Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii scored 79/100 on first reviews

A few days before its official release, early reviews for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii began surfacing across various media outlets. The PS5 version currently holds a Metacritic average score of 79 out of 100.

Reviewers widely agree that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has crafted perhaps the most outlandish entry in the series. The return to a fast-paced, action-oriented combat system—a style reminiscent of pre-2020 titles—has been lauded, particularly the addition of exciting naval battles which significantly enhance gameplay variety.

Protagonist Goro Majima has received considerable praise, though the narrative itself has drawn mixed reactions, with some critics finding it less compelling than mainline entries. Similarly, the game's environments were criticized for a degree of repetitiveness.

Despite these shortcomings, the consensus is that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will likely resonate with both veteran fans and newcomers alike.