Lost Judgment review scores are out now, a few days before its release date. So, how did it do critically? Is it a great sequel to 2018's Judgment?

Lost Judgment Review Scores: Metascore of 84 for the PS5

Lost Judgment has garnered generally favorable reviews from critics so far. A majority of the critics have had a positive response for the new RRG game, with a few middling reviews weighing its overall rating down. For the PS5 version of the game, Lost Judgment currently has a Metascore of 84, and 81 on Xbox Series X.

ScreenRant gave the PS5 version of the game a perfect 5/5. They praised the narrative and the gameplay exciting, fully realizing the concept that was first introduced in Judgment.

“Lost Judgment is nothing short of stunning. It's tightly-packed narrative never fails to enthrall, while its gameplay systems make navigating to each of its engrossing narrative beats an exciting experience in its own right. While Judgment felt a bit more like a proof of concept for how a Yakuza spin-off could be done, its sequel is evidence there needs to be more. Lost Judgment is a defining release from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, one of 2021's best games, and the rare sequel that preserves its series' identity while improving on nearly every element of its predecessor.”

You can read the complete review here.

RPGFan‘s Lost Judgment Review Score stands at 93. Their conclusion gives extra emphasis to the fact that you can walk a dog, which we agree is a definitely necessary feature that all games moving forward should have. Kidding aside, RPGFan had a positive reception for the game's narrative, praising the game's sub-stories as well as side activities. However, they also noted that the game's pacing felt a bit off towards the end, with the weakest spot being the game's investigation mini-games.

Lost Judgment is another great entry in what has become an excellent series that blends crazy Yakuza action with dark and hard-hitting mysteries.”

You can read the complete review here.

Meanwhile, PSU gave Lost Judgment a review score of 9/10. They note that Lost Judgment has proven itself that it's a worthy successor to the Yakuza franchise, having been able to utilize the series' most defining aspects into the game.

“A fantastic action adventure that taps directly into the root DNA of the Yakuza franchise, Lost Judgment not only manages to simultaneously boast both the darkest and the goofiest storylines of any title in the series to date, but it also stuns the player with an absolute avalanche of hugely entertaining side quests and activities. More than that though, Lost Judgment also provides solace for those who found themselves turned off by the turn-based combat system that the mainline Yakuza series now seems to favour, while welcoming newcomers to one of the best new Japanese franchises of the last two decades.”

You can read the complete review here.

The game then received a 8.5/10 from Playstation LifestyleIt's a good sequel in the sense that it followed through with the expectations of the fans on what a Yakuza game is supposed to be but noted that it went a bit too safe. It's also weird to beat up high schoolers as a 40-something detective.

Lost Judgment is a subtle improvement on the original, and continues the fun of seeing the seedy sides of Kamurocho and Ijincho while staying mostly on the good side of the law. A new combat style combined with a few more tricks up Yagami-san’s sleeves provide more entertaining ways to dispatch or get the upper hand on enemies, and of course the usual slate of minigames offer a much-needed respite from the main campaign’s twisted story. It may tread a lot of the same ground as the previous game, but that is absolutely a good thing.”

You can read the complete review here.

Scoring 4/5, VGC notes that Lost Judgment is a much-improved sequel. RRG's decision to veer away from Japan's criminal underground allowed Lost Judgment to find its own voice, highlighting its own characteristics and making it more distinct from the Yakuza series.

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“Lively combat and engrossing social clubs keep you busy, but it’s the much-improved detective story that elevates Lost Judgment above the original.”

You can read the complete review here.

Finally, Gamespot gave Lost Judgment one of the lower scores at 7/10. They are thankful that Lost Judgment‘s investigative mini-games are less frequent in this game compared to the predecessor, but still remorsed at how the detective game had its investigative aspect as its weakest. Still, Gamespot praised Lost Judgment‘s narrative, themes, and casting.

Lost Judgment improves on its predecessor by cutting down on some of the more tedious elements of its design rather than outright changing the mechanics to make the investigative side of the equation more engaging. In this sense, it's disappointing that it doesn't lean into what makes Judgment unique compared to the Yakuza series and instead remains at its best when sticking close to those origins. The story is compelling with an endearing cast of characters, the sheer amount of stuff to do is astounding, and there's still an inherent joy that comes from pummelling the city's delinquents into the ground. But it's hard not to feel disappointed that you still feel like a passenger when it breaks away from the Yakuza mould. If this is indeed our last time with Yagami and co., then it's one to cherish. There will just always be a nagging feeling that this was a missed opportunity to do something truly special.”

You can read the complete review here.

In conclusion, having played the previous Yakuza and Judgment games will give you an idea of what to expect in this game. It will also mostly let you know whether or not you'd enjoy the game. Still, even if you're trying out Lost Judgment for the first time without the background of its predecessors, it can give you a good time with its gripping narrative and its exciting gameplay. Just don't go in expecting a Sherlock Holmes detective game, and you'll do fine.