Yakuza: Like a Dragon

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 12,336 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • humor
Yakuza: Like a Dragon Game Cover
Yakuza: Like a Dragon lives up to the monumental legacy of its predecessors but isn't afraid to strike out and carve a bold new identity of its own.
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In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, players control Ichiban Kasuga, a former yakuza member who is released from prison after 18 years and seeks to uncover the truth behind his former gang's betrayal. The game is set in the city of Yokohama and features turn-based combat, job system, and a multitude of minigames. The game's story offers a unique take on the yakuza genre with its focus on redemption, friendship, and the struggles of the working class.

  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
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Play Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 12,336 reviews
story2,334 positive mentions
grinding606 negative mentions
  • story5,752 mentions

    The story of "Yakuza: Like a Dragon" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and engaging character development, often drawing comparisons to classic JRPGs like Dragon Quest. Players appreciate the balance between serious themes of loyalty, betrayal, and personal growth, alongside the absurdity and humor typical of the Yakuza series, making it a compelling narrative experience. While some critiques mention pacing issues and the need for grinding, the overall consensus is that the story is a standout feature that captivates players from start to finish.

    • “The story was great, not really expecting that ending, but it was great writing.”
    • “The story is an emotional journey that is full of suspense and a little comedy.”
    • “The story is fantastic, and the change to the turn-based combat from the previous exhilarating action combat makes sense and works really well.”
    • “Up until chapter 4 (about 10 hour mark) the story has been an absolute slog.”
    • “The story is a little slow in the first half, and it is the most grindy part of any Yakuza game.”
    • “The main story kind of bored me at some parts but that's more because I am just not the type for this kind of story.”
  • gameplay1,629 mentions

    The gameplay in "Yakuza: Like a Dragon" marks a significant departure from the series' traditional beat-em-up style, shifting to a turn-based RPG format that has received mixed reactions from players. While many appreciate the fresh mechanics and engaging story, some find the combat simplistic and repetitive, with a heavy reliance on grinding. Overall, the game successfully integrates its RPG elements with the signature humor and narrative depth of the Yakuza series, making it a unique experience for both newcomers and long-time fans.

    • “The gameplay, for me, was a nice breath of fresh air, coming from someone who mostly plays FPS games; this was a good change of pace.”
    • “The turn-based combat is uniquely inspired by the real-time guard mechanic to keep you constantly engaged, and the plethora of jobs/roles each party member can specialize in adds great style, strategy, and nuance to the gameplay.”
    • “This game is brimming with personality, from the music to the character interactions to the extremely satisfying gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, this is not a Yakuza game.”
    • “I am sure other folks will find things to like in here, but I found the comedy weak, the story uninspired, and the gameplay systems boring, so I dropped it.”
    • “The gameplay is the simplest RPG garbage ever, no nuance, samey moves over and over.”
  • humor945 mentions

    The humor in "Yakuza: Like a Dragon" is widely praised for its clever blend of absurdity and heartfelt moments, maintaining the series' signature comedic style while introducing a new turn-based combat system. Players appreciate the hilarious side quests, quirky character interactions, and over-the-top attack animations that often evoke laughter, making the game both entertaining and emotionally engaging. Overall, the humor is described as a standout feature that enhances the narrative and gameplay experience, appealing to both fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.

    • “The humor in this game is fantastic, or in other words the same stuff as before but its still hilarious.”
    • “The game is funny, sweet, wacky, bad ass, and hardcore all at the same time.”
    • “The story is well done, it has its moments of humor and its moments of being very serious where it can range from making the player angry at a specific character then feel pity for them two minutes later to having a cut scene go from being happy go lucky to a tear jerker that makes you want to put your controller down and just sink in what you just witnessed.”
    • “Yo, what the heck? This game is supposed to be funny.”
    • “I thought this game was supposed to be funny; instead, it gave me the sad.”
    • “This is in stark contrast with the story, which is rather tragic and not funny at all.”
  • grinding619 mentions

    Grinding in this game is a significant aspect, often described as mandatory and sometimes tedious, particularly in the late game where difficulty spikes require players to level up extensively. While some players find the grinding enjoyable and rewarding, especially when engaging with side content and mini-games, others criticize it for being excessive and detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game balances a compelling story and engaging gameplay with a grindy nature that may not appeal to everyone, particularly those averse to traditional JRPG mechanics.

