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Yakuza 0

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 • 2018

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Quick resume

SEGA’s legendary Japanese series finally comes to PC. Fight like hell through Tokyo and Osaka as junior yakuza Kiryu and Majima. Take a front row seat to 1980s life in Japan in an experience unlike anything else in video gaming, with uncapped framerates and 4K resolutions. A legend is born.

Global score

96/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging and emotional story
    • Varied and satisfying combat
    • Rich side content and minigames
    • Authentic 1980s japan atmosphere
    • Strong character development

    Cons

    • Combat can feel repetitive or unfair at times
    • Some minigames and business systems are grind-heavy
    • No autosave system
    • Camera issues reported
    • Requires controller for best experience

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Status, Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have freedom to explore two cities, choose when and how to engage in main story, side quests, and numerous minigames."

    • Competence
      3

      "Combat involves skillful combos and heat actions; minigames and business management provide varied challenges."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal progression and story; no evidence of competitive multiplayer or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Highly addictive with long playtimes, extensive side content, and players report habitual, extended sessions."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Single-player experience focused on individual story and activities; no cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players can customize fighting styles and engage in business management, but within structured systems."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions emphasize story and character development rather than exerting power over others."

    • Escapism
      5

      "Players use the game to immerse in a richly detailed 1980s Japan, escaping real life through story and activities."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players try different fighting styles, explore side quests, and experiment with minigames and business systems."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Exploration of dense city environments with many hidden substories and activities encourages discovery."

    • Expression
      2

      "Some character style customization and business management allow personal expression within limits."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Story involves dramatic, sometimes over-the-top crime drama and fictionalized 1980s Japan setting."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Primarily a solo experience with limited social interaction or community features."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills, unlock fighting styles, and progress through story and side content."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention on story, combat, and minigames; not designed for idle or background play."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Some emotional connection to characters and story, but limited to narrative rather than social bonding."

    • Leadership
      -3

      "No leadership or group management roles; player controls only their own character."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating skills, money, fighting styles, and business assets."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Balance of intense combat and relaxing minigames provides moments of flow and tension release."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Vibrant visuals, music, and dynamic combat provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    • Status
      1

      "Some recognition through story and achievements, but no social status or multiplayer ranking."

    • Story
      5

      "Highly praised narrative with deep character development, plot twists, and emotional engagement."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Combat and business management require planning and tactical thinking."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Combat and story provide suspense and excitement, with boss fights and dramatic moments."

    • Value
      5

      "Extensive content and replayability provide excellent value for time and money."

    • Violence
      3

      "Beat-em-up combat with frequent fighting and violence, though stylized and narrative-driven."

    • Survival
      -2

      "Combat involves avoiding defeat but is generally forgiving; no hardcore survival mechanics."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026