Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review and Gameplay Guide

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a landmark title that successfully reinvented Sega's long-running crime saga. This eighth main entry boldly shifted from action-brawler combat to a turn-based JRPG system, introducing a new charismatic hero, Ichiban Kasuga. The game retained the series' signature blend of gripping drama and absurd humor, earning critical acclaim and strong sales that solidified the franchise's global appeal.

A New Dragon Rises: Introducing Ichiban Kasuga

The heart of Yakuza: Like a Dragon is its new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga. Ichiban is a low-ranking yakuza who takes the fall for a crime he didn't commit, serving an 18-year prison sentence. Upon his release, he finds his clan has betrayed him, leaving him with nothing. Unlike the stoic Kazuma Kiryu, Ichiban is an emotional, passionate, and Dragon Quest-obsessed underdog whose journey of rebuilding his life forms the core narrative.

This character shift allowed the developers to tell a fresh story while maintaining the series' thematic depth. Ichiban's perspective brings a new layer of vulnerability and earnestness to the seedy underworld of Yokohama. His ability to inspire a ragtag group of allies is central to both the story and the new party-based combat mechanics, making him one of the most compelling protagonists in modern gaming.

The Great Pivot: From Brawler to Turn-Based JRPG

The most significant change in Yakuza: Like a Dragon is its fundamental gameplay. The series abandoned its real-time beat-'em-up roots for a turn-based combat system inspired by classic Japanese role-playing games. This was a risky move that ultimately paid off, attracting a new audience while delighting many longtime fans with its depth and charm.

How the New Combat System Works

Battles are initiated on the streets of Yokohama and Isezaki Ijincho. Players control a party of up to four characters, each taking turns to attack, use items, or employ special skills. Positioning matters, as area-of-effect attacks can hit multiple enemies. The system incorporates interactive elements; characters can pick up bicycles or traffic cones to use as weapons, adding a layer of environmental strategy.

Combat feels dynamic and visually engaging, far removed from the static nature of some classic JRPGs. The timing-based button prompts enhance player involvement during attacks and blocks. This hybrid approach successfully marries the spectacle of the old Yakuza combat with the tactical thinking of games like Persona or Dragon Quest.

Job Classes and Character Progression

A cornerstone of the new system is the job class system. Each character can switch between various occupations, such as Host, Musician, or Chef, each with unique skills and stat growth. This allows for immense customization and strategic team building. Leveling up a job unlocks permanent stat bonuses and powerful abilities that carry over when switching classes.

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• Ichiban's Default (Hero): A balanced class with strong physical and elemental skills.
  
• Nanba's Default (Homeless Guy): A debuff-focused class utilizing fire and environmental attacks.
  
• Adachi's Default (Detective): A tanky class that can draw enemy aggro and absorb damage.
  
• Saeko's Default (Barmaid): A supportive class specializing in healing and party buffs.
  

Experimenting with different job combinations is key to tackling the game's more challenging encounters. The system encourages grinding and exploration to master multiple roles, significantly extending gameplay longevity.

Yokohama: A Vast New Playground

Yakuza: Like a Dragon moves the action from the familiar Kamurocho to the sprawling district of Isezaki Ijincho in Yokohama. This new setting is approximately three times larger than any previous map in the series. The scale allows for a greater sense of adventure and houses a diverse range of activities, from serene parks to bustling Chinatown streets.

The city feels alive with countless side quests, minigames, and hidden secrets. Exploring every corner is rewarding, both for the narrative depth of the substories and the tangible gameplay benefits. The shift to a new location perfectly mirrors Ichiban's journey as an outsider building his life from scratch in an unfamiliar territory.

Signature Side Content and Minigames

True to the series' heritage, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is packed with incredibly entertaining diversions. The beloved karaoke returns with new songs, including Ichiban's heartfelt ballad, "Baka Mitai." The game also introduces several new minigames that can consume hours of playtime.

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• Can Quest: A hilarious management sim where Ichiban leads a crew of homeless recyclers.
  
• Dragon Kart: A fully-fledged kart racing game reminiscent of Mario Kart.
  
