Open worlds have become indispensable in the gaming industry. Almost every genre has an open world. MyMMO editor Nikolas Hernes is not a fan of them and avoids most open-world games. But there is one exception, and that is a small district of a role-playing game in Tokyo.
What is the problem with open worlds? Open worlds are a good idea. You can explore a large world, immersion increases, and you can hide various side activities. That actually sounds like strong arguments. The problem is the execution.
Although I like some games from Ubisoft, I have to criticize the studio. With Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed, they established an open-world approach that I now find frustrating. Don’t get me wrong. The worlds are beautiful, but the gameplay is dull.
Climbing towers, discovering dull side quests, and unsatisfying collectibles ruin even the most beautiful world for me. But that is not just a problem with Ubisoft. Even in games like Dead Island 2, which I generally enjoy, I have no desire to engage with the open world.
I personally find it hard to engage with open worlds; the immersion does not work. I love The Witcher 3, but even there, after a few hours, I start to mindlessly follow the quests. Dark Souls has one of the coolest worlds of all time, but that world is more about interconnected levels than a true open world.
But there is one exception: Kamurocho in the Yakuza games. Never has a world felt so alive, and that despite being just a simple district.
Kamurocho: the perfect place for Japan lovers and nasty gangsters
What kind of series is Yakuza? Yakuza now has countless entries. Most parts focus on Kiryu, who actually wanted to make it big in the world of the Yakuza. But that doesn’t work out, and the silent guy becomes an unusual hero who regularly takes on gangsters.
At first, Yakuza was still a beat ’em up with RPG elements, but since Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the main series has become a classic JRPG. Besides the melodramatic story and the quirky characters, the world is the real star.
Most parts take place in Kamurocho. This is a fictional district in Tokyo and, accordingly, smaller than large role-playing worlds. But Kamurocho works much better for me, and it’s due to several aspects.
Gameplay and story-wise a dream
Why is Kamurocho such a great open world? Even though Kamurocho is relatively small, the world is packed with activities. You can sing karaoke, go to restaurants, or hit the dancefloor.
These are not just simple activities; they contribute to making the city feel alive. These absurd activities fit well with the neon-soaked world of Tokyo and provide a great contrast to the gritty gangster story. Plus, you can invite other characters to the activities.
The side quests also weave in and out of these activities. They fit Japanese clichés and strike the perfect balance between realism and nonsense. And the best part: they are engaging and almost never consist of tedious collect-a-thon tasks.
As the protagonist, you are not someone who changes Kamurocho; you are just a person who lives there and learns to know and love the district.
The most important thing about the tasks: if you don’t want to do them, you miss nothing. The collectibles are important for side tasks, but apart from the great and absurd stories, you can safely ignore them. They are not forced upon you.
For me, Kamurocho feels like a vacation. Every few months I return to Yakuza 0 to dance at the Maharaja, bowl a little, or croon Baka Mitai
into the microphone.
The sequels are like a return home
Kamurocho doesn’t just feel alive; it evolves. When I look at Kamurocho in Yakuza 0 and Kiwami 1, I am fascinated because the district has changed. It adapts to the decade, but the soul remains.
I feel like a kid returning to my hometown after 10 years. Much looks different, more modern, but the memories remain. Kamurocho steadily evolves. The protagonist has to adapt, but no matter what happens, it feels like home.
Kamurocho is not just a playground but a stylistic device to illustrate how characters or the story have changed.
When I boot up Yakuza 0 after some time, I feel like I am flipping through an old photo album.
Other open worlds may look more beautiful, have better secrets, or prettier architecture, but none make me feel as comfortable as Kamurocho. Whether I’m beating up gangsters, singing karaoke, or just strolling through the streets in the rain. You can find more cool open worlds here: Alternatives to Kingdom Come 2: These open worlds also offer pure immersion and fascination
