Nintendo’s relationship with the Monster Hunter series is an intriguing one – in one sense it’s at the heart of the IP with timed exclusives, but it’s also missed out on two blockbuster mainline entries in World and Wilds; perhaps Switch 2 will remedy that shortcoming. The spin-off Stories series, however, started out as a late-gen 3DS game and the series has kept on coming to Nintendo hardware ever since.
The first two games offer a good time for those new to the IP, or fans that want an adventure a little less intense and challenging. They were largely (though not exclusively) cutesy in style, and while that’s still partially true with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, this does feel like an entry that’s following its audience. If you were young when you played the original, this may now fit well into your older sensibilities. It’s still charming and easygoing at times, but the tone has shifted a little.
Of all the action-RPG franchises to make you work for an epic moment, Monster Hunter is up there among the ones that push you hardest, and the Monster Hunter Stories series is no exception to the rule. You take on the lowest rank Monsters, you get pummelled into the dirt until you learn how to beat them, and then you excitedly hurry back home to build a new weapon and a cool set of armor from the creature you’ve just murked, ready to go through the entire process again with a slightly harder monster. It’s a rewarding battle, but a tough one, and Monster Hunter’s greatest secrets are often reserved for those that take the time to fully embrace its many systems.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection shows you right from the start that things are going to be a little different around here. In the first minute of my hands-on session with the game, my Rider (not a Hunter, but we’ll get into that later) is sprinting down a cliff at warp speed before leaping right off the edge, only to be caught mid-air by her pet Rathalos and, together, they soar across a glittering lake, in what may be the most breath-taking introduction to a Monster Hunter game I’ve seen yet, inviting you, the player, to immediately take the reigns of this majestic creature – who, for once, at isn’t a foe to be conquered, but a friend. It’s a stark contrast to the opening of Monster Hunter Stories 2, in which you carry a Rathalos egg around for hours before it hatches. This introduction feels like the culmination of a spin-off that’s ready to step out of the shadow of its mainline series, and show us exactly what it can do.
A Brand New Story
To set the scene, Monster Hunter Stories ditches the mainline series’ traditional fast-paced, unforgiving third-person combat for a turn-based system, riffing off the likes of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Pokémon, and other similar monster-packed RPGs. Instead of a Hunter, you are a Rider, able to befriend and battle alongside monster companions (Monsties).
In this third instalment, set a long time after the events of Stories 1+2, your character is the heir of Azuria, the kingdom in which our adventure begins. In the first few story missions, we meet and are partnered up with Eleanor, the princess of the adjacent kingdom Vermeil. The two are on the brink of war, and it’s up to you to figure out how to resolve each kingdom’s needs and put a stop to it. Meanwhile, a phenomenon called the Crystal Encroachment is threatening to destroy the ecosystem, turning Monsters feral and driving some close to extinction.
Your character is also a member of the Rangers, a team of Riders assembled to research Monster ecology and help protect it. It’s a super compelling setup that sees your created character grappling between their royal responsibilities and goals as a Ranger, crafting a darker, stronger narrative than the previous instalments. You don’t need to be familiar with the previous stories, either, just jump right on in.
The World of Azuria
This setting is also new to Monster Hunter Stories 3. Azuria serves as a vibrant, sprawling starting ground that feels effortlessly inviting – almost Ghibli-esque in style – and you begin the game equipped with Monsties that enable basic traversal right away. Ratha (your Rathalos) can’t maintain unlimited flight, but he can catch updrafts to get a boost of height for travelling long distances quickly, as can many other Monsties with the flying ability. Monsters roam the world freely, and you can choose to battle them or leave them be.
Stories’ turn-based combat system is simple to grasp in its basic form – a rock/paper/scissors setup where one move type beats another. Stories 3 is much more tutorialized than predecessors; you’ll quickly get to grips with what move type monsters use, as well as more in-depth mechanics like elemental attacks, and behaviour that shows where they’ll change up their strategy. However, do not mistake guidance for ease – despite its turn-based presentation, there are meticulously crafted systems at play that mean you’ll need to come extremely prepared for every fight. My hubris quickly got the better of me while moving through story missions, thinking I could push through one more mission, only to be flattened by a new Feral Monster. It pays to take your time, fully explore the world, level up your Monsties, and plan out your approach.
The world has Monster nests scattered around, which contain eggs. This is your primary method of collecting new Monsties, and each one is a surprise. Some contain rarer eggs, some contain multiple eggs, and some will have a Monstie ready to jump out and defend the eggs you’re trying to run off with. This mechanic comes from the previous games, but it’s much more simply presented, at least in the early game – you don’t need to run through a winding maze of caves as in previous games, just dip in, grab the eggs you want and dip out before a Monstie comes to get you – another example of how Stories 3 is streamlining to build a smoother experience for newcomers.
