Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii: Everything You Need to Know About Majima’s Return

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is coming out this week, and here's all you need to know before jumping in!

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Goro Majima is back in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii as a playable character, to the delight of many series fans across the world, especially those who have experienced Kiryu’s saga. After all, Majima has been a constant figure in Kiryu’s story, serving both as a dependable ally and a fierce rival.

Even if you’re fairly new to the Like a Dragon series, chances are that you’re already familiar with Majima. This is especially the case if you started with Yakuza 0, as that game featured Majima as one of the two playable characters alongside Kiryu. Even if you’ve only played the new Ichiban Kasuga-led Like a Dragon games though, you should know Majima as he played key roles in both titles.

Given his crazy antics, Goro Majima has become a big fan favorite, so it makes sense that there’s plenty of excitement for Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. That’s because this game finally lets players control Majima again, this time with a story that sees the Mad Dog of Shimano become a fearsome pirate.

To best enjoy the experience, it’s important to take a look back at Majima’s story in the Like a Dragon series. So, whether you’re a long-time fan needing a refresher or a new player who wants to know more, let’s start things off with a short recap of Majima’s journey.

[Note: There are spoilers for the mainline Yakuza series titles below]

Goro Majima Returns: A Quick Recap of His Story

While Majima is one of the wildest characters in the series, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, Yakuza 0 showed Majima as more of a serious character. In that game, Majima was forced to become a cabaret club manager as punishment for his involvement in the Ueno Seiwa assassination (a key plot point in Yakuza 4).

Soon, Majima is offered a chance to rejoin the Shimano Clan by assassinating Makoto Makimura. Instead of proceeding with the hit though, Majima decides to protect Makoto instead, tangling him within the web that is the empty lot incident.

This is perhaps one of the most gripping stories in the Like a Dragon series, but to keep things simple, the incident revolves around a valuable empty lot that many Yakuza clans want to get a hold of.

By the end, in response to the game’s tumultuous events, Majima adopts a wild and crazy persona.

After the events of 0, Majima becomes a high-ranking member of the Shimano clan, and he soon becomes one of Kazuma Kiryu’s biggest rivals. Throughout Kiryu’s story, Majima is a constant opponent as the Mad Dog is always eager to test his mettle against the Dragon of Dojima. Despite this, Majima is pretty much on Kiryu’s side throughout his saga, alongside the likes of Daigo Dojima and Taiga Saejima.

The trio of Majima, Daigo, and Saejima became the leading figures after Yakuza 6, though they effectively dismantled the Tojo Clan during the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Soon, Majima and Daigo make plans to create a legitimate security firm that can also help former Yakuza go legit. While this seemed like a great move at first, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth showed that their plans were thwarted.

Because of the Tatara Channel’s expose, Majima’s security company fails. Instead of rallying former Yakuza together under a new company though, Majima goes into hiding in a remote fishing village alongside Daigo and Saejima. This is because they fear that the former Tojo clan members will revive the yakuza if they reemerge.

After some coaxing from Kiryu, the three emerge from their hiding, helping Kiryu and his newfound crew. At the end of the game, Majima sees Kiryu being taken to the hospital via a helicopter. As it stands, this is where Majima’s story has ended.

Wait, So Why is Majima a Pirate Now?

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii takes place six months after the events of Infinite Wealth. This latest game sees him get washed up on Rich Island near Hawaii. Majima is stranded there with no memories of his past.

Even though we’ve seen plenty of previews about Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, how Majima lost his memories remains a mystery, making it perhaps one of the most intriguing things about the new game’s story.

Soon, Majima gets embroiled in a conflict between Hawaiian pirates and ex-yakuza members, presumably the ones who were transported to Nele Island. Even with no memories, Majima gets roped into the fight, and he soon becomes the captain of a pirate crew.

As a pirate captain, Majima’s goal is to look for hidden treasure, but at the same time, he’s seeking a way to get his memories back. While Majima’s adventure may seem quite different, its story should still be well connected to the Like a Dragon series story. After all, it will feature characters connected to Palekana from Infinite Wealth, along with familiar faces from Majima’s past, like Taiga Saejima.

We’ll have to wait until the game’s release to find out why Majima has become a pirate. Story aside, Majima’s new pirate identity also means there’s a lot to look forward to when it comes to gameplay.

Majima Has Some New Gameplay Tricks Up His Sleeve in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Since Yakua: Like a Dragon, the mainline series entries have shifted to a turn-based RPG combat system, but that doesn’t mean the classic beat-em-up gameplay of the previous titles has been abandoned. For instance, Like a Dragon Gaiden featured not only the return of Kiryu but also the beloved action-based combat.

For Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, RGG Studio once again returns to the tried-and-tested combat system of the originals, albeit with some fresh updates. While fans who played Yakuza 0 will be delighted with Majima once again being a playable character, Majima has new tricks up his sleeve that make gameplay feel fresh.

In this game, Majima has two combat styles. The first is the more familiar Mad Dog Style, which features his signature speedy moves. As befits a pirate though, Majima also has the new Sea Dog style, which lets him wield dual cutlasses and pistols for use against multiple foes. As a bonus, he also has the ability to jump and do combos while in mid-air, adding an extra layer of depth to combat encounters.

Speaking of combat encounters, Majima’s fights won’t all take place on land. That’s because Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii has sea battles where players can use their customizable ship, the Goromaru. While in battle against enemy ships, players can also board these opposing ships and battle their crew with your own.

Thanks to the combination of combat styles and ship versus ship fights, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises to deliver a fresh and fun experience. If that’s not enough though, fans will be happy to know that the game also comes with a load of side content, including returning ones like Dragon Kart and Crazy Delivery.

Most exciting is the new addition called “Masaru’s Love Journey.” Here, Majima’s goal is to recruit “Minato Girls” to join a party thrown by Majima’s friend Masaru Fujita. This is a unique twist to the Like a Dragon series’ signature dating mini-games as it basically makes players a wingman. Plus, it’s a live-action mini-game that features plenty of notable names, including popular streamer/content creator Shibuya Kaho.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is launching soon on PC and Consoles!

As one of the most beloved and most colorful characters in the series, Goro Majima’s return as a playable character in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is no doubt a must-experience for fans.

For fans, it is undoubtedly a must-play experience. Plus, those unfamiliar with the series can enjoy it from the same perspective, as he has lost his memory, all while enjoying the series’ signature combat with lots of pirate-themed content and gameplay additions.

Thankfully, the wait won’t be long now as Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is coming out on February 21, 2025, on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.