Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a PC action-adventure and beat 'em up that combines an extreme remake of Yakuza 3 with a separate story starring Yoshitaka Mine. It is not a renamed edition of the older Yakuza 3 Remastered; the current storefront package is a new two-game release from RGG Studio and SEGA, built for players who want cinematic crime drama, third-person brawling, open-ended side activities, and a second perspective on the conflict.

Two connected stories, two playable leads

The main game follows Kazuma Kiryu as he tries to protect the children and community connected to Morning Glory while being pulled back toward the Tojo Clan's internal power struggle. The story moves between Kamurocho and Downtown Ryukyu, giving the remake a different rhythm from the more urban-focused entries in the series. Tokyo brings familiar criminal tensions, while Okinawa emphasizes Kiryu's life outside the underworld and his responsibility toward the orphanage.

Dark Ties is included as a separate experience rather than a short playable interlude inside Kiryu's campaign. It places Yoshitaka Mine in the lead and explores his path from startup entrepreneur to hardened yakuza. The two campaigns share the broader world and timeline, but they are structured around different protagonists, motivations, and supporting characters. Players can select either game from the title menu.

Combat rebuilt around direct-action brawling

Both stories use real-time, third-person combat built around punches, throws, weapon attacks, evasive movement, Heat Actions, and environmental opportunities. Kiryu's battles are designed around crowd control and close-range pressure, while Mine brings a more aggressive style that reflects his role as a dangerous rival. The remake updates the original game's action systems instead of simply applying a visual facelift.

The result is a game for players who prefer deliberate street fights over turn-based command menus. Encounters can become messy quickly, especially when several enemies surround Kiryu or Mine, so positioning and timing matter as much as button combinations. Progression expands each protagonist's combat options, letting players unlock new attacks, defensive tools, and finishers as they advance.

The wider loop remains recognizably Yakuza: follow a dramatic main chapter, investigate local conflicts, fight street groups, complete substories, improve the protagonist, and stop for activities that have little to do with the central conspiracy. The contrast between serious family drama and absurd diversions is part of the structure rather than an optional novelty.

Bad Boy Dragon and Mine's side activities

One of Kiwami 3's major additions is Bad Boy Dragon, a side progression system built around Kiryu's involvement with a delinquent biker group in Okinawa. Players help develop the group, recruit or support characters, improve its equipment, and take part in bike-focused encounters. It gives the Okinawa portion a more active long-term objective than simply travelling between story markers.

Morning Glory also remains important to Kiryu's identity and daily routine. Activities connected to the orphanage reinforce the game's central theme: Kiryu is not only fighting criminal organizations, he is trying to preserve a home and a future for the people who depend on him. That personal responsibility separates Kiwami 3 from a straightforward revenge story.

Dark Ties has its own progression systems, including Kanda Damage Control and Hell's Arena. Kanda Damage Control focuses on reputation, missions, and the relationship between Mine and the Nishikiyama Family. Hell's Arena provides repeatable combat challenges with different enemy groups and rule sets, giving Mine's campaign a dedicated combat loop beyond its narrative missions.

Content model and available editions

The standard package contains both Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties. The base purchase is therefore more substantial than a conventional remake with a small bonus chapter: it includes Kiryu's rebuilt campaign and Mine's separate storyline in one product. The game is sold on PC through Steam, and the PC edition is digital-only.

Optional add-ons focus primarily on customization and bonus characters rather than replacing the core campaigns. The available DLC includes the Legendary Lads & Gals Pack, extra character outfits, Ryukyu Gal Gang customization items, flip-phone cosmetics, and a Legendary BGM CD Pack that adds music options while exploring. The Deluxe Edition bundles the base game with these bonus packs, while the standard edition still contains the two main experiences.

Who should play it on PC?

This is a strong fit for players who enjoy story-heavy Japanese crime games with frequent hand-to-hand combat, eccentric substories, and dense activity menus. It is especially relevant for fans following Kiryu's saga in order, because the remake revisits a major chapter while adding a new Mine-centered story that expands the surrounding cast.

Players expecting a conventional open-world crime sandbox may find the structure more guided than the label suggests. The districts are built around missions, encounters, minigames, shops, and substories rather than unrestricted simulation. Likewise, Dark Ties should be approached as a focused companion campaign, not as a full replacement for the scale of Kiryu's main story.

If you prefer investigation, branching cases, and modern brawler combat, crime-action adventures such as Judgment offer a natural comparison. For a direct continuation of Kiryu's earlier combat-focused journey, Dragon Engine beat 'em ups like Yakuza Kiwami 2 are the closest fit. Players more interested in the series' newer role-playing direction can compare its character-driven city exploration with turn-based Like a Dragon adventures such as Infinite Wealth.

PC features, controls, and localization

The Steam version supports full controller support for Xbox and PlayStation controllers through Steam Input, alongside keyboard and mouse controls. It also includes Steam Cloud, achievements, trading cards, Family Sharing, and Steam Deck compatibility. The game is single-player; neither campaign is built around online multiplayer, co-op, or split-screen play.

PC players should also account for Denuvo Anti-tamper DRM and Steam as the required storefront ecosystem. The storefront lists English and Japanese full audio, with interface and subtitle support for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. That makes the package accessible to a broad international audience without changing its Japanese crime-drama setting.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties FAQ

Is Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties a remake of Yakuza 3?

Yes. Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a rebuilt version of Yakuza 3, while Dark Ties is a separate new story included in the same package. The title is not simply a rebrand of Yakuza 3 Remastered.

Who do you play as in Dark Ties?

Dark Ties stars Yoshitaka Mine, a major figure connected to Yakuza 3. Its story follows Mine's rise from entrepreneur to yakuza and uses his own combat and side-activity structure.

Does the PC version have co-op or multiplayer?

No. The Steam edition is listed as single-player, and the included campaigns are designed for solo play.

What is Bad Boy Dragon?

Bad Boy Dragon is a Kiwami 3 side system in which Kiryu helps develop a delinquent biker group in Okinawa. It combines recruitment, upgrades, bike-related activities, and story progression.

What is Hell's Arena?

Hell's Arena is Dark Ties' dedicated combat challenge mode. Mine fights enemy groups under different conditions, providing repeatable battles outside the main story.

Does the PC release support controllers and Steam Deck?

Yes. The Steam edition has full controller support and is listed as compatible with Steam Deck. It also includes Steam Cloud and Steam achievements.