• Business Management: An in-depth simulation where you run a failing company and turn it into a corporate empire.
  

These activities are not mere distractions; they are intricately woven into the progression system. Succeeding in business management, for example, unlocks one of the most powerful job classes and provides a massive source of income. This integration ensures that side content feels meaningful and rewarding.

By December 2023, Yakuza: Like a Dragon had sold approximately 1.8 million units worldwide, a figure that rose to roughly 2.8 million units by mid-2025.

Critical Reception and Commercial Success

Upon its worldwide release in November 2020, Yakuza: Like a Dragon received widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers praised its compelling story, endearing characters, and the bold, successful gameplay overhaul. The seamless integration of serious crime drama with over-the-top humor was seen as a series hallmark perfected.

Despite the praise, some critics noted that the turn-based combat could become repetitive during the game's lengthy runtime. However, the general consensus was that the engaging narrative and rich world-building more than compensated for any minor gameplay monotony.

Commercially, the game was a significant success. Its multi-platform launch strategy, releasing on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC simultaneously, marked a departure from the series' traditional PlayStation-focused approach. This strategy paid off by significantly expanding the player base and contributing to strong sales figures that demonstrated the franchise's renewed vigor.

The Like a Dragon Branding Shift and Series Evolution

Sega made a significant strategic decision with this entry by officially changing the series' Western branding from "Yakuza" to "Like a Dragon." This change aligned the global title with the original Japanese name, Ryu ga Gotoku, which translates to "Like a Dragon." The rebranding was part of a larger effort to create a unified identity for the franchise worldwide, moving beyond its niche perception as a Japanese crime simulator.

The success of this game proved the viability of the new direction. By reinventing both gameplay and protagonist, the developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio demonstrated the series' versatility. This pivot was not just a cosmetic change but a fundamental evolution that set the stage for future titles, ensuring the franchise's longevity and broadening its appeal beyond its core fanbase.

Impact on the Franchise's Global Footprint

The multiplatform release strategy was crucial for the game's global success. Unlike previous entries that were often PlayStation exclusives, Yakuza: Like a Dragon launched simultaneously on all major platforms. This approach eliminated platform barriers, allowing a much larger audience to experience the series for the first time. The inclusion on Xbox Game Pass further amplified its reach, introducing the franchise to millions of subscribers.

This expanded availability, combined with the more accessible turn-based RPG mechanics, resulted in a substantial sales increase in Western markets. The game's performance validated Sega's strategy, proving that the series could compete on a global scale with other major RPG franchises. The subsequent success of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth confirmed that this was a sustainable new path for the series.

The entire Like a Dragon (Yakuza) franchise reached approximately 27.7 million lifetime unit sales worldwide by October 2024, showcasing tremendous growth following the series' reinvention.

Deep Dive into Party Members and Character Dynamics

Ichiban's journey is defined by the unlikely family he builds along the way. The party members in Yakuza: Like a Dragon are not just combatants; they are fully realized characters with their own story arcs that intertwine with the main plot. Each ally joins for personal reasons, creating a powerful narrative about found family and redemption that resonates deeply with players.

The character development is a standout feature, with heartfelt interactions occurring both in main story cutscenes and optional party chat segments. These moments build camaraderie, making the player genuinely care about the group's wellbeing. The strength of these relationships is a key pillar of the game's emotional impact.

Key Allies and Their Roles

The core party consists of a diverse cast, each bringing unique skills and personalities to the adventure. Their backgrounds are deeply integrated into their combat styles and personal quests.

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• Yu Nanba: A former nurse who became homeless, Nanba is a pragmatic and cynical foil to Ichiban's optimism. His skills as a debuffer and magic user are invaluable in battles against groups of enemies.
  
• Koichi Adachi: A disgraced detective seeking redemption, Adachi serves as the party's primary tank. His investigative skills often drive the plot forward, and his loyalty to Ichiban is unwavering.
  
• Saeko Mukoda: A hostess bar manager with a sharp tongue and a hidden depth of compassion, Saeko is the main healer. Her character subverts tropes, providing both emotional support and fierce independence.
  