Managing the Ecosystem
The more eggs you collect, the more Monsties you’ll end up with in your stable. As with previous Stories games, you’ll be able to ‘release’ a Monstie you don’t want to keep, but Stories 3 introduces another brilliant mechanic – Habitat Restoration.
With this, you can actually change the ecology of different areas of the map by intentionally introducing different monsters to the ecosystem. For example, the early game invites you to release a Rathian into the starting area, and shortly after, you’ll see Rathians appear in that part of the world. As you release more Rathians, its rank in the ecosystem will rise, which means you’ll find more powerful Rathian eggs hidden in nests surrounding the region the creature lives in. In previous Stories games, finding powerful eggs relied on pure luck when scrabbling through nests, but this time, you can effectively engineer a powerful version of the Monstie you want by creating a home for it, which is absolutely brilliant, truly rewarding your careful thinking (or just letting you buff the monster type you happen to love).
Monsters also have the opportunity to mutate, offering an even more powerful variant. By releasing Rathians into the wild, I was able to unlock Pink Rathian, build up their rank, and eventually leading to unlocking a Dreadqueen Rathian – the most powerful version of the Monster – in my first few hours of play.
Beyond that, the ecosystem can also affect the element of a Monster, which is an exciting new first for the series. Very early on in the game, I ended up finding a green dual-element Anjanath, able to deliver its trademark fire attacks alongside less expected lightning abilities. It’s such an interesting evolution for these beloved Monsties, without changing up their core dynamic, and another area in which Stories 3 feels like it’s growing to meet the complexity of mainline Monster Hunter games, without losing its own identity and charm.
With this entry, Monster Hunter Stories no longer feels like the franchise’s quirky distant cousin, this is a fully-fledged, magnificently designed adventure that can stand proudly on its own. With a striking new world and a mature, promising new narrative that gives your adventure purpose from the start, you’re no longer an unknown Rider making their way through the world or riding the coattails of another legend – you’re a royal heir, a renowned Rider, and a Ranger that from the off says “I’m here, and I’m ready”. Not unlike the game itself.
The third entry in the Monster Hunter Stories RPG series is here!
Twin Rathalos, born in a twist of fate.
Monster Hunter Stories is an RPG series set in the Monster Hunter world, where you can become a Rider, raising and bonding with your favorite monsters.
The Story
Azuria and Vermeil: two countries, on a path to destruction.
When all hope seems lost, an egg is found. Inside is a Rathalos, a species thought to be extinct.
But this quavering light of hope is quickly extinguished, giving way to the darkness of despair.
Born from the egg is not a single Rathalos, but twins, bearing the Skyscale marking that hearkens back to the disastrous civil war of 200 years prior.
The natural world teeters on the verge of destruction, with countless monster species facing extinction. In the shadow of these dark times, the flames of war rekindle.
Two countries, and two Rathalos.
A Rider and their trusted Rathalos, buffeted by the winds of fate, set out on a journey for the truth.
*There are other bundles that include this product. Please be careful of duplicate purchases.
Agreement to the End User License Agreement is required to play this title. (https://manual.capcom.com/eula/game/)
Development studio ZA/UM has announced that a free demo for its upcoming espionage-flavoured RPG, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, will be available to play on PC as part of Steam Next Fest.
Launching on February 23 and available until March 16, the demo features a “tailored” version of Zero Parade’s opening hours. While not everything from this section of the full game will be available as part of the demo, it does include two full quests, a variety of side activities, and the freedom to explore the city state of Portofiro. You can get a small taste of what awaits in the gameplay video below, which showcases the very first minutes of Zero Parades.
The demo also allows you to choose from three different character archetypes, which dictate the skills and stats of protagonist Hershel Wilk. ZA/UM encourages replaying the demo with each of the archetypes to see how a physical, soulful, or analytical build affects your choices and opportunities.
IGN recently interviewed several developers from ZA/UM to learn more about Zero Parades, which tells the story of a spy brought out of retirement to complete one last job. Its key theme is failure, and ZA/UM states that it has designed its dialogue system around that. “Every door closed is an open opportunity to go through the window instead,” said the studio in a press release.
Zero Parades features a similar design to Disco Elysium, ZA/UM’s previous game, and has been created by a team made up of both old and new employees. The full game is scheduled to launch in 2026, first on PC through Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store, and then later on PlayStation 5.
Matt Purslow is IGN’s Executive Editor of Features.