    • “A challenging, yet fair and not grindy platinum to go for.”
    • “Yakuza: Like a Dragon is exactly like the name suggests, a fun party turn-based JRPG with good writing, great voice acting, cool cinematic cutscenes, likable characters, not very grindy, wacky enemies, nice soundtracks, some banging boss battle music, full of side activities that you can just do for fun, and a wide variety of attacks with cool animations instead of just sitting in one place.”
    • “Thankfully it's not grindy and it's quite easy to finish.”
    • “The story is a little slow in the first half, and it is the most grindy part of any Yakuza game.”
    • “The grindy parts distract from the fun.”
    • “The only big downside is the combat, with one really rough difficulty spike near the end, basically forcing you to spend a couple of hours grinding without progressing at all.”
  • music512 mentions

    The music in "Yakuza: Like a Dragon" has received widespread acclaim for its diverse and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the game's atmosphere and complements its storytelling. Many players noted the energetic battle themes and memorable tracks that evoke strong emotions during key moments, while the karaoke mini-game remains a fan favorite despite some limitations in song variety. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the best in the Yakuza series, with a mix of genres that keeps players entertained throughout their journey.

    • “The music is incredible, the characters are hugely likeable, the graphics and design is epic and the combat is exciting.”
    • “The soundtrack is so amazing that it rivals Yakuza 0 (to me at least), the story is amazing but my only complaint is... something that they always do... the combat is amazing, in the endgame it can be tiresome when fighting low-level enemies but I know why auto-combat exists now.”
    • “The music, the atmosphere, the localisation, the dialogues, the one-liners, the amazing voice actors both Japanese and English dub (I prefer the English dub and would give an award for best performance to pretty much everybody) the story, the characters, the cities, everything has so much heart into it.”
    • “The weakest soundtrack in the series.”
    • “It is not the only type of music or sound effects you get, but this is truly the worst kind of stock-music hell you can get.”
    • “The only reason I docked a point is the lack of soundtrack diversity -- every dungeon except the final has the same music.”
  • emotional453 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Yakuza: Like a Dragon" is widely praised for its ability to blend absurd humor with deeply touching moments, often leading players to laughter and tears alike. Reviewers highlight the game's compelling narrative, character development, and heartfelt themes of friendship, redemption, and personal growth, making it a standout entry in the series that resonates emotionally with players. Many express that the story's emotional depth and the protagonist's relatable journey create a powerful connection, resulting in a memorable and impactful gaming experience.

    • “The story was fantastic, going from serious, intense scenes to Ichiban throwing out comically timed one-liners, and all topped off with emotional moments that hit like a truck.”
    • “The main story is written as well as any high-budget drama, and the side quests are entertaining, sometimes heartwarming, or just downright ridiculous.”
    • “This game cements Ichiban as a perfect successor to the title of 'mainline Yakuza protagonist' with an emotional, spectacular story and lovable/hateable characters to boot, as well as its own soundtrack perfectly fit for every scene.”
    • “The game has a boring story that fails to engage emotionally, making the experience feel flat and uninteresting.”
    • “While the gameplay might have its moments, the overly linear progression and lack of emotional depth in the narrative make it tedious.”
    • “The emotional impact is severely lacking, with a story that drags on and fails to resonate with players.”
  • graphics348 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals, detailed character models, and immersive environments that bring the world to life. However, some players noted inconsistencies in graphical quality, with certain textures appearing dated or lacking detail, particularly in comparison to newer titles. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered impressive, they may not fully meet the expectations set by modern gaming standards.

    • “The graphics are amazing; the 3D animation, motion graphics, fight animation, and world are fleshed out so well that it's immersive.”
    • “Graphically, the game is stunning, with detailed character models and environments that bring the world of Yakuza to life.”
    • “The graphics are stunning; there are a lot of wacky things to see and do, and the new cast of characters are fun.”
    • “Underwhelming: the graphics and overall presentation did not meet modern standards.”
    • “The graphics are somehow worse than Yakuza Kiwami 2, despite it coming out years later.”
    • “For a 2020 title, the graphics and animations here are pretty crap...”
  • optimization119 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant stuttering, freezing, and frame rate drops, particularly on PC. While many users report smooth performance on high-end systems, others with mid-range setups face challenges, indicating that the game may not be well-optimized for all hardware configurations. Overall, while the game offers a rich experience, its technical performance issues detract from the enjoyment for a portion of the player base.

    • “Good story, good characters, good gameplay, very funny and technically very well optimized game, must play.”
    • “Optimization is wonderful and the game runs smoothly in a clean 60 fps without any effort even on a middle of the road PC while looking fantastic.”
    • “The game runs great, with plenty of options to tweak for performance.”
    • “But lately for some reason, the game has just started stuttering for no reason whatsoever.”
    • “Missing textures, games freezing on story sections and straight up missing all of context, long long loading black loading screens, unloaded world sections and constant stuttering while you play the game.”
    • “Terrible optimization for PC - the game won't stop stuttering, even when you downgrade all the settings so it looks worse than Yakuza 0.”
  • character development61 mentions

    Character development in "Yakuza: Like a Dragon" is widely praised, particularly for the protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, whose journey is marked by humor, kindness, and significant growth that surpasses even long-established characters like Kiryu. Players appreciate the depth and richness of the supporting cast, with well-crafted relationships and engaging side stories that enhance the overall narrative experience. The game's blend of compelling storytelling, dynamic character interactions, and emotional depth makes it a standout in the series, drawing players into the characters' lives and struggles.

