The journey of the Dragon of Doujima continues on the Nintendo Switch™ 2 system with the release of Yakuza Kiwami™ 2. While there are some minor disappointments regarding the overall performance on Nintendo’s latest handheld, I stand by my belief that the Switch 2 is the best platform on which to experience the Yakuza franchise.
Dragon of Kansai
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a direct sequel to the first Kiwami game, taking place one year after the events of the latter. Having retired from the Yakuza, Kiryu is asked by his former clan, the Tojo, to rejoin them and prevent a war from breaking out between the Tojo and their rivals in the Omi Alliance by bringing peace to the Tokyo underworld. To this end, he must travel to Sotenburi in Osaka to negotiate a truce. The story features a great mix of old and returning characters who each have their own goals and ambitions within this grander plot. One of the stars of the show this time is the new villain: Ryuji Goda, the Dragon of Kansai. Not only does he want to destroy the Tojo clan, he also harbours a deep grudge against Kiryu because, according to Ryuji, there can only be one Dragon at a time. This creates a great dynamic between the two characters, with Kiryu’s kind-hearted nature constantly contrasting with Ryuji’s ruthless persona, making you want to root for the good guy the whole way through. However, as with all Yakuza games, the story is just the tip of the iceberg.
World Building
Kiwami 2 isn’t just an upgrade of the original PlayStation 2 game; it brings the adventure to the flagship Dragon Engine used by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios from Yakuza 6 onwards. The modernisation this offers will become clear immediately, especially if you have only played the first game. Not only do the new setting of Dotombori and the familiar streets of Kamurocho receive a visual overhaul, but the more powerful engine also eliminates most of the loading screens that appeared when entering a building. This makes the world feel more alive and lived in. This all became clear to me when I punched someone through the window of a ramen shop during a street fight, only to walk through the broken window afterwards to buy some noodles and heal up.
Speaking of fights, the experience and levelling-up system has also been updated in line with the latest Yakuza beat ’em up games. The fighting styles and skill trees from Kiwami 1 have been replaced with a menu system where you can choose your upgrades by paying with experience points. Some of them still have requirements, but you can pick and choose how to build your character from an earlier stage in the story. Enemies now also go ragdolling when their HP bar is depleted, so some takedowns can be as brutal as they are funny. This is especially true when you throw the heat finishers into the mix. Some story battles even use heat finishers to end a battle in style, giving you time to charge your heat bar and unleash a unique finishing move in a boss battle.
Overall, the presentation of the Switch 2 version of Kiwami 2 is excellent. The only slight downside is the reduced frame rate. While Kiwami 1 delivered a smooth 60 frames per second, Kiwami 2 stops at 30 fps in docked mode. I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t played both games back to back, but it took some getting used to at first. In the end, I didn’t really mind this lower frame rate. After all, the rest of the experience is extremely smooth. However, if you are a performance purist, I would suggest buying the game for the PS5 or Xbox instead. However, this means you’ll miss out on one of the best things about Yakuza on Switch 2: being able to play it on the go in handheld mode.
‘mini’ games
The main reason I recommend picking up the portable version of Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the abundance of content on offer. Once again, there are plenty of side quests that take place in the streets of Tokyo and Osaka. These range from the straightforward task of working as a bouncer at a club to posing as a topless model in the name of art. There are around 75 side stories to complete, and no story is to wacky to include. Some of these are tied to a minigame. Returning favourites such as the crane game and the casino are back, but these quests also offer bigger experiences bound to keep you engaged for a couple of hours. One example is the hostess club minigame. In this one, you need to manage shifts in the club to make money from happy customers. You will learn to determine what a hostess needs by reading hand signs. Another bigger one is tied to the main game: Majima Constructions. This is a strategy minigame in which you must defend the Kamarocho Hills construction site from thugs trying to steal the blueprints. Goro Majima, the mad dog, is the star of this storyline. There are three story chapters that you can unlock and access from the main menu. Completing the main story will take about 18 hours, but if you’re a completionist looking to do everything, you’re bound to have over 80 hours of playtime.
Conclusion
Aside from the 30 fps frame rate, the Switch 2 is the best modern console on which to play Yakuza Kiwami 2. Just like with Kiwami 1, the Switch 2’s portable form factor will allow you to enjoy the game to the fullest, whether you’re at home in front of your TV or on the go on the bus or train. The story is one of the best in the series and, with a plethora of side quests and mini-games, you will undoubtedly get your money’s worth from this game. With Yakuza Kiwami 3 scheduled for release in February 2026, now is the perfect time to dive into the series or revisit the stories that started it all.
