The Yakuza games have capitalized on many players’ imaginations with its hyper-political and criminal on-look of Japan, excellent battle mechanics, and outlandish humour. The series is genuinely spellbinding and oozes uniqueness and eccentricity from every ounce of its pours. But even after playing every game in the series, you will be left wanting more.
In this list, we will highlight games that harbor parallels with the Yakuza series that might pique fans’ interest. Some may more resemble the Yakuza games to their gritty setting, open-world environments or pure silliness. For argument’s sake, we will assume you know about Judgment, Like a Dragon: Ishin! and Kurohyou, as there are all spin-off games in the Yakuza universe. And if you haven’t heard of any of them till now, consider them bonus entries to this list.
Fading Afternoon
The indie title Fading Afternoon delves deep into many themes regarding life, death and freedom of choice. These somber topics may turn off some players, but people who like exploring these abstract notions will become fond of Fading Afternoon’s distinctive storytelling. The plot follows Seiji, a highly trained and devoted Yakuza man who is destined to die from a terminal illness. As you play out his final days, you can decide how he lives them out. Will he redeem his Yakuza family name and pursue an onslaught of deadly battles, or spend all his time in pachinko bars and hiring girls in host clubs? The choice is entirely up to you.
Saints Row: The Third
Saints Row is a massive gaming franchise that you have probably heard of by now, but if you are on the hunt for a Yakuza-induced fix, you might be pleasantly surprised at how much Saints Row will match the bill. Of all the entries, the controversial Saints Row: The Third holds the most similarities with Yakuza, as it personifies absurdity to the absolute extreme. Following the events of the second instalment, the Third Street Saints have gained celebrity status (they even have their own energy drink brand, which is how you know they are really famous). A criminal brotherhood group called The Syndicate demands their respect, but as you might expect from the riffraff crew, the Saints would rather fight them.
Troublemaker: Raise Your Gang
Troublemaker: Raise Your Gang is best described as Yakuza meets Bully in an Indonesian setting. You play as Budi, a juvenile hooligan sent to a private school to clean up his bad behavior, but the school is holding a fighting tournament, so any plan of keeping on the straight and narrow quickly goes out the window. During the course of the game, you will spend your time running around the school campus, participating in petty fights with students and getting roped into ridiculous side quests. The beat ’em-up combat system might not be the most elaborate here, but this title is great for anyone looking for mindless fun.
Beat Down: Fist of Vengeance
Back in the halcyon days of the PS2, Capcom attempted their own rendition of Yakuza, with a title called Beat Down: Fist of Vengeance. Picking one of five characters, you discover your boss has dramatically betrayed your gang, and you intend to even the score. Beat Down: Fist of Vengeance is deceiving as you may initially think it’s a run-of-the-mill beat ’em up, but the game embraces several RPG mechanics. It implements an interesting system where you are ranked on cash flow, leadership and charisma. Depending on how you score on these factors will influence which ending you will receive, which was something not seen too often back then. If you’re on the hunt for something that resembles the old-school rustic vibe of Yakuza, you should definitely put this one on your radar. Â
Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed
Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed is a remake of the classic PSP title, which came out back in 2011. The premise is a startling contrast to Yakuza, but Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed exhibits the same wackiness you expect from the series. Supernatural beings roam the streets of Akihabara, and there’s only one logical thing to do: strip them down for all their worth so the sun vanquishes them. However, you will have to be careful because if you lose your clothing, it’s not just your pride and garments that will be stripped away – you will suffer the same fate as the undead. Of course, tearing away these clothes can be done using an array of otaku weapons, such as guitars, fans, and magical girl wands. You can also wear silly and zany outfits from head to toe, like a cardboard box or a bear costume.
Uppers
Uppers was an exclusive PS Vita title for several years, and it was never released anywhere else outside Japan, but in 2020, it suddenly dropped on Steam, accompanied by English text localization. Last Resort Island is entangled in corruption stemming from greed and ultra-violence. Two young men decide to climb the top of the food chain for one reason – to show the ladies how darn cool they are. The gameplay in Uppers entails some good old traditional beat ’em-up combat with 12 possible fighters you can control. When you partake in fights, you will cause a commotion in the street where a crowd will gather. If you perform maneuvers that the audience wants to see, you will receive items from them that will increase your attack and defense, which comes in handy in the later portions of the game. Before jumping in, one thing worth mentioning is that there is a lot of fan service here – you have been warned.
Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble
There are quite a few Kenka Bancho games (and even an anime series), but practically none of the entries have seen the day of light outside Japan besides Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble. The story follows delinquent Takashi Sakamoto, who is attending a school trip to Kyouto. Obviously, he doesn’t want to attend this trip, but his hand is being forced because if he doesn’t, he will fail the school year. Shortly upon arrival, he learns that many schools are also attending Kyouto for the week, and other banchos are participating in a tournament to see who the strongest guy in Japan is, which he naturally gets involved in. From here, you will roam in a sandbox-like environment and take on banchos inhabiting Japan’s districts. There are a ton of crazy-looking outfits you can attain as well. Ever wanted to beat down someone in a banana outfit? Well, here is your chance. Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble is a delightful oddball game and is a must for anyone who relishes the opportunity to play niche Japanese titles.
Shenmue
The comparison between Shenmue and Yakuza is pointed out very often, but it’s hard to deny their similarities. For the unacquainted, Shenmue is an action-adventure title published by Sega. It follows the martial artist Ryo Hazuki as he seeks revenge for his father’s murder. It encapsulates the ambience of the 1980s in Japan incredibly well and creates a genuinely unforgettable tone and atmosphere. The combat borrows beats from one of Sega’s other renowned properties, Virtua Fighter, so you know the combat is rip-roaringly good from that statement alone. Shenmue also popularized quick-time events. We would not have the plethora of games that include this feature if it were not for the watermark that Shenmue established. It’s easy to see why Shenmue has such a dedicated fanbase, and you should check this one out if you have not already played it.
Sleeping Dogs
Hailed as the spiritual successor to the True Crime titles, Sleeping Dogs is another excellent game that shares parallels with the legendary Yakuza series. You assume control of Wei Shen, an undercover cop who joins the Sun On Yee Triad, one of the criminal underbelly organizations in Hong Kong. One of the most compelling aspects of Sleeping Dogs‘ storyline is you can feel the tense atmosphere, and with every mission, there are always high stakes on the line. Accompanied by a relatively sized open-world environment and brutal battle mechanics, you will find it hard to put this one down. There are also karaoke and chicken fighting mini-games, so there are even glimmers of silliness.
Way of the Samurai 4
Of all the entries on this list, the game that most emulates an experience similar to the Yakuza games would be Way of the Samurai 4. The series is widely celebrated for empowering players to make impactful decisions, profoundly shaping the storyline. Also, each game in the series has a daft amount of endings you can achieve, where the smallest of actions can dictate what scenes and scenarios you will encounter, which adds to the overall replay value. Way of the Samurai 4 takes place in Amihama during the twilight of the Shogunate era, compelling players to align themselves with one of three factions. One of the most appealing aspects of the Way of the Samurai 4 is its lighthearted nature, providing a bizarre and humorous adventure from start to finish. You should definitely take a punt on the Way of the Samurai 4 if you’re looking for a bombastic samurai game that embodies the quirkiness of the Yakuza series.
Published: Aug 13, 2024 05:15 pm