Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a narrative RPG by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and SEGA. Ichiban Kasuga returns to Japan after eighteen years in prison and learns that his Yakuza family has disappeared. Searching for the background to the betrayal, he finds new companions in Yokohama.

The series makes its first switch to turn-based group battles here. Big-city exploration, side quests and mini-games complement the crime story. The new protagonist makes it easy to jump in even without knowing the earlier games.

In Japan the game was released on January 16, 2020 as Ryū ga Gotoku 7 for PS4. Internationally, PC, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series followed on November 10, 2020. The dedicated PS5 version came out in March 2021. Regional PlayStation Stores list March 1 or March 2 instead.

Hero and Legendary Hero editions bundle additional content for the same RPG and are not standalone sequels.

The game was released natively for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. On Xbox, Smart Delivery links the two console generations. The PS5 edition is also a separate version, with an upgrade option from PS4.

An important limitation: according to the PlayStation Store, PS4 save data cannot be transferred to PS5. A PS4 version launched via backward compatibility is not an additional native PS5 release.

Unlike earlier main Yakuza games, characters take turns in turn-based group battles. Attacks, special abilities, healing and support are chosen via commands. Group members react to their surroundings and also use everyday objects on the battlefield.

A character's attributes are shaped by experience, equipment and their chosen job class. Rather than controlling only Kasuga in direct combat, it's about abilities, resources and how companions work together.

The base game includes the entire story. As additional content, Steam lists the Job Set with the Devil Rocker and Matriarch jobs, costume sets, karaoke and management content, and the free Pachislot pack.

The Hero Edition bundles the Job Set and Management Mode Set. The Legendary Hero Edition adds further bonus packs for costumes, materials, karaoke and progress. These editions are bundles, not standalone games. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, by contrast, is a later sequel.

Steam lists at least Windows 10 (64-bit), an Intel Core i5-3470 or AMD FX-8350, 8 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 660 with 2 GB or Radeon HD 7870 with 2 GB. You also need 40 GB of free storage.

Recommended: Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1400, 8 GB RAM, GTX 1060 (3 GB) or RX 580 (4 GB), and 60 GB storage. The CPU must support AVX and SSE4.2. The historical Windows version details are no guarantee of ongoing support.

The main location is Isezaki Ijincho, a fictional version of Yokohama. Between main missions you can explore streets, shops and entertainment districts. About 50 side stories tell additional stories of the city's residents.

Activities include karaoke, go-kart racing, arcade games and running a company. The game combines a serious crime drama with quirky side activities. The city remains a deliberately designed setting with fixed quests rather than a randomly generated open world.

Ichiban begins his long prison sentence out of loyalty to Yakuza patriarch Masumi Arakawa. After his release, he searches for answers to the collapse of his former family. As an outsider, he gains allies in Yokohama who also receive little social recognition.

Former police officer Adachi, Nanba and Saeko join him with their own motives and storylines. Their relationships and shared growth turn the story into a group adventure rather than a tale about a lone fighter.

The group uses 19 job classes in the base game. These include Bodyguard, Chef and Musician. Changing a job alters a character's abilities and role in combat. Two additional jobs are available as DLC.

Weapons, equipment and relationships with companions determine how the group develops. Different jobs allow for their own combinations of attack, support and healing.