Ryu Ga Gotoku studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama had long considered creating a Yakuza-themed fishing game, titled Like a Dragon: Tuna, which would have featured the series’ protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as a tuna fisherman.
In this game, Kiryu would head out to sea to engage in battles with other fishing boats, blending the over-the-top action of the Yakuza franchise with a unique fishing premise. However, the game never progressed beyond the concept stage, as Yokoyama ultimately decided to pivot towards a different idea.
Instead of the fishing game, the concept evolved into Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Yokoyama explained that the initial keywords driving the idea, such as “ship,” “sea,” and “fighting,” led him to develop a pirate-themed adventure rather than a fisherman one. Although the fishing game was abandoned, its core themes were integrated into this new pirate setting.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii stars Goro Majima, a beloved character in the Yakuza series, and takes place shortly after the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
In the game’s storyline, Majima washes up on a beach in Hawaii, stripped of his memories, and embarks on a dangerous journey through pirate-filled waters in pursuit of those lost memories. The game continues the franchise’s signature mix of action, drama, and quirky humor.
Throughout Majima’s journey, he encounters a diverse cast of characters, including a boy named Noah who owns a tiger cub. This addition to the game hints at the eccentric and colorful storytelling that fans have come to expect from the Yakuza series. The pirate-infested setting and Majima’s amnesia set the stage for a thrilling and chaotic adventure.
Although Like a Dragon: Tuna never came to fruition, its elements live on in the pirate-themed game. The evolution from fishing battles to pirate adventures represents how Yokoyama adapted his original ideas into something fresh while maintaining the wild and imaginative spirit of the Yakuza franchise.
