Overall: 8.75/10

Story:

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an open-world action beat 'em up with a narrative that expertly balances high-octane action, intricate plot twists, and reflective character moments. While it may not be the most emotionally charged story in the series, its sheer coolness factor sets it apart, blending crime drama, personal vendettas, and political intrigue in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
The game follows Kiryu a year after Yakuza Kiwami 1 as he’s pulled back into the Tojo Clan's chaotic world to prevent a war with the Omi Alliance, setting up a power struggle with Ryuji Goda. Ryuji's presence is magnetic, acting as the perfect foil to Kiryu, with his ruthless ambition threatening to undo everything Kiryu has fought for. Additionally, their intense rivalry is heightened by a deeper conspiracy involving more than just rival clans.
The narrative excels at weaving multiple subplots without becoming overwhelming. Kiryu’s quest to maintain peace while grappling with his sense of honor is complemented by the intricate dynamics of the supporting cast. Though it doesn’t quite reach the emotional depth of other entries, it really leans into the grandeur of its set pieces, which is one reason why I consider it one of my favorite stories in the series. Where the narrative falters for me, however, is in its ending. Without spoiling anything, the conclusion feels underwhelming after such a strong buildup. The final moments don’t quite tie everything together as satisfyingly as they could, which left me feeling slightly unsatisfied and wanting more. Despite this, Kiwami 2 delivers a thrilling, complex narrative that remains one of the coolest—and one of my personal favorites—in the franchise.

Gameplay:

YK2 marks the debut of the Dragon Engine if you’re playing the series chronologically, and with this comes a mixture of impressive upgrades and inevitable growing pains. The engine brings a more immersive, visually enhanced world, but it also introduces some jank in terms of performance and fluidity, especially compared to its predecessors.
The combat, while streamlined with a single fighting style, actually remains enjoyable despite lacking the variety of style switching from Y0 and YK1. The moves feel weighty, and you can still unleash devastating heat moves and combos, with the extreme heat mechanics feeling particularly powerful and satisfying to pull off. However, the combat isn’t without its quirks—the most notable being the frustrating bounce back when enemies block, which can really disrupt the flow and rhythm of fights. On top of that, I absolutely hate the ragdoll physics; they completely shatter the immersion and make combat feel way more ridiculous than it should. These mechanics, at times, hinder the otherwise (mostly) fluid, fast-paced brawling experience.
On the flip side, the game offers a wealth of side activities that add substantial variety to the gameplay. The return of the Cabaret Club minigame offers a blend of management and social interactions that serves as a relaxing yet strategic break from the main story; Meanwhile, the Majima Construction minigame introduces a more action-oriented challenge, with its tower-defense-style mechanics giving you a different kind of strategic engagement. These minigames not only provide great distractions but also help round out YK2’s gameplay, making it feel as though there’s always something new to dive into.

World:

The world design of YK2 is a significantly positive feature, offering a deeply immersive experience by letting you explore not just one, but two iconic cities—Kamurocho and Sotenbori. As someone who has journeyed through these cities in Y0 and YK1, it’s incredibly rewarding to see both environments modernized and given a fresh coat of graphical polish. The updated textures, improved lighting, and attention to detail make each city feel more vibrant and alive, while still retaining the charm and familiarity from earlier games. The nostalgia is ever-present, but the visual upgrades make the world feel much more contemporary.
A significant leap forward from YK1 is the seamless integration of locations. Here, both of the cities' many buildings and interiors are no longer gated by load screens. The ability to walk straight into these places without interruption makes the cities feel like truly interconnected spaces, enhancing the sense of immersion. It’s a subtle but powerful change, reinforcing that Kiwami 2's world design is built for fluid exploration and doesn't pull you out of the experience as frequently as its predecessor.

Visuals:

The visuals take full advantage of the Dragon Engine, delivering a remake experience that is visually striking and a noticeable step up from YK1. While YK2 remains faithful to the original cinematics of Yakuza 2 just like YK1 did with Yakuza 1, it clearly benefits more from the remake treatment. The improved lighting, environmental details, and character models are all elevated by the Dragon Engine’s capabilities, giving the game a more polished and modern feel compared to YK1.
A significant visual element for me is the use of heat effects during combat. These effects not only look cool but also add a visceral layer of intensity to the action. The glowing heat auras and dynamic finishers, combined with the engine’s real-time physics, make each brawl feel impactful and visually satisfying. In addition, the modernization of both previously mentioned cities is another graphical highlight, with both brimming with life, enhanced by improved textures and atmospheric lighting. The Dragon Engine’s ability to handle more detailed and graphically impressive environments without the constant loading screens of earlier games makes exploration more captivating and seamless.

Music/Sound Design:

The music and sound design are generally solid, though for me, it doesn't quite reach the heights of some of the other games in the series. There are definitely a couple of standout boss themes that I really enjoyed, and the overall soundtrack maintains that signature RGG quality; However, it's a case of being good, not great—mainly because the bar for Yakuza soundtracks is already set so high. RGG consistently delivers impressive music, so even when it's just "good," it still feels a bit underwhelming compared to the series’ best moments.
One actual issue I personally had is with the general battle themes. Since the style-switching mechanic from Y0 and YK1 is absent, each city only has a single song when fighting random thugs, and it absolutely gets repetitive after a while. That said, Kamurocho’s battle theme is one I really liked, but hearing it over and over started to wear thin during extended play sessions. Basically, the music works well enough to fit the tone of the game, but it doesn’t hit as hard as some other Yakuza OSTs.

TL;DR:

YK2 offers an exciting blend of high-stakes narrative, solid gameplay, and a visually impressive world, though it has its ups and downs. The story, while not the most emotionally charged in the series, delivers an engaging mix of crime drama, personal conflicts, and political intrigue, with a standout antagonist in Ryuji Goda. However, the ending feels a bit underwhelming after such an intense buildup. On the gameplay side, the Dragon Engine introduces some jank, but the combat remains fun, especially with the cool extreme heat mechanics. The lack of style switching and the bounce-back when enemies block can disrupt the flow of combat, but the variety of side activities like the Cabaret Club and Majima Construction help keep things fresh. Lastly, the updated visuals and seamless exploration between Kamurocho and Sotenbori make the world feel more alive and immersive, though the soundtrack, while solid, doesn’t quite reach the highs of previous entries. All things considered and despite these minor shortcomings, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an impressive, very fun experience that’s well worth your time!