Review: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – Aloha, Madness, and Majima

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – Full Review & Breakdown

If you told me a few years ago that Goro Majima—the legendary cycloptic chaos gremlin of the Yakuza series—would wash ashore in Hawaii, rocking pirate gear, memory loss, and a katana in each hand, I’d have laughed, choked on my ramen, and immediately pre-ordered the game. Fast forward to 2025 and guess what? That fever dream is real, it’s called Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and yes—it’s as gloriously unhinged as it sounds.

But let’s back up a bit.

A New (and Wild) Chapter for the Dragon Saga

The Like a Dragon series—formerly known in the West as Yakuza—has been around for nearly two decades, but you’d be hard-pressed to call it stale. After the departure of longtime series mastermind Toshihiro Nagoshi, many fans were unsure what the future would look like. Enter Masayoshi Yokoyama, one of the franchise’s veteran writers and now the creative lead. Under his guidance, the series underwent a wild metamorphosis: moving away from beat-’em-up roots toward full-blown turn-based JRPG mechanics, embracing bolder, weirder storytelling, and spinning off more entries than a Netflix original franchise.

But that boldness paid off. Games like Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Infinite Wealth redefined what the series could be—introducing new characters like Ichiban Kasuga while still honoring longtime legend Kazuma Kiryu. The narrative stakes got higher, the themes got more mature, and somehow, the karaoke got even more emotional.

Now, 2025 brings us Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, a short but bonkers side story that gives the spotlight to someone who’s long deserved a solo adventure: the chaotic, wildly unpredictable Goro Majima. Set alongside the timeline of Infinite Wealth, this spin-off breaks new ground without betraying the soul of the series. It’s fast, funny, occasionally heartfelt, and proof that the Like a Dragon saga still has fresh stories to tell—even if they involve pirates, memory loss, and a suspicious amount of shirtless violence.

Shipwrecked and Shirtless (Again)

Goro Majima wakes up face-down on a sun-bleached beach, shirtless, confused, and surrounded by tropical birds. No, this isn’t his vacation gone wrong—it’s the opening scene of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and it sets the tone perfectly. Our favorite one-eyed madman has no memory of who he is, where he is, or how he got there. One moment he was… well, probably yelling at someone with a knife. The next? He’s got sand in his teeth and pirates trying to loot his unconscious body.

It’s a classic anime-style amnesia setup, and honestly, it works. In true Like a Dragon fashion, Majima has to pick himself up from rock bottom (or in this case, sunburned sand) and piece together his past—while somehow becoming an unlikely pirate hero in the process. What unfolds is a tightly focused, 4–5 chapter narrative that blends absurdist comedy, high-stakes action, and surprising emotional moments.

Unlike some spin-offs that feel like glorified DLC, this one holds its own. There’s real character development, a self-contained story arc, and enough bizarre encounters to fill a small novel. Fans of Infinite Wealth and Yakuza 7 will catch plenty of timeline tie-ins and Easter eggs, but you don’t need a master’s degree in Kiryu-lore to follow what’s going on. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it never tries to do too much. Sometimes, all you need is a tropical island, a rusty cutlass, and a madman with nothing to lose.

Combat: Slice, Dice, and Dual Cutlasses

The game ditches turn-based combat and returns to classic Yakuza-style beatdowns—with a pirate twist. Majima has two fighting styles:

• Mad Dog – Classic, wild, unhinged Majima, straight out of the older games. Fast, brutal, unpredictable.
• Sea Dog – Pirate mode, complete with dual cutlasses, gun tricks, and the ability to bring down enemies like he’s auditioning for Pirates of the Caribbean: Kamurocho Drift.

You can switch styles mid-fight, and there’s even a “rage” meter that summons shadow clones of Majima to fight beside you. It’s very anime. It’s very Majima. It’s glorious.

And because this is Pirate Yakuza, you’ve got ship battles too. Yep, you can sail, board enemy ships, and take out entire pirate crews. Sorry, Skull & Bones—this is how you do pirate combat with style.

Hawaiian Heat & Visual Deja Vu

Most of the game takes place in a re-used—but still vibrant—version of Honolulu from Infinite Wealth, now sprinkled with new characters and fresh pirate-themed gear. Majima gets several outfit options, but none quite as memorable as his full-on pirate drip, which might be the most iconic look he’s rocked since the snakeskin jacket.

However, it’s hard to ignore that the visual style is starting to feel a little... familiar. RGG Studio has been using the same engine and graphical assets for nearly five games now (seven if you count Judgment). It still looks decent, but fans are definitely hoping for a next-gen glow-up soon.

Voice Acting & Music – Majima's Still Got It

You’ve got the usual option between Japanese and English dub. While the English cast includes heavy-hitter Matt Mercer as Majima, nothing beats Hidenari Ugaki, who’s been voicing the Mad Dog of Shimano for 20+ years. He sounds just as energetic and deranged as ever.

The soundtrack? Mostly familiar Like a Dragon vibes. The main theme stands out, but there’s nothing drastically new in the music department. Solid, but not revolutionary.

Performance Woes

Unfortunately, the game didn’t launch without technical hiccups. Players reported issues with DLSS not functioning properly, frame drops on decent hardware, and bizarre bugs like the screen going completely dark when enabling certain performance settings. FSR seemed to work better, but it’s clear the game could’ve used an extra layer of polish on PC.

Final Verdict & Rating

⭐ Land of Geek Rating: 8.5/10

✅ Pros

• Majima steals the show with dual styles and signature chaos
• Pirate combat and ship battles add fun, fresh mechanics
• Fast-paced story with great writing and self-contained arc
• Excellent Japanese voice acting, especially from Hidenari Ugaki
• Classic beat-’em-up gameplay returns in satisfying fashion
• Iconic pirate outfit might be Majima’s best look yet

❌ Cons

• Recycled visuals and assets starting to feel tired
• Short runtime (only 4–5 chapters) might not satisfy everyone
• Technical issues on PC, especially with DLSS and frame stability
• Music feels familiar and lacks standout new tracks
• No major impact on the franchise’s overarching plot

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii isn’t trying to be the next Infinite Wealth—and that’s exactly why it works. It embraces the chaos, the comedy, and the combat that longtime fans love, while giving one of the series’ most iconic characters a much-deserved moment in the spotlight. The story is compact but impactful, the action is slick, and the pirate twist is just silly enough to be perfect. It stumbles a bit with reused assets and a few frustrating technical hiccups on PC, but it’s still a treasure chest of fun.

Whether you're here for Majima mayhem or just want a short, wild Yakuza fix—this is a ride worth taking.

Stay tuned for more over-the-top Yakuza chaos at Land of Geek Magazine!‍

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