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Kiryu is back on Nintendo Switch 2, with Yakuza Kiwami 2 – a remake of the second installment in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s famed and celebrated series. This is a port, and arrives eight years after Kiwami 2 first launched in Japan on the PS4.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC
Release date: November 13, 2025 (Switch 2)

This game is a direct follow-up to the events of Yakuza Kiwami, and continues the story of ex-Yakuza Kazuma Kiryu. Without spoiling too much, the game follows Kiryu’s journey to find a new chairman for his former employer, the Tojo Clan, and prevent an all-out war between the Clan and its rival, the Omi Alliance. It’s a very strong follow-up, and the tension running throughout the narrative really sucked me in – I could barely put Kiwami 2 down.

But how does the Nintendo Switch 2 port hold up? Is this a good way to play the game? After spending hours brawling through Kiwami 2 on Nintendo’s latest hardware, I’ve got a few thoughts, so let’s dive in.

A visual upgrade that comes at a cost

(Image credit: Sega)

Before I talk about the game itself, I want to discuss the quality and performance of Kiwami 2’s Switch 2 port.

Visually, this hits the sort of levels you’d expect. It runs at 1080p, as I also experienced when playing it on PS4. Character models and environments are replicated well on Switch 2, although of course, they do show their age. Still, this is a flashier looking game than Yakuza Kiwami, largely due to its development on the more advanced Dragon Engine. The intricacies of clothing, character expressions, and lighting of shops look more detailed and shiny in this entry.

But with the more advanced visuals and effects comes a price. Yes, Yakuza Kiwami 2 only runs at 30fps. And given that I’d played Yakuza Kiwami right before this – a game that runs comfortably at 60fps on Switch 2 – that drop down was all too obvious.

As understandable as it is, this does mean that movement and navigation lacks the fluidity you’d experience with Kiwami or even Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut.

Best bit

(Image credit: Sega)

Fairly early on you get to battle it out against The Dragon of Kansai, and it's truly epic. He's got a ton of health, so you have to carefully block and dodge, then strike when there's an opening. There are also weapons hidden in the bushes which you can use to really batter him. It's a face-off that prepares you for the tougher one-on-ones that lie ahead, and was super satisfying when I landed the finishing blow.

Also, there are unfortunately a few frame drops to contest with, as was the case on PS4. When walking through busy parts of Kamurocho or entering into high-octane sequences, I noticed a few dips, which could be pretty frustrating. This is the case in docked or handheld mode.

Is performance bad? No – it’s about on-par with what the PS4 could plate up, and frame drops never made combat feel more challenging than it should do, crucially. But if you’re expecting the smooth 60fps gameplay of the recently released PS5 version, you’re going to be disappointed.

All in all, this port is decent. You get to enjoy Kiwami 2 on the go, and that in itself is a major positive. Sure, it’s not the definitive way to play, but if you’re looking for portability over top-tier performance, this is still a worthwhile way to play. Oh, and for those wondering, the green filter is still alive and kicking on Switch 2.

Two Dragons

(Image credit: Sega)

So, the Switch 2 edition of Yakuza Kiwami 2 is solid overall, but how about the game itself?

I’ll put my cards on the table – I had an absolute blast with Kiwami 2. First of all, the story is kept tight and is gripping from start to finish. The narrative is paced fantastically well, and the cast of characters is excellent once more. This time around, there’s a ‘big bad’ who you’re introduced to right from the off, Ryuji Goda. He refers to himself as The Dragon of Kansai, and serves as the ultimate rival to Kiryu – himself known as The Dragon of Dojima.

There are plenty of twists and turns to navigate, and there’s a brief set of chapters where you can play as the sadomasochistic Goro Majima, which are pretty entertaining. Of course, there are plenty of whacky substories to complete too, running from claw machine antics through to defeating a band of men dressed up in diapers.

