in the series. Additionally, concerns about monetization through DLCs and high system requirements have been raised, overshadowing the improvements made in graphics and performance.

    • “Boss encounters in particular stand out, emphasizing personality and presence over sheer difficulty, reinforcing the game’s focus on drama as much as mechanics.”
    • “Cutscenes flow seamlessly into gameplay, reinforcing the cinematic feel without sacrificing player agency.”
    • “The lights reflect on the wet pavement, the glass shatters and breaks if we hit it, there's almost no loading screens between gameplay and cutscenes, and there are seamless transitions when we enter buildings.”
    • “Very little actually changes, and whatever graphical tweaks they made are barely noticeable during normal gameplay.”
    • “The new Kiwami 2 version supposedly requires much higher specs and even Windows 11 as minimal requirements to run the game, while RGG themselves said that there are no real changes in graphics or gameplay.”
    • “But aside from that, gameplay-wise it's not changed since the Kiwami 2 legacy version.”
  • graphics
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the re-release of Kiwami 2 have received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the improved optimization and additional graphical options like DLSS and FSR, others note that the changes are minimal and accompanied by persistent graphical glitches. Overall, the enhancements have made the game more enjoyable for many, despite the lack of significant visual changes compared to the original.

    • “Many graphical issues in the original port by QLOC have been fixed.”
    • “The optimization was actually very meaningful for PC and makes the experience a lot more enjoyable. The engine was massively improved here; I can't emphasize enough how rough Dragon Engine 1.0 was to run on PC. It runs much better now, with more graphic customization options too.”
    • “This version of Kiwami 2 is a re-release that adds better anti-aliasing, which gives the game a very noticeable touch-up, quality of life improvements from the newest games in the settings, and additions to graphics settings like DLSS and FSR, making it run well even on older PCs.”
    • “Very little actually changes, and whatever graphical tweaks they made are barely noticeable during normal gameplay.”
    • “The new Kiwami 2 version supposedly requires much higher specs and even Windows 11 as minimal requirements to run the game, while RGG themselves said that there are no real changes in graphics or gameplay.”
    • “There's graphical glitches everywhere.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of this 2025 Yakuza remake is highlighted by its polished storytelling and strong character contrasts, particularly between Kiryu's honor and Ryuji's ambition, which lend depth to their conflict. Voice performances enhance the emotional stakes, making key moments resonate powerfully. Overall, it is regarded as the most complete and thematically rich entry in the series, effectively preserving and elevating the original's emotional core.

    • “Built from the ground up using the Dragon Engine, this 2025 Steam release revisits the second mainline entry in the Yakuza series with a level of polish and cinematic presence that elevates the original while preserving its emotional core.”
    • “The contrast between Kiryu’s restrained sense of honor and Ryuji’s raw ambition gives the story real emotional weight, making their inevitable clash feel personal rather than purely symbolic.”
    • “Voice performances, particularly during major story beats, elevate the material and sell the emotional stakes of each confrontation.”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is praised for its dynamic range, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a mix of orchestral, combat, and lighthearted tracks. However, some players feel that the heavy reuse of music from previous titles detracts from the original identity of Yakuza 2, diminishing its uniqueness.

    • “Sound design and music further enhance the experience, shifting effortlessly between tense orchestral tracks, pounding combat themes, and lighthearted melodies that underscore side activities.”
    • “About 80% of cutscene music being a reuse of Zero's and 6's music ruins it for me a lot, stripping away a lot of the identity that the original Yakuza 2 had.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its ability to blend tension and tragedy with moments of warmth and unexpected levity. While the visuals may be amusing, the gameplay experience can feel frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The writing thrives on tension, loyalty, and tragedy, while still finding room for humor and warmth in unexpected places.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a strong dissatisfaction with the monetization strategy, particularly criticizing the reliance on microtransactions and DLC, which many players perceive as exploitative cash grabs.

    • “Garbage stories, combat, and microtransactions in the form of DLC.”
    • “Sega's cash grab tactics are incredibly frustrating.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report significant stability issues, including pervasive graphical glitches and buggy lighting in cutscenes. The temporal anti-aliasing (TAA) option is particularly problematic, prompting players to switch to alternative settings for a better experience.

    • “There's graphical glitches everywhere.”
    • “The lighting in one of the first cutscenes is extremely buggy, and the TAA option needs to be changed to another anti-aliasing option for the moment.”
Skip Game Offers

Buy Yakuza Kiwami 2

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Yakuza Kiwami 2

Games Like Yakuza Kiwami 2

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Image
90%9.5kreviews

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

2024Role Playing
PCPlaystation 5Cloud+4
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Image
90%6.1kreviews

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

2021Open World Hack and Slash
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game Pass+8
Yakuza Kiwami Image
87%9.1kreviews

Yakuza Kiwami

2020Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4+11
Yakuza 4 Remastered Image
88%5.8kreviews

Yakuza 4 Remastered

2021Action Adventure
PCXbox Game PassPlaystation 5+8
Monster Hunter Wilds Image
64%104.7kreviews

Monster Hunter Wilds

2025Open World Hack and Slash
Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5+3
More games like Yakuza Kiwami 2
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a open world hack and slash game.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and others.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 was released on July 29, 2020.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 has received negative reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a single player game.

Similar games include Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza 4 Remastered, Monster Hunter Wilds and others.