Fans of the game perhaps call Yakuza one of the most unique game series of the last 20 years. The dense and cinematic title is eclectic. It is hard to categorize the games entirely, as they incorporate elements of RPG, beat-em-up, and even racing genres. However, gamers might say one of the things that make Yakuza so great is its minigames.
If a player doesn’t want to follow the story of a Yakuza title by the book, there is plenty for them to do whilst wandering around the games’ open worlds. Bars, discotheques, and arcades offer fun minigames for gamers, no matter which Yakuza title they happen to start with. Some of the best minigames are as simple as their real-life counterparts, while others are more complicated.
Darts
Players might say some of the most fun of the Yakuza series comes with visiting bars and restaurants. In them, players can try out different food and drinks and even go on dates. Furthermore, they sometimes hold engaging games.
Darts might seem boring at first. However, after challenging a patron at one of the series’ many watering holes, the stakes seem to feel higher. Furthermore, it’s hard to move on to the story after losing a game, without reclaiming a winning title.
Pool
Some casual gamers play video billiards on their phones in their spare time. Digital pool is nothing new, but some fans might argue that the Yakuza series has gotten the format down to a tee. Players can play bar employees or challenge a patron to a bet in games like Yakuza 5.
The pool format works because the controls are sensitive, players can look at the table from multiple angles, and the cut sequences in between shots are funny and entertaining. If a player wins a bet placed on a match, the minigame becomes even more fun.
Blackjack
Some Yakuza games are rated as the best gangster games for Ps5, so it’s no surprise gambling comes into play in many of the titles. In installments like Yakuza 0 and Yakuza 5, players can enter both legitimate and underground casinos.
Players can play roulette and poker, but the repetitiveness of blackjack can be hypnotizing. Furthermore, gaining skill at this minigame will make for a more fruitful journey in a player’s story mode; the more money a player wins, the more experiences they can have within the game.
UFO Catcher
Perhaps the simplest minigame in the Yakuza series, the UFO catcher game is one of the best. Most often displayed in arcades within the Yakuza universe, the UFO catcher crane game should be familiar to any serious gamer from their early days playing.
Collecting prizes from the game can feel like a massive accomplishment to players, and they can collect all of the game’s toys as a way of clearing a part of the game. Furthermore, sometimes a player must get a certain prize from the machine to unlock parts of a game as a whole.
Bowling
Bowling may be one of the less original minigames in the Yakuza series, but it is also one of the most fun minigames. Players can play by themselves, on a date, or even against an employee at the bowling alley.
The controls of the bowling game are simple, but like many aspects of the series, the player is given several options in the way they want to play. Gamers can alternate ball weights, speed, and curve to try whatever way works best for them to earn themselves a strike.
Disco
Going to the discotheque can be a blast for Yakuza players. The minigame presents entertaining cut sequences, and fans get to see their characters actually bust a move on the dancefloor. Furthermore, disco is far from the easiest minigame in the series.
Many fans say Yakuza 0 is the best Yakuza installment. As such, it is no surprise that the game features one of the most memorable, and often difficult, disco minigames. Beating every song in hard mode can make a player feel like the king of the games.
Batting Cage
In some Yakuza titles, the batting cage minigame is more prominent than others. For example, in Yakuza 5, Tatsuo Shinada is characterized by his history in the world of baseball, so it makes sense that he spend time at the cages.
In some titles, a player can gain achievements by continuing to score well in the cages. The batting cage minigame is one of the best of the series because it isn’t so easy that players get bored, but also isn’t so difficult that they stop trying to get better.
Hostess Club
While Yakuza isn’t one of the most controversial videogame series, it still has some edge. In Yakuza 5, the hostess club minigame is introduced to players. It is one of the more unique minigames, where the player has meetings with hostesses and tries to make the best impression on them. They can buy her gifts, or food and drinks to impress her.
However, the most fun from the hostess club game is in going on a virtual “date.” Picking out the proper answer among a list of multiple choices can be tricky, but fun. Fans might say the reward of getting a real date off the clock is one of the most accomplishing achievements in all Yakuza titles.
Karaoke
Karaoke is one of the most memorable minigames in the Yakuza series. When players visit certain bars and karaoke clubs, they can get on the mic and perform for the spot’s patrons. What follows is a fun button-pushing pattern game.
What perhaps makes karaoke such a good time is learning the songs presented that seem to stay in gamers’ heads long after they finish singing. There’s nothing like a high score and the applause that comes with it.
