Every Yakuza Game Ranked From Worst To Best

Yakuza 4 is the first game in the franchise to introduce multiple playable characters, allowing for different gameplay styles. Though the setting is once again limited to Kamurocho, the title expands the location by giving access to rooftops and sewers.

For the positives, the game's four protagonists all have a distinct style that is fun to play. Of course, Kiryu has the most finesse with 3 games under his belt, yet Akiyama's fast combos, Saejima's brute strength, and Tanimura's defensive fighting all offer new challenges for veterans. These four are not only fun to play as, but are all well-written, with different storylines converging in the grand finale.

Despite this, Yakuza 4's exploration feels underwhelming and despite efforts to expand the map, reverting back to one city felt like a step-down. The story also starts to get convoluted with one of the worst twists in the franchise paired with an annoying final boss in the form of Munakata.

All these leads to the game feeling like a mixed bag, despite the innovations it offered. With a weak plot and terrible bosses, Yakuza 4 somewhat makes up for it by expanding the series' pool of heroes.