Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2 (Switch 2) Review – A Double Dose of Japanese Crime Drama

For years, the story of Kazuma Kiryu—the Dragon of Dojima—was synonymous with PlayStation. It was a tale of neon-drenched Tokyo streets, melodrama you could cut with a knife, and the profoundly satisfying act of hitting a guy with a traffic cone. Now, with the launch of the Switch 2, the most foundational chapters of the Yakuza saga have made the leap following the timed-exclusive Director’s Cut of Yakuza 0.

Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2 aren’t just remasters; they are complete remakes of the first two titles, built on modern engines that refine, expand, and sometimes fundamentally change the experience. They represent the perfect one-two punch for newcomers and veterans alike. Crucially, having this massive, emotional, and often ridiculous world finally portable makes this collection essential, even if one of the two games shows its age more than the other.

An Origin Refined

Yakuza Kiwami revisits the 2005 original, retelling the tragic origin story of Kiryu. He takes the fall for his best friend, serves ten years in prison, and emerges to find the fictionalized, endlessly vibrant district of Kamurocho in chaos. The plot is pure soap opera in the best possible way, built on gut-punching betrayals, deeply hidden secrets, and the heartbreaking collapse of a brotherhood.

The game is fundamentally a 3D beat-em-up, and here’s the thing: it’s brilliant, but sometimes clunky. Since Kiwami 1 was built on the older engine, Kiryu has four distinct fighting styles: the standard Brawler, the speedy Rush, the tank-like Beast, and the deadly Dragon style. Switching between them is instantaneous and crucial for managing the different enemy types. If you’re cornered by a group of thugs, switch to Beast to smash them with nearby furniture. If you need to focus on a single, quick enemy, the rapid-fire punches of Rush are the ticket. This system, while fun, can feel a bit rigid compared to modern entries, but mastering the stiffer flow between the styles remains satisfying.

The notable addition here, and the major upgrade from the original PS2 version, is the Goro Majima Everywhere system. Majima, Kiryu’s frenemy and certified lunatic, pops up everywhere. He might pop out of a manhole cover when you cross the street, challenge you from a balcony mid-mission, or even crash a hostess club karaoke session. The point of this isn’t just comic relief, though there is plenty of that and it occasionally disrupts the tension of a developing narrative point. It’s the primary way to level up Kiryu’s legendary Dragon style, which was intentionally nerfed at the start of the game. Majima fights in increasingly bizarre and challenging ways, and every time you defeat him, Kiryu’s Dragon prowess awakens a bit more. It forces you to engage with the world’s most dangerous fan service, and it turns every trip down the street into a potential ambush. It’s frantic, it’s hilarious, and it makes the urban landscape feel genuinely dangerous.

The sheer volume of side content, called Substories, is where the charm truly lies. One moment you’re fighting a dozen yakuza to save your sworn family; the next, you’re helping a struggling street performer or teaching a dominatrix how to be more intimidating. The tonal whiplash is Yakuza’s signature move, and it’s perfectly preserved here.

Double Dragon

Jumping to Yakuza Kiwami 2 is like jumping a generation forward in technology. This game was rebuilt using the Dragon Engine, which makes fundamental changes. Gone are the four segmented fighting styles; Kiryu now flows seamlessly between hard-hitting punches, devastating kicks, and weapon grabs in a single, fluid motion.

The combat feels immediate, physics-driven, and slightly looser, which allows for more dynamic environmental kills. For example, instead of pressing a button near a bike for a canned animation, Kiryu can now genuinely pick up a bicycle mid-combo, swing it around, and then drop it. The Heat Actions, cinematic finishing moves, are gorier and more impactful. But the real star is the engine itself. Running from the street into a convenience store or a karaoke parlor no longer requires a loading screen. It’s all one continuous, living world.

The stakes in Kiwami 2 are even higher. Kiryu finds himself drawn into a massive gang war involving the Tojo Clan and Osaka’s Omi Alliance, pitting him against the magnificent, brutal rival Ryuji Goda, the Dragon of Kansai. Goda is one of the series’ best villains—a man who rejects the idea of two dragons coexisting and is determined to fight Kiryu to the death to prove his supremacy. The story is tighter, more focused, and ends with a spectacular finale.

Kiwami 2 also introduces two incredible side activities. First, the Clan Creator returns, but here you’re leading a construction company defending your territory in a bizarre real-time strategy mini-game featuring legendary wrestlers. Second, and maybe more importantly, is the Majima Saga. This completely new, playable side story dives into what Goro Majima was doing between the two main games and gives you full control of him, complete with his signature Demon Style combat. It’s a necessary, satisfying bridge that gives the most popular character in the series the screentime he deserves.

Kamurocho On-the-Go

Porting these two dense, visually rich games to a handheld console is a technical feat, and the Switch 2 handles it with grace. Both games run smoothly, targeting a steady 30 frames per second. It’s a necessary compromise for portability, but one that feels consistent and responsive thanks to the Switch 2’s power increase over its predecessor. Kiwami 2, in particular, shines; its fully realized Dragon Engine environments feel substantial in your hands.

Here’s the thing about playing a Yakuza game on the go: it’s built for it. The main stories are long, but the structure is defined by short bursts of side activity and combat encounters. Being able to wrap up a Substory, like dealing with a creepy street stalker or running the Kiwami 2 Cabaret Club minigame for fifteen minutes on the train, is perfect. The controls translate well, and hitting an explosive Heat Action using the handheld controls is just as impactful as hitting it on a big screen.

[Editor’s Note: Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2 was reviewed on Switch 2, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.]