Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a role-playing game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. Released in Japan for PlayStation 4 in January 2020, it reached Western markets in November 2020, with a PlayStation 5 version following in March 2021. It is the seventh mainline entry in the Yakuza series, but replaces longtime protagonist Kazuma Kiryu with Ichiban Kasuga. Its Japanese title, Ryū ga Gotoku 7: Hikari to Yami no Yukue, retains the numbered identity that the international title omits. The change of lead character accompanies a major mechanical departure from the series' established action combat formula.

Ichiban begins the story as a low-ranking member of the Arakawa Family, a Tojo Clan subsidiary. At patriarch Masumi Arakawa's request, he accepts responsibility for a murder he did not commit and spends eighteen years in prison. Released in 2019, he discovers that the organization he knew has changed dramatically. After a confrontation with Arakawa, Ichiban is shot and eventually awakens beside a homeless encampment in Yokohama. His search for answers unfolds primarily in Isezaki Ijincho, a fictional district inspired by Yokohama's Isezakichō area. There, personal loyalty becomes entangled with organized crime, political ambition, and conflicts between rival local factions.

The turn-based battle system reflects Ichiban's enthusiasm for Dragon Quest, which he explicitly discusses. Rather than presenting street fights as straightforward brawls, the game filters enemies and abilities through his heroic imagination. Party members include former nurse Yu Nanba, ex-detective Koichi Adachi, and hostess Saeko Mukoda. Characters can change jobs through Hello Work, unlocking different weapons, skills, and combat roles. Available jobs include Chef, Musician, Idol, and Bodyguard. Positioning still matters because combatants move around the environment, while certain attacks incorporate timed button inputs. The Poundmates system adds summonable allies whose elaborate interventions combine practical battle effects with extravagant comedy.

Beyond the central story, Ichiban can manage a confectionery business that expands into a larger corporate enterprise. This minigame involves recruiting employees, acquiring properties, and handling shareholder meetings. Other diversions include karaoke, vocational exams, mahjong, and Dragon Kart, a racing competition featuring weapon-equipped karts. Substories preserve the series' mixture of absurd situations and unexpectedly sympathetic character portraits. Toshihiro Nagoshi served as executive director, while Ryosuke Horii directed the game. Kazuhiro Nakaya voices Ichiban in Japanese, and Kaiji Tang performs the role in English. Its English dub also features George Takei as Masumi Arakawa, anchoring a story about betrayal and belonging.