Summary
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will feature dual protagonists, Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga, in a story set outside of Japan for the first time, taking players to the new location of Hawaii.
- The game will introduce new modes and mini-games, such as Crazy Delivery, Sujimon Battle, and Miss Match, along with a life sim side mode called Dondoko Island. More trailers highlighting these features can be expected before the game's release in early 2024, while DLC later in the year is a possibility.
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will bring improved gameplay, including an overhauled combat system with the ability for party members to move during their turn and a streamlined Smackdown mechanic for defeating weaker enemies. The job system and a wide cast of characters, including fan-favorites from previous games, will also be featured.
Recent years have been huge for Like a Dragon fans, and 2024 is shaping up to be no different with the release of the highly-anticipated Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The game is set to feature both Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga as dual protagonists in a story set outside of Japan for the first time in the series, bringing players to the new location of Hawaii. With how much hype has been built up for this game over the past year, there are a lot of expectations riding on Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth to deliver one of the most comprehensive experiences in the series to date.
The stage for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has been set over the past year with developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio releasing both Like a Dragon: Ishin! And Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name to prime players for what will be the eighth numbered entry in the series. While Like a Dragon: Ishin! Is a non-canon spin-off game, Like a Dragon Gaiden is a canon story set concurrently to Yakuza: Like a Dragon and introduces some new plot threads that Infinite Wealth will likely follow up on. With Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth releasing early in 2024, fans won't have to wait long to see how these threads resolve.
How to Get Into the Yakuza Series Ahead of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
The Like a Dragon series can be somewhat intimidating to new players, but it's one of the most rewarding open-world franchises out there.
More Trailers Leading Up to Release
Sega and RGG Studio have done a great job so far at releasing consistent trailers that detail what players can expect to find in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. From showcasing the game's setting and story, the improved combat system, and its new side content, these trailers have helped build the hype around the game, so players can expect to see more trailers like these over the next month leading up to the game's release. Additionally, the special demo for the game that was included with Like a Dragon Gaiden also showcased a slice of what Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has to offer, and while unlikely, that demo could see a stand-alone release before launch.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Releases at the End of January
The biggest thing fans can expect from Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth in 2024 is the game's full release on January 26. With this release, players will finally get to experience all the game's new improvements and additions that have been teased over the past year.
New Modes
Part of the appeal of the Like a Dragon series is the optional side modes and mini-games players can participate in to distract themselves from the main story. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth goes above and beyond previous entries in this regard by introducing a handful of new modes like Crazy Delivery, Sujimon Battle, and Miss Match in addition to many classic mini-games from the series' past. Not only is a Pokemon-inspired mode a part of this game, but Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth also includes a robust life sim side mode in the form of Dondoko Island, which has drawn comparisons to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Improved Gameplay
Although there was some controversy surrounding the change from an action brawler to a turn-based JRPG with the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, it appears that Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will be overhauling its combat system while still maintaining the core turn-based combat of its predecessor. Party members will now be able to move during their turn, allowing players to place them strategically to deal more damage to enemies or set up combos with other allies. Battling weaker enemies has also been streamlined with the addition of the Smackdown mechanic, which allows players to quickly defeat weak enemies for decreased experience.
The job system from Yakuza: Like a Dragon also returns in Infinite Wealth, and with it comes some all-new jobs for players to try out. Some of these new jobs include Samurai, Geodancer, Aquanaut, and Housekeeper, but certain jobs will be exclusive to specific characters, like Eric Tomizawa's Cabbie job or Chitose Fujinomiya's Heiress job. Additionally, Kiryu's Dragon of Dojima job allows him to unleash his Dragon Resurgence ability, wherein he can freely attack enemies in the series' classic brawler combat style.
A Wide Cast of Characters
There are plenty of faces both new and old for players to get to know in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, including the return of many fan-favorites. Players can expect to see some big names starring in this title, such as Ebina Masataka who is voiced by Daniel Dae Kim in the English dub, as well as Danny Trejo, who provides the model and English voice for the character Dwight. Longtime fans of the series will also be happy to see familiar faces like Goro Majima, Makoto Date, and even Kaoru Sayama make an appearance in this title.
Players Could Potentially See the End of Kiryu’s Story
The big question that is hanging over Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is whether it will truly be the end of Kiryu's story. The trailers for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth reveal that Kiryu is battling cancer, which could prove to be one opponent even the Dragon of Dojima can't beat. The recent Bucket List trailer showcased one of the Sub Stories players can embark on in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which sees Kiryu revisiting many of his old friends and comrades from games past in a bittersweet reunion that makes it seem like this game could be the final outing for the beloved protagonist.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Could See DLC Later in the Year
RGG Studio hasn't been known for releasing DLC for its titles in the past, but this changed with the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which included several cosmetic packs players could download for an additional cost. Since then, other releases in the franchise have received similar DLC offerings, but nothing too substantial. However, Like a Dragon Gaiden was originally planned to be DLC for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth before growing large enough to warrant a standalone release, so RGG studio may have something else in the works in terms of Infinite Wealth DLC that could release later in the year.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Simulated Gambling, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- Franchise
- Yakuza
