Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Like A Dragon Gaiden has one of the better stories of the series, acting as a love letter to Kiryu that fans are going to fall in love with.

97%Game Brain Score

story, emotional

grinding, character development

97% User Score Based on 5,207 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 68 reviews

Platforms

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About

In "Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name," players assume the role of Kazuma Kiryu, who has faked his death and abandoned his yakuza past to protect his family. However, he is drawn into conflict by a mysterious figure and must confront his past. The game also includes a Coliseum where players can fight as or alongside legendary yakuza characters. This content is part of the Digital Deluxe Edition of "Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth."

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Play Modes

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name screenshot

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,207 reviews

story616 positive mentions

grinding55 negative mentions

story
1,919 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The story of "Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its emotional depth and character development, particularly for Kiryu, while others criticize its brevity and reliance on prior knowledge from the series. The narrative effectively bridges the gap between "Yakuza 6" and "Like a Dragon," offering a compact yet engaging experience filled with callbacks to earlier titles. However, some players feel that the story's pacing suffers due to mandatory side quests, which can detract from the overall flow and impact of the main plot.
- “The story was also engaging, and towards the end it started to hit pretty hard.”
- “The story is excellent.”
- “The story is written well and can be emotionally intense – especially for someone who played the series from Y0 to the current iteration.”
- “The story is lacking, which is to be expected given that this is just a spin-off of the Yakuza: Like a Dragon series.”
- “The main story is very short, consisting of only five chapters, which together with requests (substories), coliseum, and minigame completion required for 100% achievements take about 35 hours, possibly much shorter if you decide not to take your sweet time with it.”
- “The story is short but sweet, side content is enjoyable, and the game looks beautiful.”
emotional
434 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
1%
The emotional aspect of "Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name" is overwhelmingly impactful, with many players reporting intense feelings of sadness and catharsis, particularly during the game's conclusion. Fans of the Yakuza series, especially those familiar with Kiryu's journey, find the narrative deeply resonant, often leading to tears and a profound emotional connection to the characters and their stories. The game's ending is frequently described as one of the most heart-wrenching in the franchise, solidifying its status as a must-play for those invested in the series.
- “The Yakuza series is more than just a game, it's an emotional journey that has changed my life.”
- “The ending had me in tears...having played all of the previous games that led up to that moment was just an incredible, yet emotional, feeling.”
- “The narrative threads are woven together masterfully, providing a satisfying and emotional conclusion that honors the character's legacy.”
- “The story is boring and riddled with major plot holes.”
- “The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I felt no emotional impact; the narrative failed to engage me.”
gameplay
362 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The gameplay in "Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name" is widely praised for its blend of familiar Yakuza mechanics and new elements from the Judgment series, offering a polished and engaging experience. Players appreciate the return to classic beat-em-up combat, enhanced by two distinct fighting styles—Yakuza and Agent—allowing for varied gameplay that remains fun and dynamic. While some critiques mention the game's shorter length and occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus highlights the satisfying combat, intuitive mechanics, and a wealth of side activities that keep players entertained.
- “The gameplay is varied and fun, from intense battles to entertaining side activities spread across the map.”
- “The gameplay is a standout feature, offering a seamless blend of action, exploration, and mini-games that keeps players engaged for hours.”
- “The combat system has evolved with new mechanics and fighting styles, delivering intense battles that keep you on your toes.”
- “50 to 75% of the gameplay is loading screens.”
- “Gameplay-wise, this feels worse than Yakuza 6 and that game was partially incomplete.”
- “I wasn't really impressed and if the game was priced at 30 or lower, I might've said yeah, that's more appropriate, but for almost full price, the gameplay just massively disappoints considering we've already played the same game 7 times already.”
music
184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
2%
The music in *Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name* has been widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional soundtrack that enhances the game's emotional narrative and combat experience. While some tracks are noted as standout pieces, there are mentions of a need for more variety in certain areas, and a few criticisms regarding specific songs. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the best in the series, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and player engagement.
