"What is Yakuza even about?" If you see a video on social media of one of Like a Dragon's more whimsical moments, you can bet this question isn't far from it. Whether on screen or in the comments, it's become the definitive meme of the series. As such, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii may look like a title that only exists to push this joke to breaking point, but after 35 hours I can assure you it’s an excellent installment in its own right.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii sees the return of two iconic franchise ingredients: beat ‘em up combat and protagonist Goro Majima. In contrast to 2024’s Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – a turn-based RPG led by new main character Ichiban Kasuga – Pirate Yakuza intentionally calls back to older titles, just like 2023’s Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, which also sported brawler action and the return of an iconic lead.
