Judgment
The Yakuza series has hit some serious success in the West over the last few years, and Judgment hopes to carry on that tradition. The newest game from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Judgment takes place in Kamurocho, the same town prominently featured in Yakuza, although it’s technically a standalone game.
You play as Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer-turned-detective who starts investigating a string of grisly murders taking place in Kamurocho. Judgment uses the same formula as the Yakuza games, letting you roam Kamurocho and engage in any number of activities.
You can play arcade games like Virtua Fighter, race in the Drone League, dine at any restaurant, fight some thugs, and more. Judgment doubles-down on making Kamurocho feel like a living breathing city, and it wildly succeeds in that.
Yagami can make friends across the city, who’ll greet him, give you special items, help you in battle, and more. Judgment is a gripping noir-thriller mixed with the gameplay stylings of Yakuza, and if you haven’t played it you’re missing out on one of the best games of 2019.
