Game reviews / Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
2025 · PC · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · Action-adventure · Beat 'em up · Role-playing
3 scored sources · 2 countries contributing scores
Review consensus
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an entertaining, deliberately absurd spin-off that benefits enormously from putting Goro Majima at the center. Critics consistently praised its fast, expressive beat-'em-up combat, memorable supporting cast, abundant minigames, and pirate-themed crew and ship systems. The naval battles and ship movement are less successful, becoming shallow or tedious over time, while the story and side content do not consistently reach the emotional or inventive heights of the mainline series. Even with uneven pacing, lengthy tutorials, recycled Honolulu locations, and some technical concerns, Majima's charisma and the game's sheer variety make it a strong recommendation for established Like a Dragon fans.
Limited geographic coverage. Treat this score as an early indication.
Last researched: 2026-09-16
Pros
- Goro Majima is a charismatic and well-suited protagonist
- Fast, satisfying Mad Dog and Sea Dog combat
- Large selection of minigames and side activities
- Pirate crew management and ship customization add variety
Cons
- Naval combat is shallow and can become repetitive
- Story and character development are less impactful than the series' best entries
- Uneven pacing and overly long tutorials
- Ship movement and some treasure-island environments feel sluggish or bland
Review sources
4 sources found across 3 countries. This is not exhaustive worldwide coverage.
- CGMagazine · Canada · 75/100
- GamesRadar+ · United Kingdom
- GameSpot · United States · 70/100
- Shacknews · United States · 80/100