Games To Play If You Love Yakuza

The


Yakuza

series

launched in 2005 to great success in Japan and developed a cult following in the West. The 1980s set that

Yakuza 0

introduced the series to a more mainstream audience. The games feature semi-open and faithfully recreated Japanese settings in famous Tokyo cities and their seedy underbelly. The first seven games in the series center around Kiryu and are self-contained stories in their own right. The eighth title,

Yakuza: Like a Dragon,

introduces a new protagonist, Ichiban, with unique motivations and a turn-based combat system.

Despite the modern and realistic settings, the games feature brawling mechanics similar to the old-school beat-em-ups combined with traditional JRPG elements with near-random battles and leveling up. While few games replicate the

Yakuza

series, this list includes games that will satisfy fans.

Updated November 25, 2023, by Michael Llewellyn:

The Yakuza series is best known for their classically inspired action RPGs with combat reminiscent of side-scrolling fighting games like Streets of Rage and Double Dragon. The latest Like A Dragon mainline entries have transitioned to turn-based combat similar to the Dragon Quest games, but this list focuses on the games featuring Kiryu as the main character. The update includes specifications of already listed titles and more

games similar to Yakuza

.

23


Watchdogs 2

A High

Tech

Crime Thriller Set In California

• 
  Released
  
  
  : 2016

• 
  Developer
  
  
  : Ubisoft

• 
  Platform
  
  
  : Amazon Luna, PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Watchdogs 2

is an open-world action game set in California. It centers on a hacktivist group known as Dedsec as they take on corruption and the gangs that dominate the streets. It plays similarly to a modern-day

Assassin’s Creed

game with

GTA

elements.

Moreover, it features a good balance between humor and the tone of a crime thriller, like the

Yakuza

series. Gameplay elements like hacking into the city’s technology can create hilarious moments of slapstick comedy and destruction in the world.

22


Mafia 2

A Mature Crime Drama Set in The 1940s

Mafia 2

is a 1940s and early 50s mobster game inspired by classic movies like

The Godfather

and

Goodfellas.

It was updated and remastered for the PS4 and Xbox One, but it wasn’t as definitive as the remake of

Mafia’s

first title.

However, despite its clunky mechanics,

Mafia 2

features a compelling and mature

story

of Vito Scaletta’s rise to power in the ranks of the Falcone crime family. Fans of

Yakuza’s

more dramatic and political mob stories will love the struggles of Vito and his relationships with friends and family.

21


Ghostwire: Tokyo

A Stunning Recreation Of Tokyo

Ghostwire: Tokyo

is a first-person supernatural action-adventure. It is stylistically different from the

Yakuza

series. However, those who love exploring a stunning version of Tokyo steeped in culture and lore will find much to love in this title from the creators of

The Evil Within.

The gameplay and tone are different from

Yakuza

but equally quirky and unusual.

Originally a PlayStation 5 exclusive,

Ghostwire: Tokyo

is also available on PC and Xbox Series X/S. The visually striking title takes advantage of the more advanced hardware and helps the neon-drenched city of Tokyo come to life in a way that rivals the

Yakuza

games.

20


Double Dragon: Neon

Arcade Style Fighting For Fans Of Yakuza’s Combat

• 
  Released:
  
  
  2012

• 
  Platform:
  
  
  PC, PS3, Switch, and Xbox 360

• 
  Developer:
  
  
  Abstraction Games and WayForward Technologies

Before

Streets of Rage 4

reinvigorated the side-scrolling beat-em-up genre,

Double Dragon: Neon

took a shot in 2012. There is an 80s feel and theme to the gameplay, mechanics, and style that fans of

Yakuza 0

will love. It is more challenging than

Streets of Rage 4

and the recent

Double Dragon: Gaiden

, the more classically styled update on the arcade classic.

The street battles in

Yakuza

and the recent

Judgment

series are reminiscent of classic coin-op beat-em-ups like

Double Dragon



and

Streets of Rage,

with their over-the-top fights and special moves.

Double Dragon: Neon

is a good combination of old and new mechanics with the fighting game formula.

19


Devil May Cry 5

Classic Combat In Stunning Sequel

The Devil May Cry series has always been renowned for its magnificent combat. The satisfying combos where Dante effortlessly tears through large groups of enemies will resonate with fans of the

Yakuza

combat system. After the furious fan reaction to the reboot from Ninja Theory,

Devil May Cry 5

is a return to form and arguably the best DMC game to date.

Thematically,

Devil May Cry

has little in common with the

Yakuza

series. However, where the original

Yakuza



fighting system is like a throwback to classic Japanese 80s and 90s beat-em-ups,

DMCV

harks back to the hack-and-slash classics like

Golden Axe

in a single-player format.

18


Streets Of Rage 4

A Classic Side Scrolling Beat-Em Up For Modern Audiences

With several hack-n-slash games available, beat-em-up style combat is not utilized enough in modern gaming. Despite being a staple of the

Yakuza

series for so many years, the developers opted for a turn-based combat system in

Like a Dragon.

