Every Yakuza Game Ranked From Worst To Best

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is protagonist Kazuma Kiryu's swan song - at least it was at the time - and a game that tries to give him a meaningful sendoff. Though the game is about his ending, it also marks a new beginning as the series shifts into the Dragon Engine; a technological leap used for subsequent titles since.

Graphically, the game is beautiful and Kamurocho has never been rendered like this before. The neon lights, the busy streets, and the crowds give us the most accurate rendition of the district so far. Entering stores no longer has a load time, and combat transitions are seamless.

However, this came at the cost of progress, as the game falters with numerous amounts of removed content from other entries. For one, Kiryu is now back to only one fighting style with a stripped-down version of his moveset that feels underwhelming and with few upgrades. Certain locations such as the Champion District have also been removed from the map, due to time constraints.

Though Yakuza 6 tries to send off Kiryu meaningfully, a lot of his supporting cast is absent, making the game underwhelming. And though the story has some tearjerking moments, it never reaches the emotional heights of previous entries.