Concluding the Yakuza saga

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is an action-oriented RPG that pits the player against the forces of Japanese crime syndicates. Taking control of a hardened ex-con, you must fight your way through crooks, defeat crime bosses, and solve various mysteries along the way.

Yakuza 6 is the concluding installment in the narrative-driven Yakuza series. Some past games include Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami. The series offers a deeply adult-oriented vision of crime and violence in the Japanese underworld, where crime families compete for power.

The sixth adventure of Kazuma Kiryu

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life continues the intricate storyline of the Yakuza series, with protagonist Kazuma Kiryu returning for more hard-boiled intrigue. The plot sees Kiryu released from prison after three years.

After, he begins investigating a series of suspicious events. This leads him to meet figures from his past, who turn out to have dark secrets.

A richer setting than before

The Yakuza city has always emphasized rich and detailed recreations of Japanese cities, and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life pushes the detail to a new level.

As the player is encouraged to delve into the criminal underworld of each location, real-life cities are depicted in an immersive manner. They must look for clues and fight off opponents to push the story forwards.

Comparing to other Yakuza games

Compared to the earlier titles in the series, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life both adds and takes away elements. A major addition is the Clan Creator, a mini-game in which you direct various gang members during an all-out battle. However, one-on-one fight mechanics are generally simpler than in earlier Yakuza games.

Adult crime storytelling

As with the rest of the Yakuza series, the storyline is too violent and explicitly sexual for children. Adult players who have followed the series, however, will appreciate this conclusion to the saga.