Thankfully, another classic Sega franchise can offer a solid alternative.

The Streets of Rage series returned in 2020 following an incredibly long hiatus. The long wait for a sequel proved worthwhile, as

Streets of Rage 4

is one of the best beat-em-ups since the third title. Comparatively, its story is simplistic compared to

Yakuza.

Moreover, there is little freedom outside combat. However, the fighting system is the perfect throwback for fans of the street


brawling in

Yakuza

.

17


L.A. Noire

A Character-Driven Detective Drama Set In The 1940s

As a detective sim,

L.A. Noire

has more in common with some of the investigative mechanics in the

Yakuza

spin-off series

Judgement.

However, fans of

Yakuza

love deep character stories and crime dramas filled with twists, turns, and betrayals. This late 1940 set drama is an easy recommendation.

Players take on the role of a straight and honest-to-a-fault cop named Cole Phelps as he rises through the ranks as a detective. Fans of beautifully crafted open worlds will love

L.A. Noire.

The themes and style appear to be inspired by the classic

movie


L.A. Confidential.

Admittedly, there is a lack of activities in the detective drama, but the twists and surprises will keep fans entertained.

16


Persona 5 Royal

An Incredible JRPG Set In Modern-Day Tokyo

Persona 5 Royal

may have a different vibe from the Yakuza games, but the modern-day setting will appeal to those who enjoy the Yakuza series. The modern-day Tokyo setting will resonate with fans of Kamurocho from the

Yakuza

games. The protagonists and relatable supporting cast are as endearing to the player as the

Yakuza

games, with backstories that fans can get behind.

The stylish combat system is turn-based, and those who played

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

should feel at home. More importantly,

Persona 5

has hours of side quests and post-game content to keep fans busy.

15


Final Fantasy 7 Remake

A Sci-Fi Fantasy Classic Remade

Thematically, the

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

is very different from the

Yakuza

series. It is a science fiction fantasy set in a cyberpunk-inspired world, as opposed to the streets of Tokyo. It appears to borrow a few elements from the

Yakuza

series with its take on exploration and accepting side quests from NPCs.

The world of the

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

lacks the openness of a

Yakuza

title. However, there is still a lot of freedom to explore and take on side quests.

Yakuza

fans will love the unusual characters in Midgar. Moreover, it has an excellent real-time battle system that will resonate with fans of the action-based combat before

Yakuza:


Like a Dragon.

14


Saints Row: The Third

A Humorous Take On The Crime Sim Genre

Underneath the dark overtones of the

Yakuza

series, its humorous and wacky world of side quests and characters contrasts it. Fans of the series have come to love the amusing nature of these elements as they help break up the drama without forcing it.

However, fans who want to try something more outrageous and self-aware will not go far wrong with the

Saints Row

series.

Saints Row The Third

is often regarded as the best in the series and fully expects gamers to play with their tongue firmly in their cheek the whole time.

13


Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate

Taking Down Gangs In A Victorian London Setting

Released in 2016,

Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate

was the last game in the franchise before the studio went complete open-world RPG in the style of

The Witcher 3

. It is set in Victorian-era London and is arguably the most stunning recreation of the city in gaming.

The game puts players in the shoes of the brother and sister duo Jacob and Evie as they fight to take London back from the Templar-controlled gangs of London. The themes of gang wars and street fighting are at the focal point of this entry and are perfect for fans of crime sagas who want something a little different.

12


Grand Theft Auto 5

An Open World Crime Game With Three Protagonists

The

Grand Theft Auto

series has very little in common with the

Yakuza

series in its gameplay, but the two franchises draw some comparisons. Both games put the players in the shoes of an anti-hero navigating the criminal underworld and have a ton of side quests and mini-games to explore in their vast and detailed worlds.

In addition,

Grand Theft Auto 5

features three protagonists with intertwining stories – a feature used to outstanding effect in

Yakuza 4

and

Yakuza 5.

Similarly, the two series use satirical humor in contrast with the serious overtones of the main story.

11


Binary Domain

A Character-Driven Sci-Fi Adventure From The Yakuza Studio

There are many overlooked classics from the PS3/360 generation, but few games went under the radar quite as much as

Binary Domain

. It is very different in tone from the

Yakuza

series, but as it is from the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, it is worthy of a mention.

The game offers the same kind of unique storytelling that only the team behind

Yakuza

can offer. It has excellent character stories and a cast that the player can get behind. There is not much in the way of exploration as it has more in common with the


Gears of War


series, but the characters and narrative are distinctive to the studio.

10


Mafia 3

• 
  Released:
  
  
  2016

• 
  Platform:
  
  
  macOS, PC, PS4, and Xbox One

• 
  Developer:
  
  
  Hangar 13

In terms of its world,

Mafia 3

would have benefited from being more like the

Yakuza

series by scaling it down to provide a more focused gameplay experience. However, fans of the

Yakuza

series will appreciate the attention to detail in the New Orleans-inspired setting.

