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Yakuza: Like a Dragon similar games & best alternatives

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 • 2020

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Quick resume

Become Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking yakuza grunt left on the brink of death by the man he trusted most. Take up your legendary bat and get ready to crack some underworld skulls in dynamic RPG combat set against the backdrop of modern-day Japan.

Global score

94/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Role-playing (RPG)

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging story and characters
    • Diverse and humorous side content
    • Innovative turn-based combat with timing elements
    • Large, vibrant open world to explore
    • Strong party dynamics and customization

    Cons

    • Combat can become repetitive and grind-heavy
    • Difficulty spikes requiring leveling grind
    • Long cutscenes and pacing issues
    • Some balancing issues with jobs and skills
    • Minor ui and control annoyances

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Status, Leadership.

    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
      4

      "Players have freedom to choose character jobs, customize party, and explore a large open world with many side activities."

    • Competence
      3

      "Combat involves strategic turn-based mechanics with timing elements and positioning, but many fights become repetitive and grinding is required for progression."

    • Competition
      -2

      "Focus is mostly on personal story and exploration; some competitive elements exist in battle arenas but are not central."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Players report long playtimes, habitual engagement with side content, and strong attachment to characters and story."

    • Cooperation
      3

      "Party-based gameplay with character interactions and team synergy; cooperation is within the player’s party rather than multiplayer."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Job system and character customization allow creative builds; many mini-games and side activities encourage experimentation."

    • Domination
      -3

      "Interactions emphasize camaraderie and mutual respect within the party; no evidence of power imposition over others."

    • Escapism
      5

      "Strong immersion in a vibrant fictional city with engaging story and side content provides escape from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and enjoyment of story, characters, and gameplay."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Players try different jobs, skills, and mini-games; exploration of mechanics and side content is encouraged."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Large open world with many districts, secrets, and substories encourages discovery and curiosity."

    • Expression
      3

      "Character job changes and equipment customization allow personal expression within gameplay."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Imaginative fiction with exaggerated characters, absurd humor, and JRPG elements create a strong fantasy experience."

    • Fellowship
      3

      "Strong sense of party camaraderie and community within the game world; social connections with NPCs and companions."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop skills, level up jobs, and improve characters; story and character development also contribute."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during combat and story; not designed for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      2

      "Character bonding and party interactions provide emotional connection, though no deep social relationship mechanics."

    • Leadership
      2

      "Player directs party composition and strategy, but no evidence of leading others beyond own group."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on leveling, job upgrades, equipment, and business management minigames."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Humorous and engaging story provides flow, but grinding and difficulty spikes can cause frustration."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Vibrant visuals, dynamic combat animations, and varied soundtrack provide sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      1

      "Some recognition through achievements and in-game progression, but social status is not a major focus."

    • Story
      5

      "Highly praised narrative with deep character development, emotional engagement, and rich lore."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Combat requires tactical planning, timing, and resource management, though some fights are straightforward."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspense in boss fights and story moments, but overall combat is predictable and grind-heavy."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report high replay value, extensive content, and satisfying return on time and money invested."

    • Violence
      2

      "Combat involves fighting enemies with various weapons; violence is stylized and often humorous."

    • Survival
      1

      "Combat involves avoiding defeat but is not focused on survival mechanics or resource scarcity."

    Where to buy

    Last update: 29/04/2026