Summary
- Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is rumored to be the start of a potential series of small "Gaiden" titles.
- Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will supposedly be one of several short titles that tie into the longer, mainline Like a Dragon games.
- The game features traditional arcade action beat-em-up gameplay and is not turn-based.
Based on a recent leak, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii could be one of many smaller "Gaiden" titles for the series, with these games being intermediaries for the mainline entries. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio surprised fans earlier this September with the reveal of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, a brand-new spin-off that stars Goro Majima as its protagonist. Finding himself with amnesia and in the middle of a pirate feud, in true Majima fashion, he becomes a pirate lord himself and recruits his own crew.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's premise is similar to Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, where it returns to the series' roots with traditional arcade action beat-em-up gameplay rather than the turn-based JRPG style used since Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The game's title in Japanese even denotes it as a gaiden game, where it is called Ryū Ga Gotoku 8 Gaiden - Pairētsu in Hawai, or Like a Dragon 8 Side Story: Pirates in Hawaii. If rumors are to be believed, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii won't be the only Gaiden title in the future.
Former WWE, AEW Champion Appearing in New Yakuza Game
The new Yakuza game features yet another guest appearance from a real-life professional wrestler, one that WWE and AEW fans will quickly recognize.
These details were provided in a leak posted by Jawmuncher on Twitter, which covered a number of details about the game and was posted before its official reveal. While a number of details in this Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii leak were correct, one particular point stands out near the end. The leak states that the management at Sega were debating on giving the game the subtitle of "Gaiden" in order to more clearly highlight it as a subseries entry.
Smaller Titles Like Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Will Reportedly Tie Into Mainline Like a Dragon Games
The other big thing about this leak is how Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will reportedly be one of other smaller titles that will be released in between games, being used to flesh out the characters. This release strategy is similar to how Like a Dragon Gaiden and Infinite Wealth were interconnected stories, with the former being an interquel that fleshed out Kiryu's character before his major role in Infinite Wealth. It's likely that Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will do the same for Majima before his next major appearance in a mainline Like a Dragon game, though this is speculation and this rumor should be taken with a grain of salt for now.
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is also looking to have a longer story campaign than Gaiden, with Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio stating it will be roughly 1.3-1.5 times longer than the latter. While its spin-offs are typically a shorter affair, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii seems like it's going to be comparable to titles like Yakuza 2 and 6 in terms of length.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
- Released
- February 21, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
WHERE TO PLAY
A new legend begins as you step into the steel toe boots of Goro Majima, a man who has lost his memory and reinvents himself as a pirate on the open sea.
Embark on an over-the-top, modern-day pirate adventure with an ex-yakuza, now pirate captain and his crew as they engage in exhilarating combat on land and sea in the hunt for lost memories and a legendary treasure.
PIRATE YAKUZA ADVENTURE AHOY!
Goro Majima, a notorious ex-yakuza suddenly finds himself shipwrecked on a remote island in the Pacific. Unable to remember even his own name, he sets sail in search of clues to his lost memories, accompanied by a boy named Noah who saved his life. Before long, they’re caught up in a conflict between cutthroat criminals, modern-day pirates, and other scoundrels over a legendary treasure.
GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER
Assemble a one-of-a-kind crew while upgrading your ship as you explore the open sea and forge your legend in the cannon fire of foes, unexpected friendships, and immense riches made along the way.
When an enemy pirate ship catches you in their sights, an exhilarating real-time cannon battle breaks out. Quickly maneuver into position while avoiding fire, then deliver devastating damage to board the enemy ship and take down the captain in all-out crew vs. Crew brawls. Conquer the seas, discover hidden islands and acquire loads of loot like a true yakuza pirate!
KICK ARRRSS WITH CREATIVE COMBAT
Dynamically switch between the “Mad Dog” and “Sea Dog” fighting styles to mix-up attacks and deliver explosive combos, juggles, and aerial takedowns that reward your creativity with over-the-top action.
With “Mad Dog” style, utilize speed, agility, and flair to deliver precise yet powerful blows that stun your enemies into submission. Or make enemies walk the plank with the “Sea Dog” style that has you dual-wielding short swords and deploying tricky pirate tools to kick some serious booty.
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- Franchise
- Yakuza
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