Yakuza

fans, however, will find themselves engrossed with the narrative in

Mafia 3

and characters that the audience can get behind. Players who can look past an open world at odds with its pacing will find


a


mature and

character-driven crime drama

.

9


The Warriors

A Classic Brawler Based On The Warriors Movie

Developed by Rockstar,

The Warriors

is a licensed action game based on the 1979 action film. In terms of scale and activities,

The Warriors

is smaller than

Yakuza,

but those who loved brawling with gangs in the streets will find many

Yakuza-

like elements to enjoy in this title.

Like

Yakuza,

The combat mechanics in

The Warriors

pay homage to old-school beat-em-ups like

Streets of Rage

and

Double Dragon.

Fans who love frequenting the Club SEGA arcade will be thrilled that

The Warriors

features an in-game arcade machine called Armies of The Night, which pays tribute to 90s 2D beat-em-ups.

8


Mafia: The Definitive Edition

A Stunning Remake Of A Mobster Classic

• 
  Released:
  
  
  2020

• 
  Platform:
  
  
  PC,
  
  
  
  
  PS4, and Xbox One

• 
  Developer:
  
  
  Hanger 13

Released in 2020,

Mafia: The Definitive Edition

is a from-the-ground-up remake of the original title launched in 2002 for PC and PS2. It stays true to the classic story, but the visuals have naturally seen a massive update in this remake.

Mafia

is set in 1930s America Lost Heaven, Illinois, a fictional city inspired by Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. For players that want a classic mob-themed storyline with a great cast of characters and the voice acting to back it up,

Mafia: The Definitive Edition

is a good recommendation for gangster fans.

7


Bully

A High School-Set Adventure With A Focused Open World

Bully

is another open-world Rockstar title that can appeal to fans of the

Yakuza

series

.

The game is set in a private school, and the experience is more refined and scaled-down than the

Grand Theft Auto

series. As a result, the game is packed with memorable and relatable characters and more focused gameplay.

The protagonist deals with gangs and issues with hierarchy not a million miles away from a

Yakuza

title. The school setting of Bullworth Academy features a compact world that has more in common with Kamurocho than the wide-open spaces seen in a

GTA

title. The school has several side quests and mini-games to keep players busy in between its main story.

6


Way Of The Samurai 4

A 19th Century Samurai Adventure

• 
  Released:
  
  
  2012

• 
  Platform:
  
  
  PS3 and PC

• 
  Developer:
  
  
  Acquire

If there is another series embroiled in Japanese culture that is not like anything else, it is the action RPG series

Way of the Samurai

.

Way of the Samurai 4

is set in 19th-century Japan, and the player will find themselves in a world that feels distinct and alive.

Like

Yakuza,


Way of the Samurai

features a large cast of weird and wonderful characters, several mini-games, and side quests to complete.

Way of the Samurai

has a short main story but requires multiple playthroughs. Moreover, every action the player takes in one completed version of the story impacts the next.

5


Sleeping Dogs

A Hong Kong Set Crime Drama

When it comes to the Western equivalent of the

Yakuza

series,

Grand Theft Auto

is usually mentioned. However, it is the often-overlooked

Sleeping Dogs

that combined elements of both

Yakuza

and

GTA

that are the best match.

Instead of a Tokyo setting,

Sleeping Dogs

puts the players in the shoes of an undercover cop who infiltrates the Triads in a lovingly recreated Hong Kong. While the combat system has more in common with the

Batman: Arkham

series, it features

Yakuza-

style environmental finishers. In addition, the mini-games are reminiscent of a

Yakuza

title with Poker, Mahjong, martial arts classes, and Karaoke.

4


Fist of The North Star: Lost Paradise

A Post-Apocalyptic Action Game From The Yakuza Studio

• 
  Released:
  
  
  2018

• 
  Platform:
  
  
  PS4

• 
  Developer:
  
  
  Ryu Ga Gotaku Studio

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise

is a post-apocalyptic


action adventure. It is based on the

Fist of the North Star

manga franchise that has spawned live-action and anime movies. It was developed by the same team behind the

Yakuza

series and has much of the same DNA. Kiryu Kazama’s voice actor, Takaya Kuroda, takes on the lead role as the warrior Kenshiro. Interestingly

,

Kenshiro’s rival is voiced by Hidenari Ugaki as Jagi. Ugaki plays Kiryu’s longtime rival,


Goro Majima.

World design will feel familiar to

Yakuza

fans. Even though Lost

Paradise’s

Eden isn’t as attractive or as dense as

Yakuza’s

Kamurucho, it is packed with enough content to keep the players busy. Some include seeking out SEGA arcade classics like

OutRun

and Super

Hang-On

in hidden locations.

Lost Paradise

even has its unique spin on the Karaoke mini-game from

Yakuza

.