Yakuza: Like a Dragon

About Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is an RPG that breaks from the series’ action roots. Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios and released in 2020, it follows Ichiban Kasuga, a yakuza loyalist seeking vengeance after an 18-year prison sentence. The game shifts to turn-based combat, letting players manage a team of mismatched allies across Yokohama’s large underground. With a focus on narrative and character-driven quests, it balances dark crime drama with humor and heart. Played on PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC, it’s a single-player journey through crime, redemption, and family. Critics gave it an 85.5/100 on IGDB.

Gameplay

Combat is turn-based, with party members each having unique abilities and limited actions. You’ll juggle positioning, skill timing, and elemental weaknesses while managing a roster that includes a cop, a homeless nurse, and a vengeful hostess. Outside fights, you explore Yokohama’s neon-lit streets, solving side jobs like helping a struggling coffee shop or mentoring a delinquent. The story is episodic, with each chapter introducing new conflicts and alliances. Controls are intuitive, with a radial menu for combat commands. Sessions often blend dialogue choices, exploration, and strategic battles, averaging 60+ hours to complete.

What Players Think

PlayPile users rate it 85.5/100, with 75% completing the main story. Average playtime is 63 hours, and 82% finish 80%+ of side content. Community moods are mostly "satisfying" (42%), "emotional" (31%), and "puzzling" (18%). Reviews highlight the writing and character arcs but note combat can feel slow. Achievements (40+) include "Clear the Game" (1.2M earned) and "Complete All Side Jobs" (420K). One user wrote, “The cast feels like real people, not paper cutouts.” Another: “Turn-based is a risk, but it works better than I expected.”

PlayPile's Take

This is a must-play for RPG fans who prioritize story over combat speed. Priced at $39.99 (or $25 on sale), it offers 60+ hours of narrative depth and quirky side quests. The shift to turn-based play is divisive, but the writing and character moments, like Ichiban’s raw loyalty, cement its place as one of the series’ best. If you want a crime saga with soul, grab it. Skip if you crave fast-paced action.

Storyline

Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family in Tokyo, faces an 18-year prison sentence after taking the fall for a crime he didn't commit. Never losing faith, he loyally serves his time and returns to society to discover that no one is waiting for him on the outside, and his clan has been destroyed by the man he respects most. Ichiban sets out to discover the truth behind his family's betrayal and take his life back, drawing a ragtag group of society’s outcasts to his side: Adachi, a rogue cop, Nanba, a homeless ex-nurse, and Saeko, a hostess on a mission. Together, they are drawn into a conflict brewing beneath the surface in Yokohama and must rise to become the heroes they never expected to be.