Ryu Ga Gotoku studio and their English localisation team are treading a very fine line with some newly revealed features and game modes for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties. Revealed in a newly streamed showcase for the game are the Bad Boy Dragon mode for Kiwami 3, and Hell’s Arena in the Dark Ties bundled spin-off.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a remake of the third game in the popular crime drama series, recreating the PS3 original with some modernisation and new additions. As Kiryu has to save Okinawa’s Morning Glory Orphanage from those looking to force him and the children out of their home, he’ll be able to jump into a new Bad Boy Dragon mode.
Morning Glory and Bad (Boy) Dragon? Ahem!
So, what do you do in Bad Boy Dragon? Well, basically, Kiryu joins and leads the Haisai Girls gang to dominance. You’ll gather allies and train them up until they can take on the toughest gangs in the country, fighting in turf wars for territory, jumping into Baddies Battles with a small party of five, or going for a 20-member battle in Rumbles. You can also hop onto your motorbikes and raid enemy bases. There’s a ton of customisation here that looks like it could be  a fun timesink.
Then there’s Dark Ties, which sees Yoshitaka Mine trying to bolster his reputation and rise through the ranks. This is a fresh side-story to the main Yakuza 3 tale, but RGG has now revealed the Hell’s Arena underground fight club that you can dive into. Your goal is to dive into 1v1 Hellish Brawls and perilous races to avoid hunters through a treasure-filled dungeon in Survival Hell.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is set to launch on 12th February 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.
Source: press release
This sounds like an exciting addition to the Yakuza series! It’s great to see the studio experimenting with new modes and features. Looking forward to seeing how this enhances the gameplay experience.
Absolutely, it really is an exciting time for the Yakuza series! The introduction of the Bad Boy Dragon mode could bring a fresh dynamic to gameplay and character development. I’m curious to see how it will impact the overall narrative experience as well!
I agree, the Bad Boy Dragon mode sounds like a fun addition! It’s interesting to see how the Yakuza series continues to evolve while staying true to its roots. I’m curious how this new mode will impact the overall gameplay experience and character development.
series continues to evolve with new gameplay modes. The Bad Boy Dragon mode could really deepen the storytelling aspect, allowing players to explore different facets of the characters. It’ll be fascinating to see how it impacts the overall experience!