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Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name similar games & best alternatives

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 • 2023

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Quick resume

ERASE YOUR PAST TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding.

Global score

95/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up

Similar games

    Pros

    • Emotional and well-crafted story
    • Improved and fun combat system
    • Extensive outfit customization
    • Engaging side content and minigames
    • High-quality graphics and music

    Cons

    • Shorter main story length
    • Some grind required for upgrades
    • Limited exploration areas
    • Some voice acting criticized
    • Feels like dlc rather than full game

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Status, Competition, Story.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players can freely choose fighting styles (Agent and Yakuza), customize Kiryu's outfits, and select characters for Coliseum battles, indicating a good degree of control over actions and decisions."

    • Competence
      4

      "Combat is described as fun, technical, and improved over previous titles, with skill-based counters and gadget use; Coliseum fights provide challenging encounters requiring skill."

    • Competition
      2

      "Coliseum mode includes team fights and playing as various characters, offering competitive elements, but the main game focuses more on personal story and progression."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report long playtimes when engaging with side content and minigames; some mention habitual play and 100% completion, indicating attachment and extended engagement."

    • Cooperation
      1

      "Some cooperative elements appear in team-based Coliseum fights, but overall gameplay and story focus on individual play and personal objectives."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Customization of Kiryu's outfits and accessories is a new feature; players can assemble custom teams in Coliseum and experiment with gadgets, supporting creative expression."

    • Domination
      -2

      "No strong evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions appear balanced and respectful without emphasis on dominance."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players describe emotional immersion, stress relief, and deep engagement with story and characters, indicating strong escapism from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal desire and interest in Kiryu's story and the Yakuza series; no indication of obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "New combat style (Agent) with gadgets and ability to switch styles encourages trying new mechanics; Coliseum allows experimenting with different characters and strategies."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Game world is smaller and more focused (mainly Sotenbori and The Castle), but includes some exploration elements and new skills to discover."

    • Expression
      4

      "Extensive outfit and accessory customization for Kiryu supports self-expression and personalization."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "The game features a fictionalized, stylized world with exaggerated combat and spy gadgets, consistent with imaginative fiction."

    • Fellowship
      2

      "Strong community engagement among fans, shared emotional experiences, and multiplayer Coliseum modes foster a sense of belonging."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop combat skills, learn new fighting styles, and progress through story and side content, reflecting learning and personal development."

    • Health
      -5

      "No evidence of physical activity or health-related engagement; gameplay is sedentary."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Game requires focused attention with active combat and story progression; not designed for idle or background play."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Some emotional connections with characters and story, but limited evidence of close social relationships or deep emotional sharing."

    • Leadership
      1

      "Players can manage teams in Coliseum mode, but overall leadership roles are limited; gameplay focuses more on individual action."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on leveling up, acquiring money, upgrading abilities, and collecting outfits and items."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Players report enjoyment, flow, and catharsis, especially through story and combat; some tension in boss fights but overall balanced."

    • Sensation
      4

      "High-quality graphics, music, and cinematic cutscenes provide strong sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    • Status
      2

      "Achievements and leaderboards in Coliseum and community recognition contribute to social status and visibility."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative immersion with emotional story, character development, and connections to previous games; story is a major highlight."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Combat and team assembly in Coliseum require planning and tactical thinking; upgrading abilities involves strategic choices."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Combat and boss fights provide suspense and excitement; some players mention challenging encounters and emotional highs."

    • Value
      1

      "Generally perceived as good value by fans, especially on sale; some mention the game feels short and like DLC, but worth playing."

    • Violence
      4

      "Enjoyment of combat and destruction is central; players engage in beat-em-up style fighting with various moves and gadgets."

    • Survival
      2

      "Combat involves avoiding failure and managing resources like health and heat, but overall risk is moderate and manageable."

    Where to buy

    Last update: 29/04/2026