Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a shorter spin-off set between the stories of Yakuza 6 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, focusing on Kazuma Kiryu, who secretly works for a government agency under a new identity. The player returns to the faster, more action-oriented combat system of the series' earlier style, complemented by new gadgets such as drones and concealed weapons that expand the possibilities for combat and for handling side situations in the Kamurocho district. Although the game is shorter than the series' main entries, and players typically complete it in less than half the time needed for a main title, it offers a full-fledged story with emotional weight as well as a range of the series' signature side stories and minigames, including the return of beloved arcade activities.

On Xbox Series X and S, the title runs smoothly with fast loading between locations, suiting its more action-driven, less sprawling pace compared to the series' larger main entries. Visually, it builds on the series' established style, with detailed nighttime streets of Kamurocho and a distinctive, atmospheric soundtrack accompanying both dramatic and humorous moments. Critics praised the return to more action-oriented combat and the way the game functions as an emotional bridge between two major entries without unnecessarily padding its playtime, also commending it for retaining the main series' high production quality despite its shorter runtime.

Gaiden shows that even smaller, supplementary projects can enrich the sprawling Kiryu saga with a fresh perspective, without needing to match the scope of the series' main entries. Its focused structure also lets the writers dwell on the emotional details of Kiryu's character in a way that a larger main entry might not have room for. Thanks to its compact length and focused storytelling, it's a suitable entry point for players who want to get to know the series without diving into dozens of hours of content.

Why play it: Thanks to its compact length and focused storytelling, it's an ideal entry point for players who want to experience Kiryu's story without diving into dozens of hours of the main entries.