Anyway…something I really appreciated about Kiwami 2 – coming straight off playing the first Kiwami game – was the streamlined nature of its gameplay. There’s a technical side to that, like the lack of loading screens when Kiryu walks into restaurants or other buildings, for example. But also, I liked how the multitude of combat styles were substituted for a more singular approach to battle.

In Kiwami, you had to learn skills for specific styles, whereas now, every ability you learn is available to you through a unified Dragon style. Personally, I prefer this more centralised approach – being able to use all of my flashy new moves without having to change into a different mode is a significant upgrade. Some may miss the variety of unique styles, but luckily, I’m not ‘some’!

More generally, combat is awesome. It’s simplistic yet rewarding, and piecing together killer combos on seriously beefy bosses feels exhilarating. Heat actions also let you crush your foes in style, and you’ll unlock more of these as you progress, making it genuinely feel as if Kiryu grows in strength as the story unfolds.

Before I wrap up, I also want to pay kudos to the excellent, electrifying soundtrack that runs throughout this game. I love the music in Yakuza games, and it sounds as good as ever in Kiwami 2. Japanese voice acting is also superb, and the mid-2000s setting is captured beautifully, with background music, murmuring passers-by, and the sound of pouring rain creating an incredibly immersive atmosphere.

All in all, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a great game, and a must-play for any fans of the Yakuza series on Switch 2. Sure, its drop down to a targeted 30fps can feel jarring at times, and I did pick up on a few frame drops, but visually it’s still enticing, and when you combine that with addictive combat and a top-notch story, there’s just so much to like.

Should you play Yakuza Kiwami 2 on Nintendo Switch 2?

(Image credit: Sega)Play it if...

You want to play Yakuza on the move
It may seem obvious, but the real beauty of this port is that it lets you take Yakuza on the go, and enjoy the whacky world and engaging story no matter where you are. The game runs admirably in handheld mode too, so it’s a tempting way to play.

You’re a fan of high-octane combat
The action-packed combat of Yakuza Kiwami 2 is incredibly addictive. There are some seriously epic boss fights where perfectly timed dodges and finishing blows feel oh-so satisfying, and even getting into street brawls never gets old.

Don't play it if...

You’ve got a PS5
Kiwami 2 targets 30fps on the Switch 2, and some occasional frame drops can cause frustration when exploring busier areas. However, the recently released PS5 version of the game runs at 60fps, making for a smoother and more seamless way to experience the game.

You’ve not played other games in the series
Although there’s a recap sequence at the beginning of the game, I would strongly recommend playing Yakuza Kiwami before you get into this one. And although some may disagree, I think playing Yakuza 0 before both of these is the optimal way to go – you’ll get the full backstory of Kiryu and Majima, which adds considerable depth.

Accessibility features

As was the case on Yakuza Kiwami, there are a few useful customization options available in the settings menu. For instance, you can change camera controls, enable subtitles in a wide range of languages, and alter difficulty as well as blood levels. There’s also an option to toggle display tips on or off. Unfortunately, there are no colorblind modes, though.

How I reviewed Yakuza Kiwami 2 on Nintendo Switch 2

(Image credit: Sega)

I clocked more than 15 hours of playtime on Yakuza Kiwami 2. During this time, I completed a handful of substories and minigames, but mainly focused on the main story. I spent most of my time playing in handheld mode on Nintendo Switch 2, sometimes enjoying game audio with my Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones. However, I also tried the game out in docked mode, with my console connected to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar.

Before taking on this title, I played through Yakuza Kiwami on Nintendo Switch 2, but I’m generally a big fan of the Yakuza series, with 0 standing as my favorite entry in the franchise.

More generally, I’ve been a Nintendo Switch 2 owner from launch, and have reviewed a wide range of games for the console. This includes other RPGs like Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake and Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, but also titles from other genres, like Kirby Air Riders and Drag x Drive.

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As a retro console, the Atari 2600+ is a strong example of how to do things right. The fact that it allows you to use cartridges rather than pre-loaded ROMs not only allows you to pick up rereleased games for it but also gives your classic Atari 2600 cartridges a new lease of life. And despite its few missteps, the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition builds from this strong base.

