When it comes to Yakuza/Like a Dragon, I spend most of my time eating, sleeping, breathing, and, much to the dismay of my colleagues, talking about my ultimate fave, Majima Goro, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that I don’t really care for anyone else in the series. But you’d be wrong. Though the one-eyed wonder will always be the ultimate king in my opinion, my second favourite character is Zhao Tianyou, closely followed by none other than Yoshitaka Mine.
As a result, the news of Yakuza Kiwami 3 that had me so ecstatic was quickly overshadowed by the far more important news that it was coming bundled with Dark Ties, an “included separate game” that lets you play as Mine for the first time.
Yakuza 3 spoilers ahead, so if you plan on going into Yakuza 3 Kiwami to enjoy it firsthand, you should stop reading here.
The Curse Of The Fan Favourite
Dark Ties is set before the events of Yakuza 3, back when Mine was just your average Joe business guy with a far less cool hairstyle, rather than the slick yakuza gangster we know and love. After being dismissed from his own startup company and witnessing a shootout that involved Tojo Can Chairman, Dojima Daigo, Mine became obsessed with the yakuza, and that’s how he began his descent into the underworld. That’s the journey we’ll embark on with him in Dark Ties.
Despite only appearing in one game, not including spin-offs such as Like a Dragon: Ishin, Mine is a firm favourite with players. He suffers the same fate as fellow antagonists before him, Yakuza’s Nishikiyama Akira and Yakuza 2’s Goda Ryuji. Sadly, none of them survive the events of the games they debut in, but they’ve since lived on as fan favourites regardless. Maybe we all just love a bad boy, or maybe it’s the tragic fact that they are fated to die even after learning from Kiryu’s example that endears them to us. Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that they’re all dead, but that doesn’t stop us from loving them and wanting to see more of them.
When rumours began to circulate about a possible Yakuza Kiwami 3, fans hoped for more Mine, and I even saw some posts online of people wondering if Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio would retcon his death (which I don’t believe the studio would ever do). At best, we could hope for a new chunk of story similar to the Majima Saga from Kiwami 2, or at the very least, we’d likely get some added depth into Mine’s character as part of the usual Kiwami upgrade and overhaul. I never would have bet money on getting something like Dark Ties, though, and I’m still wondering just how meaty this new content will be.
Dark Ties feels like such a lavish slice of fan service cake, allowing us insight into such a beloved character in a way that we’ve never seen him before, and on top of that, we’re able to actually play as Mine. It’s a dream that fans wouldn’t ever dare believe. At least, not until now when it’s staring us in the face. Yes, Mine is beloved, but with such a rich cast of characters, even if we knew we’d be getting a standalone story alongside Kiwami 3, there are a number of other equally deserving candidates that RGG could have gone with. However, Mine is the best choice for pleasing the fans, myself included.
At this rate, we’ll need a Yakuza Kiwami 2 Even Kiwami-er edition so we get the same treatment for Ryuji. Nishiki at least got more love in Yakuza 0.
As Sega has billed it as an individual game that’s included with Kiwami 3, overselling it far more than it ever did with the Majima Saga, it seems safe to say it has to be more substantial in comparison. But then you have to wonder where it ends. RGG already introduced the Gaiden spin-offs, smaller games that take place between mainline titles, so if it matched up in size to one of those, surely it would have been launched as yet another Gaiden title? I’m led to believe that it must fall somewhere between the Majima Saga and a Gaiden game in size and length, but I’m certainly hopeful that maybe, just maybe, it’ll be far more than we could ever hope for.
Whatever size or depth it ends up being, I’m always happy to have more of a good thing, and so if RGG wants to introduce yet another new way to feed us more of this world I love so much, I’m all for it. I’m already imagining a slew of Kiwami titles following in its footsteps, with each one giving us new insight into a character we are desperate to see more of as part of an individual story arc bundled alongside the main game each time.
Fans Are Going To Eat This Up
Yakuza fans are well aware that Mine is obsessed with Daigo, and at one point even says he loves him, though it’s up to interpretation as to whether you think this is romantic love. It’s certainly vague enough for a whole host of fan art and fanfics to thrive online. Whether you see it as a bromance or a romance, Dark Ties feeds into that relationship and obsession, and so the fandom is going to go wild over this storyline one way or another.
Just when I thought Mine couldn’t get any cooler, RGG hands him the slickest, most stylish combat styles ever to grace our screens. Normal mode allows you to deliver fast-paced attacks to your opponents in a boxing-centered style, even being able to put a foot on their torso and then execute another special move to swing around and take them down. At one point, I tackled an opponent and then straddled them on the ground, before smashing their face. I’m so here for it.
In something that feels straight out of Persona, landing hits will fill Shackled Hearts, which you can then unleash as a charged attack to enter Dark Awakening mode, where Mine unleashes his full fury. Mine oozes power in combat, somehow feeling more impressive and more untamed than even the likes of Kiryu or Majima.
Additionally, it feels good to be back on the streets of Kamurocho, and especially exciting to be doing it from a new perspective in a familiar time. As the settings evolve over the years alongside the series, it’s nice to step back to an older iteration of a place we know and love so much. The Don Quijote store is back where it belongs on the corner, and everything feels right with the world once more.
Of course, minigames are included too. So, yes, that means you can take Mine to karaoke and let him belt his lungs out on your favourite Yakuza classics.
I only had a brief stint with Dark Ties, but it left me incredibly excited and eager for more. I know that when it comes to launch, I’ll be smashing through Dark Ties first and foremost as I need my Mine fix. Besides, the thrill of the unknown is always more exciting than a storyline where I know he’ll inevitably bite the dust. If I put off playing the ending, does that mean he gets to live forever?
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 74/100 Critics Rec: 62%
- Released
- February 11, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, RPG, Beat 'Em Up
