Yakuza is probably the best open world series of this generation

I'm late to the Yakuza party, but this series has sucked me in. This past generation was plagued with every game trying to be an open world experience, but Yakuza does it like no other. I'm about halfway through Kiwami 1 and between this and 0, which I beat back in 2019, I can't recall another game that has such a densely packed world. The main stories are fantastic and dramatic, and the side stories are wildly unpredictable and often hilarious. Sure, it doesn't have the technical prowess of something like GTA, but with such an abundance of fun side content it doesn't really need to.

Now bring on the flaming.

Doubt anyone flames you for liking Yakuza, the series has done great this gen.

Which yakuza game u referring to? Idk I have played the game since PS2 and sure kamurocho is fun for new players but I been there 9 times in 9 different games. Its repetitive as fk.

I don't know about the best but they are the most unique especially the characters 6 is my favourite of the series a bit worried about 7 going turn based.

Not even close. You can't even take down enemy camps or climb tower to reveal map.

I just started playing Yakuza Kiwami this weekend - it's pretty great. I'm looking forward to a long and wild ride :-)

I liked Judgment alot I know it's a spin off of the Yakuza series it's a underappreciated PS4 exclusive IMO.

@me2002: awesome post lol.

I'm 14 games in deep, and I still love this series.

Haven't really played them, but def been meaning to.

Mostly hear positive things and seems to be the opposite of Ubicrap and similar ilk where they cram repetitive shit in a huge map.

Series is amazing. Can't wait for Yakuza Dead Souls Kiwami.

They never appeared on my radar and I wasn't sure why. So I took a look at the first Yakuza game I could find on YT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZOMgtMs8ns

Flicked through 50 minutes of footage and couldn't locate the game itself. Where does it start?

Would appreciate the help, since I'm really curious to learn more.

Thanks in advance!

The Yakuza series this gen definitely had a renaissance revival, which is great because it's been criminally underrated for too long

Yeah I just found Yakuza O and played straight through, an amazing game. I just grabbed it off of gamepass not thinking much of it but as you said I found it to be one of the best gaming experiences this gen.

@sancho_panzer: Yeah I just found Yakuza O and played straight through, an amazing game. I just grabbed it off of gamepass not thinking much of it but as you said I found it to be one of the best gaming experiences this gen.

Zakuza O is the newer game but its a prequel so I would play it first.

I watched some freeroam gameplay for the Yakuza Zero and there's something off about the combat animations. It will sound crazy but the low budget game like Akiba's Strip combat animation look more natural.

I'm guessing Yakuza is more about story?

Wait... I did?

Alrightyho. I'll add it to the list. It's currently sitting right under Shenmue, which I've just noticed disappeared from GP at some point. (It's a long list)

Ah well, that's probably why I never paid much attention to it in the past. I'm all good with animation issues - it actually looks fine to me - I'm just very, very lazy with stories.

Awesome series, did they ever get around to releasing that Yakuza game set in the samurai era in the west?

@mandzilla: There's actually two of them, but unfortunately no to both. I could see at least the second one getting a gen 9 remaster though since the series is more popular now.

The studio not giving hopes though due to you need to know japanese history as some characters are popular japanese historical figures. There will be a lot of lost in translation kind of thing and there are some things pointed or hinted in Isshin that may be controversial in west. Too bad cause from many who played it and give impression in the subreddit say its one of the very best Yakuza games.

I played them both, and I don't think you really need to know much of anything. It helps, sure, but I don't think it makes much of difference aside from providing some context. Really, all I had going for me were memories of Rurouni Kenshin and quick google searches, but that was almost overkill. But yeah, I would definitely say Ishin is either the best or second best game in the series.

@Renegade_Fury: Ahh right I see, never knew there were two of them. Thanks for the info.

I hear it has great acting, but the actual gameplay is so bad.

I wish more games went smaller in scope but with more content and interactivity like Yakuza and Shenmue.

Ghost of Tsushima could have had things like fishing etc. Every quest was like go to Mongol camp and kill them.

While I love the Yakuza games and I'm excited for the next game in a few months since its actually gonna have English VA, the open world in those games don't touch RDR2, GTAV, TW3, Skyrim, Botw or hell even the new Ghost of Tsushima game which is probably the best open world game to date besides TW3.

For the next gen Yazuka games they really need to open up the "open world" to the extent of GTAV or even Sleeping Dogs which was a pretty decent open world game for its time.

That would be Ghosts of Tushima!!!

Maybe a little bit, the best thing about Yakuza is that there is so much to do in the world it has....for a next Gen Yakuza I would like....

NO LOADING TIMES going into anything, or playing a mini game.

More Arcade Games

More board games

More Gambling Games

More sexy games!

Just give me more of everything, if there's a door I should be able to open it and see something interesting inside

I see what you did there.

Metal Gear Solid V

Red Dead Redemption II

The Witcher 3

Yeah Yakuza is nowhere close to those 3.

I would love all of that plus a game world the size of GTAV or even half of it

I've played the whole series on ps4 currently playing judgement the new engine is really impressive great using drones in investigations. I think 6 is my favourite as it used the newer engine.

Yakuza 0 is the best of the bunch.

I agree. That's why I took a break when going through the Yakuza series. The combat system is repetitive too. I completed Yakuza 0 a few months ago and don't intend to play another Yakuza game any time soon.

I become a Yakuza fan this gen as well. I wouldn't call it an open world. More like sandbox is the better term.

Yakuza is definitely better than any Rockstar open world games. While not as large scale, Yakuza has better gameplay, story and content. Yakuza is the way open world games should be done.