- “The soundtrack in this game is almost the best in the series.”
- “The music fits and enhances scenes and fights as great music should.”
- “Continuing RGG Studio's long track record of great and memorable video game music, the soundtracks in this game are all very catchy and enhance the experience greatly.”
- “Too much rap music (intro & coliseum).”
- “The music is much darker and edgier than in any of the other 7 games with Kiryu.”
- “I don't feel like there's any track that is worth remembering at all aside from the final boss theme that stands out the most, which kinda makes me sad that at least the Yakuza series would've done music right.”
graphics
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
2%
The graphics in this game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting them as the best in the series, showcasing stunning visuals, improved lighting, and realistic character models. While some noted minor downgrades compared to other AAA titles, the overall aesthetic and graphical fidelity, particularly in cutscenes, are considered exceptional and a significant step forward for the franchise. The game runs smoothly even on mid-range setups, further enhancing the visual experience.
- “The visuals and the aesthetic of this game are phenomenal, genuinely one of the best looking games I've ever played.”
- “What truly stands out in this game, as well as in Infinite Wealth, are the graphics and overall design, which are pure 2024—simply flawless.”
- “The graphics are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.”
- “There is also a noticeable downgrade in graphic quality between a game like this and other AAA games like Resident Evil 4 Remake.”
- “Graphically, it's better than 7 but continues the long-running track of Dragon Engine games always looking worse than the last, with this game being noticeably uglier than Lost Judgment while also having way less effort put into the presentation, with very few prerendered cutscenes as well as a general lack of polish all around.”
- “Otherwise, the graphics look like a small step up from Yakuza: Like a Dragon—Kasuga's game.”
humor
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
3%
The humor in "Like a Dragon: Gaiden" is a standout feature, blending quirky, absurd moments with the series' signature dramatic storytelling. Players appreciate the hilarious side quests, memorable character interactions, and the return of beloved elements like karaoke and mini-games, all contributing to a rich tapestry of comedic and heartfelt experiences. While some found the humor less prominent in the main story, the overall tone remains a delightful mix of fun and emotional depth, ensuring fans of the franchise will find plenty to enjoy.
- “The story is hilarious; like who is Kiryu, man? This is Joryu (I cried at the end).”
- “It has all the heart, humor, and punch that the series is known for, with a fresh take on Kiryu’s journey.”
- “I love the outrageous nonsense that these games bring to the table: serious, dramatic, over-the-top action and story beats, silly and humorous side quests and games, old school arcade style fighting action and weirdness... this is a video game.”
- “Kiryu, don't light that cigarette; it's not funny anymore!”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced throughout the game.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it mostly missed the mark.”
optimization
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
4%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received high praise from users, with many reporting smooth performance across various hardware configurations, including high settings at 4K resolution. Players noted that the game runs exceptionally well, even on mid-range systems, and highlighted the effective use of technologies like DLSS to enhance performance. In contrast to many recent releases plagued by performance issues, this title stands out for its stability and efficiency, making it a commendable example of quality optimization in gaming.
- “Great game, great optimization for PC players.”
- “I don't know what black magic RGG Studio worked on this game to get it to run so perfectly, but this is so fantastically optimized, even including DLSS, all while boasting very nice visuals around Sotenbori.”
- “Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly at 4K 60fps, a commendable feat considering the performance struggles seen in some recent releases.”
- “Maybe wait a while for some performance things to be ironed out if your computer is not so good.”
- “One notable downside is the English voice acting, with criticisms aimed at the performance of one of the characters, Yong Yea, for his portrayal of Kiryu.”
- “Shame that this has to be pointed out as numerous modern game releases have been plagued with performance issues.”
grinding
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
6%
89%
Overall, players have mixed feelings about the grinding in the game. While some found the grinding for achievements and money to be less tedious compared to previous titles, others criticized certain aspects, like the akame network and side quests, as repetitive and unenjoyable. The coliseum and mini-games were generally seen as fun, but many players noted that grinding was still a significant part of the experience, requiring patience and time investment.
- “There is no grinding that is not rewarding.”
- “Worthwhile to get all achievements; getting them isn't all that grindy and it's actually fun!”
- “The fact they use FMV adds to the experience, and they made it not grindy at all like in past titles.”
- “To put it another way, it's a 'bite-sized' story at best, filled with repetitive grindy side activities that make the game feel like it's packed with content.”