    • “The story and characters are by far the highlight of this game, with each character's development and relationship uniquely fleshed out and organically presented, featuring elements of betrayal, family, loss, and overcoming adversity.”
    • “Ichiban Kasuga is a phenomenal main character who shows character development throughout the story, and the voice acting for all characters is fantastic.”
    • “Yakuza: Like a Dragon combines likable characters, outstanding character development, story writing, and the uniqueness of the Yakuza game series, succeeding at it.”
    • “The character development is kind of stilted in spots, and a few recurring elements are a frustrating exercise in dramatic irony.”
    • “Not that huge of a deal, just felt like a missed opportunity for more character development.”
    • “I think it's my favorite Yakuza game, but it isn't as good as Zero in terms of character development and writing.”
  • stability37 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is praised, with many players reporting minimal to no bugs or glitches, especially in comparison to other recent titles. While some users experienced occasional stuttering in specific areas and minor graphical issues, the game generally runs smoothly across various systems, including the Steam Deck. A few players noted isolated incidents of freezing or glitches, but these did not significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “Been playing mostly on my Steam Deck where it runs great.”
    • “So far, I've encountered absolutely no glitches, bugs, or crashes.”
    • “The game runs great, with plenty of options to tweak for performance.”
    • “Bought the legendary hero edition, turns out if the game freezes while you're redeeming the DLC items they just disappear and you have to pay $10 each for them to show up again.”
    • “The game does have noticeable flaws though - combat in street encounters is extremely buggy and characters often get stuck for minutes.”
    • “In every 10 minutes of gameplay, you will probably see 6 loading screens and 2 or 3 10-second freezes while a cutscene loads.”
  • atmosphere34 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and detailed environments, effectively capturing the essence of Tokyo and Yokohama. Reviewers highlight the vibrant settings, engaging music, and the seamless blend of humor and drama, which contribute to a captivating experience. While some note that gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall atmosphere, the rich storytelling and character interactions keep players invested in the world.

    • “From the well-detailed signs and street posters to the alluring cafes, even the meticulously crafted architecture of the buildings, the attention to detail immersed me into the atmosphere of the city, giving me a refreshing take on open world games, at a time where most of them take place in the US.”
    • “The music, the atmosphere, the localization, the dialogues, the one-liners, the amazing voice actors both in Japanese and English dub (I prefer the English dub and would give an award for best performance to pretty much everybody) the story, the characters, the cities, everything has so much heart in it.”
    • “At some point it gets too way repetitive and it kills all atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is so thick that you can almost feel the problems and joy the characters go through.”
    • “Even if you aren't a big fan of turn-based games, this one is definitely worth playing if you like the setting and atmosphere of the rest of the Yakuza series.”
  • replayability28 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with a rich story, a charismatic cast, and a wealth of content including numerous minigames and side activities. Players can enjoy multiple playthroughs, especially with the addition of New Game+ modes and various character jobs that encourage experimentation. Overall, it offers a deep and engaging experience that keeps players coming back for more.

    • “Great story, incredible and charismatic cast of characters, solid visuals, a lot of content, and tons of replay value.”
    • “Tons of replayability, packed full of content, minigames, and tons of side stuff to do.”
    • “That being said, the game is jam-packed with content, perhaps the most compared to all other Yakuza games, and it's no filler content either. The depth in the new combat system and the different jobs/characters makes the game very flexible and replayable.”
    • “As for replay value, I ended my run at 60 hours, and as usual, aside from the main story and substories, there is a plethora of minigames which I didn't bother to 100% complete.”
    • “The endgame and replay value comes from playing New Game+ on higher difficulties and maxing out every job (there are a lot).”
    • “I've placed 55+ hours into this game and have not even touched New Game+, which includes hard and legend difficulties for replayability.”
  • monetization12 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players expressing concern over the presence of microtransactions in a single-player experience, viewing them as unnecessary. However, others appreciate the developers' creative integration of business elements into the game, highlighting a balance between nostalgia and innovation. Overall, while the game's serious tone contrasts with its advertising, the monetization strategy has sparked debate among players regarding its appropriateness and impact on gameplay.

    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “Ryu ga Gotoku has become a cash grab studio :(”
    • “I know the boosts can be ignored, but microtransactions in a single-player game are just so iffy to me.”
    • “If you like cheap nostalgia cash grabs, they've at least got Dante from Devil May Cry.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

Buy Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Play time

43hMedian play time
70hAverage play time
45hMain story
103hCompletionist
8-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 62 analyzed playthroughs

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