Best Buy’s latest Deal of the Day has dropped the critically acclaimed Ninja Gaiden 4 down to just $42.99 for one day only on Xbox. Not only that, but this is the Deluxe Edition as well, making this discount all the more impressive.
The Deluxe Edition of the game retails for $89.99, so that’s a serious $47 saving, and available for just a few dollars more than the game was listed on sale for at the start of the year ($40), and you’re getting a whole lot more for it as well.
So what’s included? For just over $40, you’re getting the base game, future gameplay content (The Two Masters DLC), exclusive character skins (Traditional Dark Blue, Legendary Black Falcon for Ryu; Divine Chimera, Raven Master for Yakumo), the Blade of the Archfiend weapon skin, 50,000 bonus NinjaCoin, and additional in-game items.
The standout is definitely the DLC content, The Two Masters, which is still expected to release in early 2026, so stay tuned for more news on that.
But, as I mentioned, this deal is also not long for this world. You’ve got until the end of the day at 11:59 PM ET, February 12, 2026, to secure the discount.
Yeah, yeah, this is also on Xbox Game Pass, but you remember when we used to own games? Those were the days! I have personally been trying to buy more physical games and more physical media in general, and I’d highly recommend others do the same as well.
Think about it this way as well: Game Pass Ultimate is $29.99 per month, and at just $13 more, you can own the game to revisit and play the DLC on as well. That’s worth it, at least in my opinion.
Our review from IGN’s Mitchell Saltzman said, “Despite its disappointing story and bland level design, Ninja Gaiden 4’s excellent combat still make it one of the best 3D action games in recent memory.”
It even earned a runner-up nomination for Best Action Game of 2025, as it’s a “pure action fan’s action game, featuring some of the best melee combat we’ve seen in years, bolstered by aggressive enemy AI, excellent weapon design, and the ability to let your creativity run wild by giving you the freedom to hotswap between all of your weapons on the fly.”
Robert Anderson is IGN’s Senior Commerce Editor and resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Bluesky.
Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel’s cat breeding roguelike Mewgenics came out earlier this week to an overwhelmingly positive reception and plenty of early success. However, one aspect of the game has left folks on the fence – this list of pretty… complicated internet personalities who’ve voiced the copious amounts of meows emitted by in-game cats. So, to get a better picture of how those cameos came to be, I reached out to developer McMillen.
A curious new listing for an Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remaster art book has appeared on Amazon UK in what may be the clearest indication yet that Ubisoft is gearing up to release an updated version of its swashbuckling classic.
As reported by IGN, the listing states that the book is scheduled for launch on 24th March 2026 and is being published by Titan. Its price is currently £29.95, a 25% reduction on its £39.99 RRP. There are few additional details at this stage, and even the use of the word ‘Remaster’ is seemingly at odds with the ‘Resynced‘ moniker we’ve been hearing for a while now.
After years of wait and fan expectation, Pokémon Go players will finally be able to capture Mewtwo once more — in just a few months.
The fan-favorite Legendary Pokémon was last available to battle in Pokémon Go all the way back in July 2022, though its Shadow form was available more recently — over a weekend in March 2024. Still, fans have been clamouring for another chance to add the creature to their Pokédex ever since — and now it’s almost time.
Further details for this summer’s Go Fest celebrations have now been announced at a press event held in Tokyo, which will host one of three in-person meetups, ahead of the game’s usual global Go Fest celebration. Artwork shown at the event confirms that Mewtwo will return — and hints at the debut of a Mythical Pokémon species, too.
Artwork for the Tokyo event shows the usual array of Kanto species, as well as popular croc Sandile. Of most note, though, is the Mewtwo floating within the image — confirming its long-awaited return.
“I can’t say anything specific, but look forward to the Pokémon featured in the key visual,” a spokesperson told Japanese Pokémon outlet rocketnews24go, via machine translation. “Especially Mewtwo — I think it’ll be heart-pounding excitement for people who’ve been participating in GO Fest since the early days.”
Will this finally be the moment Mewtwo’s Mega Evolutions become available, after years of wait? Mega Mewtwo X and Y remain the only missing evolutions from the franchise’s original batch of Mega Pokémon. Meanwhile, the game will soon be moving on to the release of Megas from Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with the arrival of Mega Malamar and Mega Victreebell later this month.
While Mewtwo is only shown here for Pokémon Go Fest’s Tokyo event, artwork such as this usually shows species also available (to a greater or lesser extent) at the following global Go Fest — and it seems inconceivable that the creature would only be made available in a local version, when there has been such hype for its return generally.
The same is true of this year’s Go Fest logo, which as ever features a subtle hint at the latest upcoming Mythical creature to become available. Looking at the mini blue lightning bolts on the 2026 design, Mythical Pokémon Zeraora seems a safe bet. The creature recently gained a new Mega Evolution, which would also make for a fitting release.
