Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Review — From Blockuza to Brawler: Kiwami 3 Breaks the Guard with Dark Ties

February 2026 marks 17 years since the original Yakuza 3 was released in Japan back on February 26, 2009. While it hasn’t aged that badly thanks to the remaster in 2018, it has its jank with the outdated engine and has always been deemed “Blockuza 3” by the RGG fans due to how tedious and sluggish the combat was with enemies blocking most of the time and how punishable you were through the enemies’ stun locking you.

With Kiwami 3, the community has finally gotten what they’ve always wanted - Okinawa, Mine, and the infamous Yakuza 3 exposition scene, in Dragon Engine. This time around instead of just remaking Yakuza 3 in Dragon Engine, they’ve also added a side story surrounding Mine, similar to the Majima Saga in Yakuza Kiwami 2 or a Mine Gaiden, if you’d like.

A Dramatic Change for the Future of the Series?

While plenty of popular elements of the original Yakuza 3 were cut from the remake such as Revelation scenes (meaning Mack doesn’t appear in the game), there were many additions to the game that make up for it including being able to spend time with the orphans of Morning Glory, assembling your own biker gang to rule the streets, and plenty of new substories.

However, there have been some major changes within the main story itself - with some added scenes here and there (mostly for more context) but the biggest worry lies within the ending itself. The ending of Yakuza Kiwami 3 has been drastically altered from the original and to say it changes the future of the franchise would be an understatement.

Without going into too much detail about it, the changed ending sets up a potential Yakuza Kiwami 4 differently and also tie in a future mainline Like a Dragon series game that would take place after Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

Mine’s Rise to Power

Despite having only appeared in one game, Yoshitaka Mine has always consistently ranked in the top five fan favourite characters from the series so it only makes sense that RGG Studio would take this opportunity to give him his spotlight through Dark Ties.

Dark Ties is a prequel arc that reframes Yoshitaka Mine’s descent as something born from betrayal and an obsessive need to understand real loyalty. After his startup colleagues backstab him and he loses everything, Mine drifts through the city until he witnesses Tojo men die for chairman Daigo Dojima, which becomes his reason for wanting to join the world of yakuza.

For something that’s heavily advertised and even in the title itself, Dark Ties itself is very short, similar to Majima Saga in Kiwami 2, with only three chapters. However, it’s more structured like Like a Dragon Gaiden with more substories and activities such as Kanda Damage Control which acts as a hub for the substories as you help turn Kanda’s image around and deepen your relationship with him, similar to how Akame Network worked.

Speaking of the story, it is a fairly well-written rise to power crime drama surrounding Mine and provides backstory as to why he believes people only pursue in their own self-interest, only relies on himself and why he shows affection and interest in Daigo. Its pacing however, leaves a lot to be desired as your main story progression is locked by the optional Kanda Damage Control, forcing you to do the side content to pad the gameplay time.

A Combat Style That Feels Close to Lost Judgment

Mine’s kit feels very distinct from Kiryu’s Dragon of Dojima and Ryukyu Style, he’s built around shoot boxing and a “Shackled Heart” gauge that can trigger Dark Awakening, shifting him from controlled technique into a more brutal fighting style.

It feels a little more like Yagami’s combat style in “Lost Judgment” but doesn’t exactly scratch that same itch as it doesn’t reach that same ceiling but it definitely feels like RGG is trying to make the moveset feel like it’s Mine’s own rather than reusing movesets from previous characters. He also has those air combos where you’re able to vault off other enemies into flying kicks or punches that he then finishes off with a heat move.

Shackled Heart is this bar where you can fill by attacking enemies and you can use it to trigger Dark Awakening which empowers Mine. Once you enter Dark Awakening, he becomes berserk and you can throw out a storm of constant punches and also drag your enemies’ faces along the ground. Of course, during Dark Awakening, his Heat Actions also become more brutal than outside of Dark Awakening.

It feels very fun to play as Mine and especially refreshing to play as someone who’s always been depicted as an antagonist outside of Majima.

No More Rushing 3 to Get to 4

Kiwami 3 lands like RGG finally giving Yakuza 3 the modern framing its always needed. No more “Blockuza 3,” none of that stiffness, and the sense that fights drag because enemies shut you down constantly. Seeing Okinawa and the bigger story moments with a newer presentation also makes it easier to appreciate why this entry matters in the series’ timeline, rather than treating it like “the one you rush through to get to 4.” especially for those who skipped 3 or just watched a playthrough of 3.

Dark Ties is the most interesting addition, even if it’s smaller than the marketing makes it feel. Mine getting a dedicated story is genuinely worthwhile, painting his slide into the yakuza world as something driven by betrayal and a warped hunger for loyalty, and it makes his interest in Daigo feel like more than just villain posturing. 

The downside is pacing due to story progression being tied to Kanda Damage Control, the main plot at times feels like it’s forcing you to do more sets of substories before it lets you move forward. Still, when you’re actually playing, especially in fights, Dark Ties is a blast, and Mine’s moveset feels like RGG made a big effort to give him his own identity.

However, with the changes within the main story to possibly have a tie in the recent mainline games, it’s hard to imagine where the series will go in the future. We’ll have to see what RGG will be cooking.