Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

[h1] Kiryu's emotional and stoic side finally tie up together. [/h1] This game is definitely my second favorite Yakuza game after Yakuza 0. Since this is the first game in the their Dragon Engine, the combat and the bosses feel sluggish, though it felt good to play. The story is not too complex unlike Yakuza 4 and 5. This is definitely the most emotional Yakuza game I've played thus far. I recommend!

[h2]Verdict[/h2] ✅ Strongly Recommended I finished Yakuza 6: The Song of Life on Steam in 16.3 hours, and I enjoyed it immensely. For me, this feels like the ending of a fantastic series. I first played Yakuza Kiwami 1 back in 2020. Even then, the world around Kamurocho and the story of Kazuma Kiryu completely caught me. I already knew it would probably take years before I finished all the main entries from 1 to 6. It took 6 years — and I’m really glad I went through this journey. [h2]My history with the game[/h2] [list] [*] Finished Yakuza 6: The Song of Life on Steam [*] Playtime: 16.3 hours [*] Played Yakuza Kiwami 1 for the first time in 2020 [*] Finished the main Kiryu-era journey from Yakuza 1 to Yakuza 6 [*] Also played Yakuza 0 and Like a Dragon (and I finished them too) [*] I see Yakuza 6 as the ending of something fantastic [/list] [h2]Quick signals[/h2] 💸 Value: ✅ Amazing if you followed Kiryu’s journey 🖥️ Requirements: ✅ Medium 🎨 Graphics: ✅ Best technical presentation in the Kiryu-era games 📖 Story: ✅ Emotional ending to a legendary saga 🎮 Difficulty: ✅ Classic Yakuza action, easy to enjoy 🎧 Audio: ✅ Fully voiced in-game cutscenes are a huge upgrade 🐛 Bugs: ✅ No major issues worth mentioning ⏱️ Length: ✅ 16.3 hours for my playthrough [h2]What I liked[/h2] [list] [*] It feels like a proper conclusion to Kazuma Kiryu’s long journey [*] Kamurocho and the world of Yakuza still have that special atmosphere [*] Technically, this game beats every previous entry in the series [*] The way the story builds up and escalates feels excellent [*] Finally, all in-game cutscenes are fully voiced, not only cinematic cutscenes [*] I enjoyed it immensely from start to finish [*] It feels like the conclusion of something fantastic that only players who spent dozens of hours in these games will truly understand [/list] [h2]What didn’t work for me[/h2] [list] [*] If I only judge pure story tier list, I still enjoyed Yakuza 1 and 2 the most [*] But as a full technical and emotional final entry, Yakuza 6 is excellent (but man, those unskippable credits...) [/list] [h2]My journey with the series[/h2] I started with Yakuza Kiwami 1 in 2020, and from that moment I was hooked by Kamurocho, the atmosphere, and Kazuma Kiryu as a character. I knew finishing the main games from 1 to 6 would not be a quick thing. It took me 6 years, but looking back, I’m glad I experienced all of it. Some series are not just games you finish — they become a long journey you remember. [h2]Is it an endless game? How long to beat?[/h2] Not endless — it is a story-driven Yakuza game with a clear ending, plus optional side content. My playthrough took 16.3 hours. For me, that was enough to experience the main emotional conclusion and close this chapter of the series. [h2]Who will love it[/h2] [list] [*] Players who followed Kazuma Kiryu from the earlier games [*] Fans who want emotional closure after spending many hours in the series [*] Anyone who loves Kamurocho, dramatic crime stories, and classic Yakuza energy [*] Players who appreciate better technical presentation and fully voiced scenes [*] People who understand that Yakuza 6 is not just another sequel, but the end of a long era [/list] [h2]Replay value[/h2] [list] [*] High for fans who want to return to Kiryu’s final chapter [*] Medium if you mainly play for the story and already got closure [*] For me personally: this is a game I will remember more as a final chapter than as something I need to replay immediately [/list] [h2]Final note[/h2] Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is excellent. I played Yakuza 0 and Like a Dragon too, but this one stands as the conclusion of something truly special for me. After 6 years with this journey, I can only say: thank you for everything, Kazuma Kiryu.

Having completed the series in order, there's a huge emotional payoff, providing the perfect closure to Kiryu’s legendary saga. Getting back to the Dragon Engine feels incredible after playing 4 & 5. Kamurocho abeit smaller than in previous games feel more alive than ever. It’s agreat finale for anyone who has followed the series this far, it’s an absolute must-play before diving into Ichiban's saga