While hand-to-hand combat, hilarious sub-stories, and an emotional main story arc are the main components of Yakuza 0, there are other ways to spend your time in Kamurocho and Sotenbori.
If you need a break from the intense combat, there are numerous activities you can participate in if you just want to relax.
Likewise, when you have completed the game, a new mode called Premium Adventure is unlocked. In Premium Adventure, you can simply explore Kamurocho and Sotenbori without having to worry about keeping up with objectives in the main story, and you can switch between Kiryu and Majima any time you want.
These games-within-a-game are not only a great way to unwind, but they are also lots of fun, and participating in some activities while in Story Mode will even unlock new sub-stories.
If you just want to relax or complete an optional challenge, keep reading for the top 5 best activities in Yakuza 0.
5. Bowl
Bowling is one of the easier activities once you get the hang of the controls. Plus, if you bowl a “turkey” (3 strikes in a row), you will get to meet Nugget, a chicken. Not only is meeting Nugget one of the funniest moments in Yakuza 0, but you will actually be able to hire Nugget as a manager in the Real Estate Royale side mission.
You will be able to choose the weight of your bowling ball, how many frames you would like to bowl in a game, and whether or not you would like to bowl by yourself or challenge someone.
The mechanics of the bowling game are very simple, and you will get to choose the starting position of your ball as well as the speed and curve when you throw it.
While bowling is one of the tamest activities to do, the satisfaction of throwing a strike is totally worth it.
What’s great about bowling:
- You can play alone or against a challenger
- You can pick the size of your bowling ball
- The game is easy once you are used to the controls
- You get a chance to meet Nugget if you play well
4. Pocket Circuit Racing
Pocket Circuit Racing is definitely one of the more involved side activities due to the different options of customizing your car.
Each race has a set race track with different types of obstacles for each one, such as tight curves or bumpy hills. The races get progressively more difficult as you win and rise through the ranks, and new cars and parts are introduced in the Pocket Circuit Shop to adapt to each track.
Participating in Pocket Circuit Races also unlocks the “Pocket Circuit Fighter” set of sub-stories, which requires you to be the very best and win challenges against new opponents in each circuit.
Each car has a different style, and you will be able to customize various parts, including the tires, engine, brakes, and spoiler.
There’s definitely a bit of a learning curve with Pocket Circuit Racing, so keep experimenting with new parts and cars until you get it just right, and you’ll be the new Pocket Circuit Fighter in no time.
What’s great about Pocket Circuit Racing:
- Loads of customization options for your car makes the races more exciting
- Compete against local challengers and win to become a Pocket Circuit Fighter
- You can speed up the race to make it go by faster, but beware of those sharp curves that might cause your car to flip off the track
3. Sega Hi Tech Land (Arcade)
The Sega Hi Tech Land arcades in Yakuza 0 are a special treat, especially for long-time gamers who are looking for a bit of nostalgia.
Several retro Sega classic games, such as Out Run and Space Harrier are in the arcades, and when you put your money in the machine, you actually get to play a scaled-down version of the real retro game. It’s very easy to spend a lot of time here as you try to beat your best score in each game, and it is certainly a lot of fun.
In addition to the retro Sega games, there are also claw machines located in each arcade where you can win a small plush animal. The prizes will vary each time you go to the arcade, so it’s fun to try and collect them all.
There are also sub-stories that you will unlock after meeting certain characters in the arcade, so be on the lookout for those!
Overall, if you are looking for a challenge and want to play a retro game or start a plush toy collection, Sega Hi Tech Land is the place you’ll want to spend your free time.
What’s great about Sega Hi Tech Land:
- Play versions of real retro Sega games
- Win plush toy prizes to complete your collection
- Unlock fun and interesting sub-stories through arcade patrons
- You can play for as long as you have the money
2. Mahjong
Most people think of Mahjong as a game that little old ladies play, but just hear me out on this one.
While the rules of Mahjong might seem really complicated at first, the creators of Yakuza 0 went through a lot of trouble to write out all of the rules and possible hands, so it’s honestly worth giving it a shot. The amount of detail in the tiles themselves is amazing, and the sound effect of the tiles as they are dealt to each player, coupled with the ambient background noises of the Mahjong parlor, really add to the realism.
Play a few hands to get a feel for the game, and don’t hesitate to look up anything you don’t understand. Also, take some time to familiarize yourself with the possible hands, and see if you can get one of the highest scores.
I honestly enjoy relaxing with some Mahjong when I really don’t feel like dealing with combat, and once I started really learning the game and gaining ranks, I enjoyed it so much that I keep Yakuza 0 installed solely for the purpose of playing a few games of Mahjong to help me unwind.
Mahjong is an excellent game that has stood the test of time for centuries, and I highly recommend giving it a try at least once.
What’s great about Mahjong:
- It’s a fun game where you can compete for rank
- The attention to detail in the game is impeccable
- It is a great way to challenge your brain and relax
1. Karaoke
This is really Majima’s moment to shine.
The Karaoke mini-games have become a favorite amongst fans of the Yakuza series, and with good reason.
Each time you do a karaoke song, your character is also the star of a music video for that song as you play. It is sometimes very distracting when you are supposed to be paying attention to the timing for the button presses, but the costumes and fanfare are worth watching at least once.
Seeing Majima go all out with his rendition of 24-Hour Cinderella is really worth experiencing, and the karaoke experiences really shed a new light on the personality of the characters.
There are several songs to choose from for both Kiryu and Majima, and I highly recommend singing them all at least once just to see the awesome music videos.
What’s great about Karaoke:
- Different types of challenges, depending on the song
- Amazing music videos, complete with costumes and choreography play in the background for each song
- The songs you choose are real songs sung by real artists
- The controls are very simple. You just tap the correct button when it is highlighted on the screen.
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