Yakuza 0: Complete Guide

A friend's guide to Yakuza 0 on PC: which version to play, combat styles for Kiryu and Majima, how money and upgrades work, the two business side games, substories and minigames, and completion tips.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the Yakuza 0 Director's Cut era (the original Yakuza 0 was delisted for new purchases on December 8, 2025). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Which Version Should I Play?

On December 8, 2025 (the series' 20th anniversary) SEGA released Yakuza 0 Director's Cut and stopped selling the original Yakuza 0 to new buyers.

If you already own the original, it is the same core game; everything in this guide applies to both. If you are buying new, you are buying the Director's Cut.

Quick Start

1. Money is your XP. There are no experience points. You spend yen to buy abilities in each fighting style's skill tree. Fights, businesses and side content all pay out yen.
2. Swap styles mid-fight. Kiryu and Majima each have three styles you can switch between instantly. Use the right one for the situation.
3. Heat gauge and Heat Actions. Build Heat by fighting well, then trigger Heat Actions near walls, objects and downed enemies for huge damage.
4. Grab weapons from the environment. Bikes, signs, cones, and more. Beast style in particular is built around picking things up.
5. Don't skip the businesses. Kiryu's real estate and Majima's cabaret club earn enormous money and unlock each character's legendary style.
6. Do substories as you find them. There are 100 substories. Many recruit helpers for the businesses.
7. Eat and heal smart. Restaurant meals heal and can fill the completion list; shop healing items are expensive in 0 because money is also XP.
8. Beware Mr. Shakedown. Big wandering thugs who hit very hard and take your cash if you lose. Avoid them until you are strong.
9. The story is long and the side content is longer. A main story run is dozens of hours; full completion is well over 100.

Story Structure

You alternate between two protagonists across the game's chapters:

• Kazuma Kiryu in Kamurocho (Tokyo), caught up in a murder in a small lot called the Empty Lot, tied to the Tojo Clan.
• Goro Majima in Sotenbori (Osaka), running a cabaret club on a leash while trying to get back into the family.

The chapters alternate between them. Side content unlocks progressively, so it's normal to spend long stretches on side activities between story beats.

Combat

Kiryu's styles

Majima's styles

Combat tips

• Rush for bosses. Rush's dodges and quick strikes make many boss fights easier for Kiryu.
• Beast for crowds. Beast grabs whatever is near and hits multiple enemies.
• Breaker for Majima's crowds. Spinning moves hit everyone around you.
• Heat Actions are your burst damage. Keep an eye on the environment for wall, object and weapon prompts.
• Guard and dodge. Bosses punish mashing; learn their tells.
• Stock healing items before long story segments and bosses.

Money and Upgrades

• Every style has a skill tree of abilities you buy with yen. Some nodes require a trainer or story progress to unlock.
• Early on, prioritize health, Heat gauge and the style you use most.
• Money comes from fights, businesses, gambling, substories, and selling items.
• Because money doubles as experience, the game throws a lot of cash at you. The businesses are what turn that into millions and billions.

Kiryu's Real Estate Business

In Kamurocho, Kiryu gets involved in real estate. You buy properties across the district, assign managers and security, and collect income on a cycle. Rival property kingpins control areas; beating them by buying up their territory is the arc of the business.

Tips:

• Buy properties with the best returns first. Early income snowballs.
• Collect regularly. Income accumulates up to a cap, so check in often.
• Recruit managers and advisors from substories; they boost income and reduce events.
• Finish the business to unlock Kiryu's legendary style path, and a lot of completion list entries.

Majima's Cabaret Club Business

In Sotenbori, Majima runs a cabaret club. It is a real-time management minigame: seat customers with hostesses whose traits match, respond to hostess signals, and keep the club busy through each session.

Tips:

• Match hostess types to customers for higher satisfaction and spending.
• Develop your best hostesses through training and outfits.
• Recruit new hostesses via substories and scouting.
• Beat rival clubs to progress the business storyline. Finishing it opens Majima's legendary style path.

Substories and Minigames

• 100 substories range from absurd comedy to genuinely touching stories. Many unlock business helpers, recipes, weapons, or minigames.
• Minigames include karaoke, disco, bowling, pool, darts, the batting center, UFO catchers, the telephone club, Pocket Circuit racing, mahjong, shogi and various gambling games, plus playable classic SEGA arcade games such as Out Run and Space Harrier.
• Completion List. The game tracks goals for combat, minigames, businesses and more. Completion points can be exchanged for passive bonuses.

Completion Checklist

If you're going for 100%, these are the categories that take the longest; plan them in parallel rather than one after another:

After the credits, Premium Adventure lets you free-roam with your progress to clean up anything left.

Recommended Order of Play

1. Play the story until side content opens up for each character.
2. Start the business early and keep collecting.
3. Do substories as you pass them; they feed the businesses.
4. Put spare cash into health and your favorite style.
5. Finish the businesses before the late chapters to get the legendary styles for the final fights.
6. After the credits, Premium Adventure lets you free-roam to clean up substories and the completion list.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Hoarding yen. It's your XP. Spend it on abilities.
• Ignoring businesses. They're the main money engine and unlock the strongest styles.
• Fighting Mr. Shakedown too early. Losing hands him the cash you're carrying; spend it on abilities first.
• Sticking to one style. Swapping styles is the core of combat.
• Rushing the story. Many substories and minigames are easier to enjoy as you go.
• Expecting saves to transfer to Director's Cut. They don't.

Advanced Tips

• Legendary styles make late-game fights and Premium Adventure much easier; plan to finish both businesses before the final chapters.
• Completion points buy useful passive perks; check the list regularly.
• Heat management. Some abilities increase Heat gain or keep Heat from decaying; these pay off everywhere.
• Use Beast grabs on bosses that leave weapons around the arena.
• Pocket Circuit and minigame completion are the grindiest parts of 100%; do them in short sessions.
• Director's Cut co-op. The online Red Light Raid mode is a separate co-op mode; it doesn't replace the main campaign.

PC Notes

• Keyboard and mouse work, but a controller is strongly recommended for combat and minigames.
• If you own both versions, they are separate installs with separate saves.
• Director's Cut adds an English dub; the original has Japanese voice with subtitles.

FAQ

Can I still buy the original Yakuza 0? No. It was removed from sale on December 8, 2025. Owners can still download it. New buyers get the Director's Cut.

Is Director's Cut worth it if I own the original? If you want the new cutscenes, the English dub or co-op, yes. The core game is the same, and saves do not carry over.

Where should I start the series? Yakuza 0 is the chronological start and the usual recommended entry point.

How do I get the legendary styles? They're tied to the businesses: finish Kiryu's real estate storyline for Dragon of Dojima and Majima's cabaret club storyline for Mad Dog of Shimano, then follow the prompts.

How long is Yakuza 0? Around a few dozen hours for the story; full completion takes well over 100 hours.

What is Mr. Shakedown? A roaming heavy-hitting enemy that takes your cash if he beats you and drops a lot if you beat him. Spend your yen on abilities before you pick a fight with one.

Sources

• Yakuza 0 — Wikipedia
• Yakuza 0 on Steam and news (Director's Cut announcement and delisting notice)
• Yakuza 0 Director's Cut on Steam