This year is, of course, the 30th anniversary of Pokémon and the 10th anniversary of Pokémon Go — a pair of milestones that fans expect to be celebrated fully this summer. Word on what else is coming to the Pokémon franchise this year will follow shortly on Pokémon Day — February 27 — which is when it’s expected that the series’ 10th generation of games and creatures will be unveiled.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Wildlight, the studio behind recently released shooter Highguard, have confirmed that they’ve “parted ways” with an unspecified number of staff. This confirmation follows a former Wildlight level designer affected by the cuts claiming in a LinkedIn post that “most of the team” at the studio have been laid off.
The heavily rumoured, but yet to be confirmed, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake/Remaster is getting its very own art book, at least according to this recent Amazon listing in the UK.
Preorders are also now available, strangely, before we’ve got official confirmation of the game actually being real and given its own release window. Its art book is listed at £29.95 right now, a slight reduction from its initial £39.99 RRP, and the Amazon listing also mentions a release date of March 24, 2026.
Titan will be publishing the art book, and the publisher already has a history of releasing art books for the gaming franchise since 2012. That includes Assassin’s Creed III, Unity, Syndicate, Origins, and more.
More recent Assassin’s Creed art books have also been published by Dark Horse, a separate publishing house, including Shadows, Mirage, and The Making of Assassin’s Creed: 15th Anniversary.
Robert Anderson is IGN’s Senior Commerce Editor and resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Bluesky.
Developed with the idea that legends change and history begins anew, this title offers two games in one: Yakuza Kiwami 3, a remake of Yakuza 3 (2009), and Dark Ties, an all-new never-before-seen story.
Yakuza 3 Kiwami sees Kazuma Kiryu back in action as he fights to protect those he holds dear. This reimagined edition of the 2009 classic features more intense battles, stunning depictions of Tokyo and Okinawa, extra cutscenes that add more weight to the story, and a host of endlessly entertaining minigames.
Yoshitaka Mine, Kiryu’s adversary, takes center stage in Dark Ties—a new story documenting his path from startup entrepreneur to hardened yakuza.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties brings two yakuza epics into a single collection.
Yakuza Kiwami 3
BATTLE：Fight as Kiryu in His Prime Using Two Different Battle Styles
The ultimate evolution of the classic Dragon of Dojima style, featuring the most attack techniques in the series’ history. A bold, overwhelming brawler style that embodies the essence of Kazuma Kiryu’s iconic combat.
As always, Kiryu can pick up objects on the ground and transform them into powerful weapons!
A battle style rooted in Okinawan martial arts. Its base stance utilizes a Tinbe and Rochin, a traditional shield and short spear. Simply mash or hold down the buttons to weave in flashy Sai, Nichogama, Tonfa, Tekko, Nunchaku, Eiku, and Surujin attacks.
Shield yourself from incoming bullets with the tinbe and turn the tide of battle!
Life at Morning Glory：Spend Time With The Kids and Become The Best Caretaker Around!
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With Kiryu becoming the manager of Morning Glory Orphanage, it’s your job to look after the children who reside there. Together, you’ll cook, tend to a home garden, help them with homework, fish, and even go bug-catching.
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You can make Kiryu stronger by doing chores and interacting with the orphans. As you become more fatherlike, you’ll discover an even larger range of activities.
Daily interactions with the children will also unlock heartwarming substories for each of them. Experience a whole new side of Kiryu as he comes face-to-face with their hopes and dreams!
Bad Boy Dragon: Assemble a Motley Crew of Delinquents and Rule the Streets!
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Join the small-time Haisai Girls gang and protect Okinawa.
With the Tokyo Night Terrors wreaking havoc in the streets, Kiryu must step forth as the gang’s new leader, gather allies, and train the Haisai Girls into the leading girl gang in Japan.
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Fight alongside 5 allies in Baddies Battles, gear up 20 of your gang members for massive Rumbles, and take on various other challenges.
Hop on your motorcycle and charge the enemy base in strategic skirmishes featuring unparalleled spectacles.
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As you build your team, you can make them stronger by buying new weapons and upgrading their uniforms and bikes. Put together the ultimate squad and protect the peace of Okinawa! Join the small-time Haisai Girls gang and protect Okinawa.
substories
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One of the highlights of Yakuza is its compellingsubstories featuring the town’s residents. Here’s a taste of the excitement!
Dark Ties
Mine’s Brutal Combat Techniques
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Mine uses an elegant fighting style based on shoot-boxing. Exploit openings in your opponent’s defense to deliver refined combos and beat down enemies. Dash freely through the air to overwhelm foes with unpredictable movement.
