Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii review

• Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC
• Released on 21 February 2025
• Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega

Goro Majima finally gets his moment in the spotlight, and in true series fashion, it’s completely over the top. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is everything fans might hope for: chaotic, hilarious, endlessly creative, and bursting with absurdity. It’s also one of the most varied and entertaining entries the series has produced to date.

The game picks up after Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, with Majima waking up on a beach after a shipwreck, suffering from amnesia. He’s saved by a young boy named Noah and soon learns about a legendary pirate treasure. With his trademark enthusiasm, Majima jumps into the role of pirate captain, determined to repay the boy and uncover the truth about the treasure.

This latest spin-off shifts between land-based action and high-seas chaos. On land, it plays much like previous entries, with exploration, side quests, and hand-to-hand combat. At sea, things open up. You’ll sail between islands, engage in naval battles, and even storm enemy ships with dozens of allies and foes fighting at once. These large-scale brawls are messy, frantic, and incredibly fun.

Combat is real-time rather than turn-based, giving a welcome sense of immediacy. Majima has two distinct fighting styles that can be swapped mid-battle. On land, he defaults to the Mad Dog style, full of fast attacks and wild flourishes. At sea or during pirate-themed sections, he uses the Sea Dog style, wielding dual cutlasses that can be thrown and recalled. This style evolves over time, adding firearms, grappling hooks, and even magical summons like ghostly sharks.

There’s also a ship to manage. The Goromaru can be upgraded in various ways, from firepower to visual flair. Recruiting crew members becomes a fun side activity, and each crewmate can be assigned a role that helps during naval combat or exploration. You’ll gather resources, complete bounties, and dig into a ton of side content that includes everything from criminal takedowns to friendship-building.

Exploration isn’t limited to the sea. In addition to Honolulu, players can travel to smaller island settlements and even enter Madlantis, home to a colosseum that rewards mastery in naval combat. The variety of locations and activities ensures that there’s always something new to chase, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps things moving despite the game’s huge scope.

There are minor drawbacks. Like many games in the series, the early hours can feel slow, and the camera occasionally struggles to keep up in tight spaces. The secondary characters you play as during certain segments aren’t quite as compelling as Majima, but they don’t detract too much from the experience.

Even with a few familiar hiccups, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a blast. It blends the series’ signature charm with bold new mechanics and non-stop surprises. Goro Majima is in his element here, and so is the series. Whether you’re slicing through crowds with boomerang cutlasses or sailing the ocean in search of treasure, this is an adventure that never stops being fun.