Sega has officially announced Yakuza 3 Kiwami, the remake of Yakuza 3, last week during the RGG Summit 2025. Not only that, it will also come with a spin-off title, titled in English simply as Dark Ties.
While the Like A Dragon series has been renamed in English, this particular title still retains the Yakuza name.
In Yakuza 3, legendary Yakuza member Kazuma Kiryu essentially left his old life to start an orphanage far out in Okinawa, the Morning Glory. But the underworld beckons for the Dragon Of Dojima once more when the government decides to build a resort on the land of the orphanage and he must fight once again.
As suggested by the Kiwami moniker, this is an “extreme” remake where developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is making some big, bold changes compared to original 2009 game it is based on. For one, plenty of characters have not only been recasted for the Japanese voiceover, their faces now match the celebrity talents that voice them. Another minor visual change is Kiryu’s Okinawa outfit, his fiery red shirt has been switched to a mellow verdant design.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 is running on the Dragon Engine, based on the visual quality matching up with more modern Like A Dragon games, including Yakuza Kiwami 2.
Yakuza Kiwami 3’s other change is gameplay, where Kiryu can style-switch. His main style is of course The Dragon Of Dojima, and even then his moveset has been revamped for this title. His other new style is Okinawa Style, a more technical playstyle where he can use up to 8 different weapons.
Kiryu still has a skill tree to upgrade his moveset, but a new way Yakuza Kiwami 3 brings to character growth is customising Kiryu’s cell phone with straps and stickers. These are passives you can equip to further accentuate your playstyle.
As a caretaker at the Morning Glory, Kiryu gets an expanded set of mini-games where you help him be a father figure for the children. From cooking to bug-catching. Each of the morning glory children also have a substory.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 brings a new main mini-game: Bad Boy Dragon. Kiryu will somehow get roped into being a bosozoku gang leader where he’ll recruit new members and train them for team battles. Bikes, uniforms and weapons can be customised as you protect the peace in Okinawa as a biker gang.
Bowling, golf, darts, karaoke, UFO catchers, various gambling mini-games and mahjong are all confirmed coming to Yakuza Kiwami 3.
Dark Ties: New Like A Dragon Gaiden Game Bundled In Yakuza Kiwami 3
The big surprise is that Yakuza Kiwami 3 also comes with a new spin-off game. In Japan, Dark Ties is labelled as Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Gaiden Dark Ties, similar to how Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is Like A Dragon 7 Gaiden and Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is Like A Dragon 8 Gaiden. The English localisation drops the Gaiden labelling, but we all know it’s a spin-off anyway.
Dark Ties is a prequel to Yakuza 3 Kiwami, and curiously, you play as Yoshitaka Mine as you see him rise to the Yakuza ranks. Mine is an antagonist in Yakuza 3, and it would be interesting to see how the game portrays this character.
Mine has the fighting style inspired by the Japanese art of shootboxing, a mix of shoot wrestling and kickboxing. Similar to Majima in Pirate Yakuza, Mine has launchers and air combos too.
Dark Ties is a full spin-off game, it even has its own sets of mini-games for Mine. The main one is Kanda Damage Control, where Mine must help improve and control his patriarch’s public image. Rare that you get to play as a PR practitioner.
Mine can unlock Drink Links, Like A Dragon’s equivalent to Social Links/Confidants, with Kanda.
The main mini-game in Dark Ties is, like the two previous Gaiden games, a fight arena but with different rules. In Dark Ties, it’s technically a race for your life, with extraction elements. Mine must escape the dungeon, but collect as much loot that can be used to upgrade his offensive skills, hire mercenaries and more.
Mine also can sing karaoke, he has a rendition of the fan-favourite love ballad “Baka Mitai.” He can also play billiards, bat at the batting center, play darts and more. Kanda can join in for some mini-games too.
Dark Ties cannot be purchased separately, it comes together with Yakuza Kiwami 3 as a bundle.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will launch on February 12, 2026 for the PS4, PS5, PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.