The Yakuza series has gone through a profound transformation over the last decade — going from an incredibly niche franchise for diehard fans, to one of Sega’s big money makers. But amidst that rise to prominence the series’ absolute best story, Yakuza 2, often gets overlooked because of how it’s relegated to the PlayStation 2. But in 2017 that all changed when Ryu Ga Gotoku released Yakuza Kiwami 2, a full-blown remake of the second game that almost perfectly fused Yakuza’s past and present. It’s still, by far, the best Yakuza remake we’ve seen, and a stellar example of why the series has had such an enduring legacy. And now you can even play it on the go on Nintendo Switch 2.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 originally released on the PS2 in 2006, and was arguably more foundational for the franchise than the first game. This was where the series’ hard-boiled storytelling really came together, featuring both a harrowing love story and a phenomenal rival for protagonist Kazuma Kiryu.