• Joon-gi Han: A charismatic and deadly member of the Geomijul, a Korean criminal organization. He is a versatile physical damage dealer with incredibly fast attack animations.
  

Recruiting and bonding with these characters is essential for both narrative satisfaction and combat effectiveness. Their personal side stories, known as Drink Links, are some of the most rewarding content in the game, unlocking powerful combo attacks and passive bonuses.

Endgame Content and Post-Game Progression

Completing the main story is just the beginning of the adventure in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The post-game offers a wealth of challenging content designed for high-level players. This includes super-bosses, deeper dungeon crawls, and completionist goals that can easily double the total playtime. The endgame is where the job class system truly shines, requiring optimized party builds and strategic mastery.

The True Final Millennium Tower is the ultimate challenge, a brutally difficult dungeon that tests the limits of a fully-maxed-out party. Preparing for this climb involves extensive grinding to level up multiple job classes for each character, acquiring the best gear, and mastering the game's mechanics. Overcoming this challenge provides one of the most satisfying accomplishments in modern RPGs.

Business Management Mini-Game Deep Dive

One of the most substantial post-game activities is the Business Management simulation. What starts as a small side venture evolves into a deep and engaging economic system. Ichiban becomes the CEO of Ichiban Confections, tasked with managing shareholders, launching new products, and outperforming rival companies.

Excelling in this mini-game is highly rewarding. It becomes the most efficient way to earn money, crucial for purchasing top-tier equipment. More importantly, reaching the top rank in the business rankings unlocks the Forever Hero outfit for Ichiban and the powerful Dealer job class for the entire party. This integration of a standalone mini-game into the core progression loop is a masterclass in game design.

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• Shareholder Meetings: Defend your company's policies in rapid-fire debate sequences.
  
• Employee Recruitment: Hire familiar faces from substories to fill management positions.
  
• Property Acquisition: Buy out various businesses across Yokohama to increase your revenue.
  

Critical Analysis of the JRPG Transition

The shift to a turn-based combat system was met with both excitement and skepticism. For many longtime fans, the visceral, real-time brawling of previous games was a defining characteristic. However, the developers executed the transition with such reverence for JRPG conventions and clever innovation that it won over a majority of players. The combat feels like a natural fit for the series' theatrical tone.

Critics highlighted how the new system allowed for greater character differentiation and strategic depth. Controlling a party of four distinct characters, each with unique abilities, created gameplay possibilities that the old brawler system could not support. The incorporation of environmental interactions and timing-based inputs kept the combat feeling active and dynamic, avoiding the passivity that sometimes plagues turn-based games.

Addressing the Criticisms

While reception was overwhelmingly positive, some criticisms were noted in reviews. A common point was that the combat could feel grindy in the later chapters, especially for players who did not engage heavily with side content. Enemy encounters, while avoidable on the map, were frequent enough to slow the pace for some.

Another point of discussion was the balance of the job system. While most jobs were viable, a handful emerged as clearly superior choices for endgame content, potentially limiting build diversity for optimal play. Despite these minor points, the consensus was that the benefits of the new direction far outweighed any drawbacks, successfully setting a new standard for the franchise.

The sequel, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, sold over 1 million copies within its first week in January 2024, proving the lasting power of the new formula.

Legacy and Influence on the Broader Gaming Landscape

The success of Yakuza: Like a Dragon sent a powerful message to the gaming industry. It demonstrated that a long-established franchise could undergo a radical genre transition without alienating its core fanbase, while simultaneously attracting a massive new audience. This successful reboot became a case study in how to respectfully evolve a series while honoring its legacy, influencing other developers contemplating similar revitalizations.

Furthermore, the game played a pivotal role in popularizing the Like a Dragon/Yakuza franchise in Western markets to an unprecedented degree. Its presence on subscription services and its critical acclaim transformed it from a cult favorite into a mainstream hit. This expanded recognition paved the way for renewed interest in the entire series backlog, with older titles seeing increased player counts and sales.

