On its own, Yakuza 0 is a great, albeit dated, entry in the overarching Yakuza franchise. Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut might not feature enough content that Yakuza fans may enjoy, but it’s an excellent port for a Nintendo Switch 2 owner and an even better entry into the Yakuza series for those who have not yet played a game from Ryu Ga Gotoku.
Back when I reviewed Yakuza Kiwami on the Nintendo Switch, I was enamored by Ryu Ga Gotoku’s (RGG’s) successful attempt in porting many Yakuza players’ first favorite game of the series. It ran great, barring a few hiccups and graphical differences between the port and other versions. The one thing on my mind as I was playing and writing (of course) was…what does the future of Yakuza look like for the Nintendo Switch? Will future RGG games make their way to the Nintendo Switch 2?
Several months later, it looks like we have our answer. With my Switch 2 in hand, I’m thrilled to say that there’s another Yakuza port from the RGG crew – Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut.
Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the widely acclaimed Yakuza / Yakuza Kiwami. It was originally released in 2015 on the PlayStation 3 and 4 in Japan. When it made its way to the Americas in 2017, it earned widespread praise from critics and players alike. These days, though, the loudest of Yakuza fans argue that Yakuza 0 features an amazing plot while its combat and pacing pale in comparison to more recent Yakuza titles. Thus, you should expect to see many players debate about the value of Yakuza 0 in 2025 especially when other Yakuza titles might be available on other platforms.
Let’s get this out of the way right now: If you have played Yakuza 0 on PlayStation or another platform prior to today, there is no reason for you to consider Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut unless you’re chomping at the bit to own every single Yakuza title on the Nintendo Switch. If you’re a Nintendo Switch 2 owner who happens to own other consoles, then maybe Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut will be a great way for you to get started on the much-loved RGG series. If you’re a Nintendo Switch 2 owner who has never played a Yakuza game ever, then read on.
Yakuza 0 takes us back several years prior to the events of the first game in the series – 1980s Japan. Kiryu Kazuma and Goro Majima (the latter of which stars in 2025’s Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii) are dual protagonists, shown as their younger and more naïve selves long before they earned their notoriety amongst rival yakuza factions. The softer and more innocent sides of these characters are refreshing takes on these established characters. Kiryu’s naïve stoicism and Majima’s overall reluctance are stark contrasts to the identities we have become accustomed to all these years, giving them the humanity needed for character evolution and so much more.
Yakuza 0 features some of RGG’s best storytelling, interweaving narratives of two contrasting character archetypes in 1980s Japan. In videogamedunkey’s Yakuza 0 (dunkview), he argued that the Yakuza series have an incredible ability to betray its seriousness with ridiculous, bombastic spectacle. This is perhaps the best description and critique of RGG’s dichotomous storytelling that often involves dark tones and even darker source material. In between heart-pounding seriousness where yakuza members chop off their appendages for misbehavior are oodles of distractions that almost always pay off in lightening the mood.
It’s tough to criticize RGG for its captivating content, but it’s worth noting that this content is often masked behind convoluted tutorials that don’t seem to end, inconsistent pacing of cutscenes that would make Kojima proud, and mechanics that take far too long to click. However, once those things do click, Yakuza 0 becomes near impossible to put down.
Should you go off the beaten path to complete its endless goofy side missions, you’ll be rewarded with the classic RGG insanity like teaching a dominatrix how to do her job and challenging dancers at a disco club. They’re so plentiful that they offer just enough of a break if Yakuza becomes too dark and tense to handle. They all pay off in rewards and emotions, in true Yakuza fashion.
The Director’s Cut features a handful of additional cutscenes that weren’t in the previous versions of Yakuza 0. They’re nice to have, but first-time players won’t realize that they were added. The cutscenes let me appreciate the depth and solidification of Kiryu and Majima’s relationships with other characters in the world. Since YouTube exists, it’s hard for me to claim that the additional content is the reason why a Yakuza fan deserves this right this minute.
Outside of the cutscenes, Director’s Cut includes a four-player co-op mode called Red Light Raid Mode. It’s a brawl-style minigame where you team up with other players to take on waves of enemies and bosses. At best, it’s a fun multiplayer minigame, but again I’m not convinced that it takes full advantage of multiplayer minigames that Yakuza fans would enjoy. It’s fun, but its depth and replayability pales in comparison to The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return.
Yakuza 0 is an excellent Switch 2 port – superior in quality to Yakuza Kiwami on the original Nintendo Switch. There are slightly smoother textures this time around, most likely utilizing Switch 2’s internals. Non-existent loading screens are a massive plus, especially when Kamurocho fully realized and bustling with NPCs, lights, and other animated objects. It’s one of the older games, yes, so don’t expect to see a graphical overhaul that you may have expected going from Yakuza to Yakuza Kiwami.
As of right now, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is a Nintendo Switch 2 timed exclusive. I don’t know when it’s heading to other platforms, but I’m not the most certain that existing Yakuza 0 owners will feel compelled to play it. The new content and modes are great, but I’m not too sure it’s enough to feel like a fully realized Director’s Cut.
On its own, Yakuza 0 is a great, albeit dated, entry in the overarching Yakuza franchise. Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut might not feature enough content that Yakuza fans may enjoy, but it’s an excellent port for a Nintendo Switch 2 owner and an even better entry into the Yakuza series for those who have not yet played a game from Ryu Ga Gotoku.