- “The akame network is the most grindy, boring, mind-numbing garbage ever and is basically mandatory to upgrade your skills, so it's unavoidable and painful!”
- “Even though my play hours said 20 hours, 4 hours was actual story content while the rest was filled with grindy boring minigames.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
27%
27%
The atmosphere of the game has been widely praised for its exceptional visual quality, engaging soundtracks, and immersive environments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the cinematography and the vibrant settings, which contribute to memorable moments, particularly during boss fights. However, some criticism exists regarding certain areas, like Sotenbori, where the atmosphere can feel bland and exploration tedious after extended play.
- “The atmosphere and visual quality exceeded my expectations.”
- “It is certainly one of the best end fights in terms of atmosphere and cinematography, depicting all the legends in a respectful and memorable manner.”
- “Dragon engine had great graphical upgrades, more specifically to lighting, reflections, and colors; everything is so much more atmospheric and colorful. I love it, and once you have a taste of the infinite wealth demo, you can tell they meticulously upgraded these departments thinking of this game to deliver a very lively and colorful Honolulu, definitely the peak in graphics for the series.”
- “Sotenbori's simplistic layout and bland atmosphere turned exploration into pure boredom after 10 hours of playtime, and the new slingshot gadget that let joryu grab objects out of reach, while a nice touch, never got its usability expanded outside of combat and can be safely tossed into the 'one-off shallow mechanic' bin that includes Lost Judgment's parkour.”
- “The atmosphere, the OST, the combat, the minigames; they basically took each of their best parts of their games and packed them into one game.”
- “It dictates the mood and sets the atmosphere for the events we participate in.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
27%
27%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find the side content and activities enjoyable and worth revisiting, others feel the overall lack of new game plus options and limited character movesets diminish replay value. The Coliseum mode is highlighted as a particularly fun aspect with high replayability, but the absence of a robust replay system leaves some players wanting more. Overall, the game offers a significant amount of content, but opinions vary on its long-term replay appeal.
- “However, side content takes a long time, and all the other activities are pretty fun and replayable.”
- “Coliseum is a massive fun time sink with high replayability.”
- “Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is definitely not just your typical spin-off; the sheer amount of content and quality this game has makes the price so worth it. The minigames are great as always, the combat is great too, and the amount of replayability that you can get out of this game is insane.”
- “Because the game lacks replayability, I don't see any reason to replay it again—unless you want to experience the story again in the future.”
- “There's not much replay value.”
- “My only real gripe is the lack of New Game Plus, as I think this hurts the replayability, especially given its shorter length.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
Overall, character development in the game is highlighted as a strong point, particularly for Kiryu, who shows significant growth compared to previous titles. However, some players feel that certain characters lack development and that the combat system detracts from the overall narrative experience. While Akame's design is praised, the absence of memorable fights may limit opportunities for deeper character exploration.
- “Story: having played all the Kiryu games, this game feels like it has the best character development from Kiryu since Yakuza 3.”
- “Most character development Joryu has ever had.”
- “Most importantly, Kiryu's character development.”
- “Missing character development between a few characters.”
- “Combat and character development definitely took a step in the backwards direction.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with many users reporting various glitches and bugs that can detract from the experience, particularly in the agent mode and during combat. While some players find that these issues do not significantly impact immersion, others criticize the game's unfinished feel and the presence of outdated animations. However, a few reviewers note that the game is relatively stable compared to other recent AAA releases.
- “Rgg is one of the last developers of our generation that can launch a game which is not buggy, unstable, unoptimized, or broken beyond repair.”
- “It's buggy; the cheap-looking animation and camera work, as well as snapping from early Dragon Engine games, is back, and a lot of the heat actions feel impactless.”
- “Agent style is unfortunately terribly undercooked; it's limited, stiff, and buggy.”
- “1 out of 2, if not more, AAA games come out unfinished, buggy, with a plethora of content locked behind DLC and expansions, all of it for now 70 or 80 euros.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers feeling that it prioritizes profit over quality and innovation. Despite some enjoyable gameplay, the overall sentiment suggests that the game serves more as an advertising vehicle than a meaningful addition to the franchise.
- “You really can tell that the only reasoning behind this game was being a cash grab rather than bringing any value into the franchise.”
- “Frankly, the whole game felt just like an advertising campaign for IW.”
- “It's sad that this game has overwhelmingly positive reviews and RGG gets rewarded for this quick cash grab that only took 6 months to make.”