Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Item: Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Rating: 80
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2026-01-19

Summary

Innovative and engaging turn-based combat system
Exceptional story with deep emotional themes
Balanced humor and drama throughout narrative
Strong character customization and job system
Repetitive combat encounters over time
Unbalanced difficulty spikes in boss fights

Emotions

Frustration17%Excitement8%Amusement8%Joy7%Satisfaction6%

Sample precision
Helpful reviews: 52%
Unhelpful reviews: 48%
Protest reviews: 0%

80%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
20%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 881
Negative points: 504
Gameplay points: 699
Perf. points: 40
Rec. points: 127
Misc points: 22

Point	Description	Importance
Turn-Based Combat Innovation Description The shift to turn-based combat is widely appreciated for its creativity, strategic depth, and seamless integration into the series' style. Features like job classes, timed inputs, and party mechanics enhance the experience. Importance 97%	The shift to turn-based combat is widely appreciated for its creativity, strategic depth, and seamless integration into the series' style. Features like job classes, timed inputs, and party mechanics enhance the experience.	97%
Exceptional Story and Characters Description The game's narrative is praised as one of the best in the series, with a gripping, emotional, and well-paced story. Characters, including the protagonist Kasuga Ichiban, are well-developed, likable, and memorable, contributing to high player engagement. Importance 81%	The game's narrative is praised as one of the best in the series, with a gripping, emotional, and well-paced story. Characters, including the protagonist Kasuga Ichiban, are well-developed, likable, and memorable, contributing to high player engagement.	81%
Balanced Humor and Drama Description The game masterfully blends humor and drama, creating a tone that is both absurdly funny and emotionally resonant. This balance is a hallmark of the Yakuza series and is executed flawlessly here. Importance 76%	The game masterfully blends humor and drama, creating a tone that is both absurdly funny and emotionally resonant. This balance is a hallmark of the Yakuza series and is executed flawlessly here.	76%
Emotional and Thematic Depth Description The game explores themes of hope, friendship, and radical acceptance, creating emotionally resonant moments. The narrative tackles social issues with a mix of sincerity and humor, leaving a lasting impact on players. Importance 71%	The game explores themes of hope, friendship, and radical acceptance, creating emotionally resonant moments. The narrative tackles social issues with a mix of sincerity and humor, leaving a lasting impact on players.	71%
Strong Character Customization Description The job/class system allows for deep character customization, with dozens of classes offering unique abilities and playstyles. This adds significant replayability and strategic depth to combat. Importance 41%	The job/class system allows for deep character customization, with dozens of classes offering unique abilities and playstyles. This adds significant replayability and strategic depth to combat.	41%
Vibrant and Immersive World Description Yokohama and Ijincho are praised for their detailed, lively, and content-rich environments. The world encourages exploration with diverse activities, minigames, and side quests that add depth to the experience. Importance 15%	Yokohama and Ijincho are praised for their detailed, lively, and content-rich environments. The world encourages exploration with diverse activities, minigames, and side quests that add depth to the experience.	15%
Charismatic and Refreshing Protagonist Description Kasuga Ichiban is celebrated as a standout protagonist, offering a fresh, optimistic, and endearing perspective that distinguishes him from previous Yakuza leads like Kiryu. Importance 15%	Kasuga Ichiban is celebrated as a standout protagonist, offering a fresh, optimistic, and endearing perspective that distinguishes him from previous Yakuza leads like Kiryu.	15%
High Replayability and Content Description With extensive side content, post-game activities, and character customization options, the game offers high replayability. Players are encouraged to explore different builds, relationships, and activities. Importance 9%	With extensive side content, post-game activities, and character customization options, the game offers high replayability. Players are encouraged to explore different builds, relationships, and activities.	9%
Unique and Memorable Party Members Description Party members are praised for their distinct personalities, backstories, and interactions. They feel like real companions, adding substance to exploration and combat through engaging dialogues and bond-raising mechanics. Importance 5%	Party members are praised for their distinct personalities, backstories, and interactions. They feel like real companions, adding substance to exploration and combat through engaging dialogues and bond-raising mechanics.	5%
Accessible for Newcomers Description The game serves as an excellent entry point for new players, with references to previous games explained and a narrative that stands well on its own. It appeals to both fans and newcomers alike. Importance 4%	The game serves as an excellent entry point for new players, with references to previous games explained and a narrative that stands well on its own. It appeals to both fans and newcomers alike.	4%

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Categories

Emotions