The Yakuza franchise is one of gaming's most prolific, so it's not surprising that it has some hidden gems buried in its catalog. It helps that the series fully embraces the absurdity of its premise and tone, with the recent Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii being a prime example of this. With Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii reaffirming Ryu Ga Gotoku's commitment to wacky and off-the-wall storytelling, it should only be a matter of time before audiences see the revival of an oft-overlooked spin-off.
Yakuza: Dead Souls released in 2011 to little fanfare in the west, as this was before the series exploded in popularity courtesy of releases like Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Zero. As the title suggests, Dead Souls is an unthinkable zombie-themed spin-off of the usual soap opera, organized crime antics of the mainline series, pitting iconic characters like Goro Majima and Kazuma Kiryu against hordes of zombies in Kamurocho, drastically recontextualizing the familiar city sandbox. Needless to say, Dead Souls was a radical reinvention of the already-crazy Yakuza formula at the time, but after the quirky, insane extravaganza of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, a return to this Resident Evil-influenced outing doesn't seem too implausible.
Yakuza: Dead Souls isn't canon: it's considered part of an alternate continuity in the series.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is Further Proof of the Series' Talent in Localization
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii once again contends with Majima's Kansai dialect, showing the nuances of translating for different languages.
Why RGG Should Bring Yakuza: Dead Souls Back Into the Fold
LaD: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Has Made Players More Comfortable With Out-There Yakuza Spin-Offs
The beauty of Yakuza is its blend of absurdity and sincerity: the series expertly balances comedic chops and earnest, emotional, corny story beats to create an experience unlike anything else on the market. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a prime example of this—even its mouthful of a title alludes to its ridiculous nature. Starring an amnesiac Goro Majima fulfilling the role of a modern-day pirate, the action-brawler manages to do the impossible and crank up the silliness of the mainline franchise, making it a particularly outlandish entry.
Bringing back Yakuza: Dead Souls wouldn't seem so ridiculous in this pirate-themed game's wake. In other words, RGG has established the Yakuza/LaD franchise as one defined by risk-taking, which gives the studio a privilege that few others have: it can essentially do anything with the Yakuza IP, and its core audience will probably enjoy it. Since there's already a precedent set for a zombie spin-off, a Dead Souls successor could be particularly enticing.
What Bringing Back Yakuza Dead Souls Could Look Like
Since Dead Souls is part of its own continuity, RGG could theoretically release a direct sequel to it, picking up where the last game left off. Yakuza stories are generally rather loosely connected in many ways already, so this wouldn't pose too many narrative or gameplay restrictions. Alternatively, RGG could push out a Dead Souls spin-off on another Yakuza or Like a Dragon base game, perhaps starring Ichiban Kasuga instead of Kiryu and Majima, and being set in Hawaii, just like Infinite Wealth and Pirate Yakuza. This would allow a theoretical Dead Souls successor to be familiar to contemporary fans, while retaining the unique quirks of the 2011 game.
Or, perhaps RGG could issue a Kiwami-style remake of Dead Souls, releasing an expanded and highly polished version of the 2011 original on modern hardware. This would be a great way to do the original game justice, although it could hogtie the studio to its subpar shooting mechanics and broader structural elements. Whatever route is chosen, though, it's clear that RGG isn't shackled to realism or seriousness in its games, and revisiting the ideas introduced in Dead Souls would be a great way to further this philosophy of absurdity.
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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
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 45.03 GB
