Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Review

After Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth took the series to Hawaii with Ichiban, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii follows up with an unexpected but welcome protagonist—Goro Majima. This spin-off entry trades the neon-lit streets of Japan for the sun-soaked beaches and treacherous waters of Hawaii, bringing back the chaotic energy the Yakuza series is known for while introducing a fresh pirate twist. Though it’s set after Infinite Wealth, the game stands well enough on its own, but longtime fans will get the most out of it, especially when it comes to Majima’s character and the numerous references to past events.

The story kicks off with Majima waking on a beach in Hawaii, with no memory of who he is or how he got there. Though, it doesn’t take long for trouble to find him yet again. When a powerful Hawaiian crime syndicate begins targeting former yakuza exiles, Majima is forced into action. But instead of just throwing fists on land, he finds himself taking to the sea, forming an unlikely crew of outlaws, and embracing the life of a pirate. His goal? To uncover the truth behind the syndicate’s growing influence, protect those who can’t protect themselves, rediscover his past, and, of course, have a damn good time doing it.

What follows is a wild ride across the Hawaiian islands, packed with high-stakes battles, absurd side quests, and plenty of Majima’s signature chaotic energy. The narrative does a great job balancing serious crime drama with the ridiculous humor Yakuza fans expect. One moment, Majima is uncovering a deep conspiracy; the next, belting out a quirky song on-deck of the ship or in a karaoke bar. It’s this mix of tones that keeps the story engaging from start to finish.

Although very grand in scale, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii isn’t fully open-world. Instead, it’s broken into distinct zones—beaches, fishing villages, bustling city ports, and smaller islands—that you travel between by ship. While I initially missed the seamless exploration of Kamurocho or Ijincho, the new setting quickly won me over. Each location is full of life, with plenty of NPCs, activities, and random encounters to keep things interesting.

Naval combat is a major addition to the series and surprisingly well-executed. Battles play out in real-time, with players maneuvering their ship to avoid enemy fire while unleashing cannon barrages, ramming attacks, and even boarding enemy vessels for close-quarters combat. As you progress, you can upgrade your ship with better weapons, reinforced hulls, and faster sails, making a noticeable difference in combat. There’s also a crew management system where you recruit new pirates, assign them to different roles (gunners, navigators, deckhands), and level up their abilities. It’s not as deep as some dedicated pirate games, but it adds a fun layer of strategy to the experience.

One of the biggest shifts is the return to classic beat-em-up combat instead of the turn-based system from Like a Dragon. Majima is a force of nature in fights, with two distinct fighting styles:

The Mad Dog Stance is classic Majima. It’s fast, unpredictable, and brutal. This style focuses on wild, acrobatic attacks, fast dodges, and relentless pressure. It’s perfect for one-on-one fights or dealing with large crowds in style. And then there’s the new Sea Dog Stance. This is a more all-round approach, using a mix of grapples, counterattacks, and environment-based attacks. It’s especially useful for handling tougher enemies and dealing heavy damage. But easily my favorite addition here is that Majima is capable of wielding cutlasses, allowing for flashy swordplay that fits perfectly with the pirate theme. Slashing through enemies with fluid combos feels incredibly satisfying, and the finisher animations are some of the best in the series.

Combat feels responsive and hard-hitting, with smooth animations and a strong sense of impact. The skill tree progression lets you expand Majima’s abilities as you play, unlocking new combos, parries, and weapon techniques that keep fights fresh throughout the game.

No Yakuza game is complete without a mountain of side content, and Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii doesn’t disappoint. The game is packed with side quests, many of which lean into the series’ trademark absurdity. Whether it’s helping a ghost ship crew find peace, running a pirate-themed karaoke bar, or taking on legendary bounty hunters, there’s no shortage of bizarre and memorable moments.

Mini-games also make a strong return, and you’re easily able to lose hours to them. From a full gaming arcade to kart racing, there’s plenty to distract yourself with. The gambling hall, where you can play Hawaiian-inspired betting games, darts, pool and mahjong. And of course, karaoke returns, featuring some of Majima’s most ridiculous performances yet.

After finishing the main story, there’s still plenty to do. Post-game challenges, hidden bosses, and even new naval missions give players a reason to keep exploring. The game’s world might not be fully open, but there’s no shortage of things to sink your time into.

The voice acting is excellent across the board, with Matt Mercer absolutely nailing Majima’s wild energy. He brings a perfect mix of menace and humor, making every scene he’s in a joy to watch. The supporting cast also delivers strong performances, helping to bring the world and its characters to life.

That said, one area where the game stumbles is the lip-syncing. In major story cutscenes, the animations are solid, but during side missions and some secondary conversations, the syncing can be wildly off—especially in English. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s distracting when characters’ mouths are moving out of sync with their lines. This issue was more noticeable with spoken dialogue for side characters, but even Majima had moments where his dialogue didn’t match up perfectly which is something that always slightly pulls me out of the experience and reminds me I’m playing a video game.

Final Thoughts

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a fantastic spin-off that successfully blends the Yakuza series’ brawler roots with fresh pirate-themed mechanics. Majima’s larger-than-life personality carries the story, while naval combat, varied environments, and deep side content keep the experience engaging. The game isn’t fully open-world, and the occasional lip-syncing issues can take you out of the moment, but these are minor complaints in an otherwise stellar package.

For longtime fans, this is a must-play, offering a fresh take on a beloved character while still delivering the chaotic fun the series is known for. For newcomers, it’s a solid entry point, but you’ll miss out on a lot of the deeper character moments if you haven’t played previous games. Either way, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an unforgettable ride—and one of the most entertaining Yakuza experiences in years.

A PS5 review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.

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