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

A few days before its official release, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii garnered attention with reviews from various media outlets. The PS5 version currently holds a Metacritic average score of 79 out of 100.

Reviewers lauded Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's creation of arguably the series' most outlandish spin-off yet. The return to a fast-paced, action-oriented combat system— reminiscent of pre-2020 franchise entries—combined with engaging naval battles, earned significant praise. This ship-based combat successfully diversifies the gameplay experience.

Protagonist Goro Majima received positive feedback, although the narrative itself drew mixed reactions. Some critics found the story less compelling than mainline entries, while the game's environments were criticized for a degree of repetitiveness.

Despite its shortcomings, critics generally agreed that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will likely resonate with both veteran fans and newcomers alike.