The start of a new year is a time of celebration, but JRPG fans spent most of their time desperately trying to make their way through the Yakuza series. On December 31, Yakuza 0, Kiwami, and Kiwami 2 were removed from the subscription service to much dismay, but now it appears they’re back and available to play.
The games have snuck back onto the platform after their shock departure last year without a hint of an announcement from Microsoft (thanks TheGamer). It’s likely the games have been spotted ahead of the official Game Pass announcement, which is due sometime this week, and they’ve been welcomed with open arms.
This now means pretty much every Yakuza game is available on the service, which is a huge coup for new players. The only games that aren’t available are Judgment and Lost Judgment, but they’re only essential if you want to explore Takayuki Yagami’s story – a spin off to the original series.
This is the perfect time to dip your toes into the Yakuza waters if you’ve never played the series before. Yakuza 0 acts as a prequel to the main games and introduces you to two main characters, while Kiwami and Kiwami 2 are remakes of the first two games.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (1 Month) Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (1 Month) $14.99 $1.00 Buy Now Network N earns commission from qualifying purchases via Microsoft and other programs.
They’re well worth the time investment and arguably some of the best Xbox Game Pass games to download right now. If you don’t have an active subscription, you can pick one up for as little as $1 from the widget above.