In our original Atari 2600+ review, we described how the retro console was a ‘loving recreation of the original hardware’ and that’s very much the case with the Pac-Man Edition. The main differences? It now comes with a wireless CX40+ joystick, rather than the awkward wired one we criticised in our original review. Oh yeah, and every inch of it is covered in Pac-Man styling.

Honestly, if you’re of a certain age – which I am – and prone to nostalgia – no doy – you’ll likely be charmed by this console. From the yellow color that references the puck-shaped protagonist’s hue to the light-up image of him being chased by his ghostly foes on its front, this edition wears its affiliations on its sleeve. And, as a game, Pac-Man is every bit the classic you remember – even if the original 2600 port that’s also included is a bit of a bust.

Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition review: price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

Given the game's ghostly antagonists, it’s pretty apt that the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition was released on October 31, 2025. You can buy it for a list price of $169.99 / £129.99 / AU$260.99, which feels pretty decent value to me.

Yes, retro consoles like the SNES Mini or PlayStation Classic were cheaper at $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$119.95 and $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149.99, respectively, but they were glorified emulators in an attractive package. Although it’s technically still using emulation, the Atari 2600+ runs off cartridges rather than ROMs and is backwards compatible with the original cartridges, making it far more flexible than these consoles.

I’m less convinced by the pricing of its games, though. New cartridges retail for $29.99 / £24.99 / around AU$50.48 each. This feels like a fair price for some original retro game cartridges perhaps – after all, they have an innate collector’s value that re-released games don’t.

But I’ve bought recent AAA games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for this kind of money, which does force me to ask whether they’re really equivalent in terms of the new labour that’s gone into them. Charging modern market prices for ports of decades-old games feels like it's becoming a bit of a trend these days, and it's not one I'm totally comfortable with.

Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition review: design

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve gotta hand it to Atari: it knows how to pull all of the little levers and buttons in my soul to get my nostalgia flowing. The look of the Atari 2600+ is delightfully retro – it's redolent of those 6am Saturday mornings where my brothers and I would sneak downstairs early to play luridly colored, blocky pixel worlds like Pitfall! and Frogger.

The Atari 2600+ maintains so many of the details that made the original iconic. Toggles still run along its top edge, triggering everything from power and reset functions to switching between color and black & white and setting player difficulty on either side. Atari has resisted the temptation to tidy up – even little details like the way the cartridge awkwardly juts out have been kept exactly as you remember them, which is definitely to Atari’s credit.

But, naturally, given this is a Pac-Man special edition, not quite everything is as you remember it. First off, there’s that bright yellow colorway, which is 100% on-brand for anything involving the pill-necking ghost chomper. Additionally, the 2600’s usual front wood veneer has been replaced with a light-up panel showing Pac-Man in flight from the game’s spectral antagonists – I love these little details, and they show a real thoughtfulness to Atari’s design process here.

(Image credit: Future)

Rather than the CX40 joystick that was packaged up with the standard Atari 2600+, the CX40+ included here comes with a few upgrades. Most materially, the wired connection we criticized in our original review because of its awkward connection to the back of the console has been exorcized here, replaced with much superior wireless dongle connectivity.

Aesthetically, it has also had a glow-up, adorned with the same banana yellow colorway and a cute Pac-Man symbol on top of the stick. My only grumble here is that Atari didn’t send me any of the Ghost Edition CX40+ optional accessories they sell, which are similarly branded with the colors and likeness of Blinky, Inky, Pinky, and Clyde and are objectively adorable. Come on, guys: it’s like you’re actively trying to trigger my FOMO.

Sadly, one thing hasn’t changed about the CX40+, though: it’s still as uncomfortably stiff to use as when we reviewed the standard 2600+. Trying to be as charitable as possible to Atari – and looking back on my vague childhood memories through the increasingly frosted windows of middle age – I do actually think this is an accurate recreation of how the original joysticks used to handle. I suspect, though, that this faithfulness won’t make its turgid handling more forgiving in the eyes of modern gamers.

Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition review: performance

(Image credit: Future)

Firing up Pac-Man 7800 triggered almost primal memories in me. Playing the game takes me right back to my childhood, feeding coin after coin into an arcade slot to spend a little longer running round its dark mazes and gobbling up pixelated fruit. It’s a heady nostalgic hit.

However, I will admit that this joy is slightly undermined by how much duller my reflexes are some 35 years hence. Coupled with the stiffness of the CX40+’s stick, I found myself dying with an almost lemming-like alacrity. I’ve improved somewhat over my time testing it, partly as a result of learning to anticipate upcoming turns and move the stick way before I hit the bend, but I’m still bad at it. Honestly, Pac-Man and I have a slightly toxic relationship: I love it, and it clearly hates me.

Even when you take away the nostalgia, though, the gameplay is still as addictive and frustrating to a newcomer. My partner is hardly a committed gamer, but she quickly found herself hooked by the addictive ‘just one more turn’ gameplay loop. There were points she’d be enraged at how pointlessly she’d died – and then she’d fire it up again regardless, which is about as firm an endorsement as she can offer.

(Image credit: Future)

Unfortunately, while this is nominally a twin-game pack, I can’t really say the same for Pac-Man 2600. Within seconds of booting it up, I could see why it’s always been such a controversial port. In almost every regard, it sits in the original Pac-Man’s shadow

To adapt the arcade hit to the more modest hardware of the Atari 2600, the graphics were devolved considerably. Power pills are now squares, and Pac-Man looks like he’s lost all enthusiasm for his work. Worse, the ghosts flicker and regularly overlap, making it hard to know when some of them might decide to peel off, while I could honestly never tell when a power pill had worn off, as their appearance was almost indistinguishable either way.

Fundamentally, Pac-Man 2600 might be a nice game to have in your collection. But it’s more of a curiosity, fun to revisit in the same way that archive footage of the Nintendo Virtual Boy or Sinclair C5 is amusing. I recommend you play it, even if I think 95% of the time you’ll go straight to the more loyal port of Pac-Man 7800.

Fortunately, you’re not limited to playing either – as the console is fully backward compatible, you can play any old Atari games you still have or start building your own retro collection from scratch. This is the real strength of the Atari 2600+ for me: so many retro gaming devices force you to make do with a limited catalogue or skirt into ethically murky territory. The Atari 2600+ makes it far easier to start getting into retro gaming, without having to fuss about buying 30-year-old CRTs from eBay.

Should I buy the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition?

(Image credit: Future)Buy it if...

You’ve got serious Atari nostalgia
If you’re wanting to get into Atari retro gaming, this is one of the best ways to do it. Not only can you pick up re-released games, but it’ll run any of those old Atari cartridges you have in the attic.

You love Pac-Man
Alright… this one’s pretty obvious. But if you loved Pac-Man back in the day and are charmed by this console’s styling, then you’ll want to opt for this over the 2600+ standard edition.

Don't buy it if...

You want cheap retro games
Atari’s rereleased games are not cheap, costing $29.99 / £24.99 per cartridge. Second-hand OG cartridges can be more affordable, although this naturally varies with rarity – typical prices may range from $5 / £5 to $70 / £30.

You don’t like a stiff joystick
Compared to modern, responsive Hall-effect thumbsticks, the CX40+ is stiffer than an 18-year single malt. That’s probably true to the original design, but you might find it requires more force than you’re used to.

How I tested the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Atari 2600+ over the course of several days, both hooking it up to my 65-inch TCL C8K and a 24-inch LG TQ520S-P monitor.

I played both Pac-Man 7800 and Pac-Man 2600, trying out as many of the different game settings as possible, including different difficulty levels and speed modes.

• First reviewed: December 2025
• Read more about how we test

Atari’s Pac-Man-themed retro console has me reliving childhood memories all over again and returned me to a simpler, pixelated past.

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