Setting the Stage for Infinite Wealth

Yakuza: Like a Dragon directly established the foundation for its blockbuster sequel, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The characters, core combat mechanics, and narrative themes introduced in this game were refined and expanded upon in the follow-up. The commercial and critical success of this title gave the developers the confidence to invest even more heavily in the sequel, resulting in a larger world, more diverse jobs, and an even more ambitious story.

The seamless continuation of Ichiban Kasuga's story proved that this was not a one-off experiment, but the beginning of a new, enduring saga. The first-week sales milestone of over 1 million copies for Infinite Wealth is a direct testament to the strong foundation and audience built by this game. It confirmed that the turn-based JRPG direction was the correct path for the series' future.

Final Verdict and Player Recommendations

Yakuza: Like a Dragon stands as one of the most successful and daring franchise reinventions in modern gaming. It masterfully blends a heartfelt, dramatic story with hilarious side content and a deep, satisfying combat system. The game earns its place not just as an excellent entry in the series, but as a top-tier Japanese RPG in its own right, capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with genre giants.

For players considering diving into this title, the experience offers tremendous value. The main story alone provides 40-50 hours of content, with completionist runs easily exceeding 100 hours. The richness of the world and the quality of the writing ensure that this time is consistently engaging.

Who Should Play Yakuza: Like a Dragon?

This game has a broad appeal, but it is particularly suited for certain types of players.

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• JRPG Fans New to Yakuza: This is the perfect entry point. The combat will feel familiar, and you can experience the iconic Yakuza storytelling without prior knowledge.
  
• Series Veterans Open to Change: Players who embrace the new combat will find the classic Yakuza heart beating stronger than ever.
  
• Players Who Love Narrative-Driven Games: The story of Ichiban Kasuga is one of the most compelling and emotionally resonant tales in recent gaming.
  
• Fans of Rich, Lived-in Open Worlds: Yokohama is packed with personality, side activities, and charming distractions.
  

Players who exclusively prefer real-time action combat and have no interest in turn-based systems may find the adjustment challenging. However, the strength of the other elements often wins over even skeptical players.

The Definitive Pivot: A Conclusion on Yakuza: Like a Dragon

In conclusion, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a monumental achievement. It successfully executed a high-risk gameplay reboot that could have easily fragmented its community. Instead, it unified players under the banner of a fantastic story and a clever, engaging new combat system. The introduction of Ichiban Kasuga provided the series with a fresh, relatable voice, while the expansion to Yokohama offered a vast new world to explore.

The game’s commercial performance, growing from 1.8 million to 2.8 million units sold, underscores its lasting impact and word-of-mouth appeal. It revitalized the franchise, leading directly to the record-breaking launch of its sequel and contributing significantly to the series' total milestone of 27.7 million lifetime sales. The decision to globally align under the "Like a Dragon" name now makes perfect sense, as this title truly defined what the series could become.

Key Takeaways for the Future of the Series

The legacy of this game provides clear lessons for the future of the Like a Dragon series and for game development at large.

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• Respect the Core Identity: The game changed mechanics but kept the soul—the mix of gritty drama and absurd humor remained intact.
  
• Character is King: Ichiban Kasuga proved that a well-written, charismatic protagonist can successfully carry a franchise forward.
  
• Accessibility Drives Growth: Multiplatform releases and genre shifts can open doors to massive new audiences without sacrificing depth.
  
• Content is Value: A densely packed world with meaningful side activities creates an unparalleled sense of value and player engagement.
  

Yakuza: Like a Dragon did not just continue a series; it redefined it for a new generation, ensuring the dragon's roar would be heard by millions more players around the world.

The journey of Ichiban Kasuga from a betrayed low-ranking thug to a hero who builds his own family and purpose is a powerful metaphor for the game itself. Yakuza: Like a Dragon emerged from the shadow of its own legacy to create something simultaneously familiar and brilliantly new. It stands as an essential play for any RPG fan and a landmark title that secured the vibrant future of one of gaming's most unique and beloved franchises. The dragon has not merely continued; it has been reborn, fiercer and more captivating than ever.