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Using Dark Awakening, Mine drops his facade, revealing his true ferocity and transforming his battle animations and techniques. Go berserk, drag your opponent’s faces along the ground, and brutalize them with a storm of relentless strikes. Let your dark side loose and go wild in battle!
Mine possesses many stylish, cold-blooded Heat Actions, including an all-out barrage to the face and a brutal gut punch. During Dark Awakening, his Heat Actions evolve. Channel Mine’s inner darkness and obliterate his enemies!
Kanda Damage Control：Mine spearheads a major PR campaign
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As Mine, you are tasked with turning Kanda’s image around so he can climb through the ranks. You’ll need to use wits and knowledge to tackle various requests and challenges on Kanda’s behalf.
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Many people around Kamurocho are saddled with woes. Solving their problems will boost Kanda’s public perception. You may also encounter people wrestling with some particularly heavy issues. You won’t want to miss how Mine deals with these problems!
Your progress in Kanda Damage Control will unlock Drink Links, which delve deeper into your relationship with Kanda.
Underground Fight Club：Survive a brutal game using brains and brawn!
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Hell’s Arena is an underground fight club in Kamurocho where VIP investors place extravagant bets on brutal competitions.
Each day, Hell’s Arena hosts Hellish Brawls that push participants to the brink and Survival Hells, dangerous races where competitors are relentlessly chased by hunters.
As the organizers of Hell’s Arena pose a major threat to the Nishikiyama Family’s business operations, Mine has decided to bring them down by entering the arena himself.
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In order to succeed, he’ll need to come out on top in a series of death-defying battles against formidable foes.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
Entertainment
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Yakuza Kiwami 3 brings back multiple fan-favorite minigames, from bowling to the Print Club. For the first time in series’ history, SEGA’s classic handheld console, the Game Gear, is playable in-game with multiple titles available. At the arcade, you can also cut loose with a treasure trove of machines, including UFO Catchers, Emergency Call Ambulance, and SlashOut!
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DLC Contents
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will offer a wide range of add-on content to enhance your adventure, including extra outfits, additional Bad Boy Dragon crew members, cell phone customization options, and CDs that’ll let you use favorite karaoke tracks from past games as background music.A value-priced “Deluxe Edition,” which includes the digital version of the main game and all DLC, is also available.
Legendary Lads & Gals Pack
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This pack adds Daigo Dojima, Goro Majima, and other Like a Dragon characters to Bad Boy Dragon in Yakuza Kiwami 3.
Legendary Character Outfit Pack
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This pack contains extra outfits for Kazuma Kiryu to wear in Yakuza Kiwami 3, including iconic get-ups sported by yakuza legends like Daigo Dojima and Goro Majima, as well as T-shirts exclusively designed for Yakuza Kiwami 3.
Ryukyu Gal Gang: Customization Pack
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This pack adds more ways to personalize your Baddie Uniforms and bikes in Yakuza Kiwami 3. Choose designs based on popular characters from the franchise, including Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga!
Flip Phone Customization Pack
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This pack contains extra customization options for your flip phone, including lock screens, stickers, antennas, and straps based on popular characters from the Like a Dragon series.
Legendary BGM CD Pack
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By picking up this pack, you’ll gain the option to play karaoke staples while exploring.
*You must install the latest update to use these add-ons.
*The Legendary Character Outfit Pack will be available after you unlock outfits in Chapter 2 of Yakuza Kiwami 3.
*The Legendary Lads & Gals Pack is unlocked by progressing through the Bad Boy Dragon story in Yakuza Kiwami 3.
The Ryukyu Gal Gang: Customization Pack is unlocked by progressing through the Bad Boy Dragon story in Yakuza Kiwami 3. You must reach the second set of bike and baddie uniform upgrades in order to customize them.
*The Flip Phone Customization Pack will be available after you unlock your cell phone in Chapter 1 of Yakuza Kiwami 3.
*The Legendary BGM CD Pack will be available after you unlock the CDs in Chapter 1 of Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties.
*All DLC aside from the Legendary BGM CD Pack can be used in Yakuza Kiwami 3.
*Any outfits, Baddies, CDs, and customization items for Bad Boy Dragon and your cell phone purchased as DLC will not count toward training challenges and other achievements.
*Please be careful not to purchase duplicate items.
*See store pages for further details.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
Demo Available Now!
This demo will give you a taste of both Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties. Explore the vibrant streets of Okinawa and Tokyo, enjoy a variety of minigames, duke it out in exhilarating combat, and experience engrossing substories.
