Judgment is one of the best narrative-driven experiences in recent years. The Yakuza spin-off has captivated even those gamers who weren't fans of the acclaimed crime franchise. Aside from a fascinating story full of twists and turns, it also has an innovative, fluid combat system reminiscent of some of the greatest beat 'em up titles in history.
Much like in the Yakuza games, Kamurocho is full of interesting side activities and cool things to do for players who just want to take a breather from the fascinating but also very intense main plot of Judgment.
10 Play Retro Video Games
Arcade parlors are the place of many gamers' first memories with video games, especially those that grew up in the '90s. Including these places in Judgment, as well as other games from the Yakuza universe, is a nod to the arcades that were central to the video game industry in the past.
The arcade titles available in Judgment are not just some made-up minigames created solely to make the game's world more interactive. They are actually renditions of Sega's real titles from the '80s, '90s, and 2000s. With hits like Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown available to freely jump into at any time, players can quite literally lose themselves in a game within a game!
9 Play Darts
Many people have a love-hate relationship with darts, depending on how good they are at it and their opponent's skill level. A lot of bar-goers who want to try their hand at darts also feel confused by the ruleset of the sport.
Judgment provides a unique opportunity for players to slowly get a grip on the rules in a fun minigame that's very easy to learn, but difficult to master. It may not help with practicing one's aim in real-life darts, but it surely is a lot of fun!
8 Test Your Skills In A Batting Cage
Baseball is widely considered to be one of those sports that's only really popular in the United States, much like the NFL. While Americans certainly make up for the majority of baseball fans worldwide, the game has actually gained a sizeable following in Japan, of all places.
This sentiment is reflected very well in Judgment, with the inclusion of a batting cage center in Kamurocho. In a minigame based around reflexes and timing, players can turn Yagami into the best batter in town.
7 Make Friends With The Homeless Community
Right behind the Children's Park, there is a sewer entrance leading to an area where quite a few of Kamuchoro's homeless people have set up camp. Amongst them is a doctor, as well as some other colorful characters that players can befriend.
This little community is involved in quite a few side quests in Judgment, and without getting into spoiler territory, they make for quite interesting social commentary on homelessness in Japan.
6 Help Restaurants Improve Their Services
Saying that there are a lot of restaurants in Judgment would be an understatement. In this Yakuza spin-off, much like in the games from the main series, players can indulge in all sorts of dishes from Kamurocho's dozens of restaurants and fast-food joints.
Many friendship quests in Judgment involve the restaurant owners and their struggles with running these establishments. While some of them are simple conversations where players need to choose the right dialogue option, others are more complex, requiring Yagami to do some detective work in order to figure out what changes would bring more customers in.
5 Collect Records
Although the office of the Yagami Detective Agency is rather tiny, there are quite a few things to do there. Aside from the basics like resting or changing outfits, there's a spot to showcase collectibles, as well as a record player.
At the start of Judgment, Yagami will not own any records, but they can be acquired by spending cash at the Poppo convenience stores scattered throughout Kamurocho. Players can score a free album from each Poppo location, unlockable by spending 7000 yen at each shop. They can be played whenever Yagami visits his office, and with the right perks, listening to music can even restore health!
4 Participate In Drone Races
Racing minigames and side quests are the bread and butter of most open-world games. Whether it is old-timey RPGs, where characters participate in horse races, or GTA-style street racing with fast sports cars, most titles stick to the tried-and-true racing formula instead of adding some much-needed variety to these activities.
Fortunately, Judgment is not one of those games, as it contains a drone racing side activity. Players can take part in tricky but fun races involving upgradeable aerial vehicles. This minigame is definitely a fresh take on the somewhat stale concept of racing side activities present in the majority of open-world titles nowadays.
3 Get A Girlfriend
In many RPGs and other open-world titles, romance options are thrown in alongside the main quests as a means of advancing the plotline or changing the outcomes of certain quests. Games like The Witcher 3 take it to the next level by having Geralt's romance choices affect the ending of the entire story.
In Judgment, all of the possible romanceable characters are introduced in side quests. Consequently, there is a chance that many players will play through the entire game without realizing that finding a girlfriend for Yagami is even an option. In the vein of a true "life simulator" experience, players can take potential partners on dates, take photos with them, or even decide whether or not they're ready for a more serious relationship.
2 Make Serious Money (Or Lose Everything)
Gambling minigames have always played a major part in the Yakuza series. Therefore, it's only natural that as a spin-off, Judgment would have its fair share of opportunities for players to put their money on the line every now and then.
With a wide array of games to choose from, such as poker, blackjack, or mahjong, gamers have the option to make Yagami a millionaire or ruin him financially, all depending on their luck, as well as their knowledge of the rules of these games.
1 Scan QR Codes
Having originally become uber-popular in major Asian cities, in 2021, QR codes have permeated every corner of the world as one of the most convenient ways to get to a publicly displayed web address.
As a game with one of the most densely packed, interactive worlds in recent years, Judgment devs could not pass up on the opportunity to include these codes in the game's wide roster of activities. Placed in hard-to-get-to locations all over Kamurocho, scanning them will give Yagami access to drone upgrades, skill points, and many other bonuses.