Kiryu returns in a compact adventure that feels like a love letter to the series: 91 positive gameplay mentions out of 109. Over 50% of players have burned through 25 hours already, craving even more.
What it's about: FAITES TABLE RASE DU PASSÉ POUR PROTÉGER VOTRE AVENIR Ancien yakuza légendaire, Kazuma Kiryu a simulé sa propre mort et renoncé à son nom pour protéger sa famille. Il se retrouve aujourd'hui au cœur d'un conflit avec un mystérieux personnage qui tente de le faire sortir de sa cachette.
In-game
« This spin off is very good, the combat feels great, the story is on point, a bit short, but i understand that it's supposed to fill the gap between 6 and 7, the side content as always is amazing ! »👍 anonymous review · Aug 2025 · 32 h played1« Amazing crime game, an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, a perfect short game to play between 7 and infinite wealth (after the judgement games of course) »👍 anonymous review · Nov 2025 · 126 h played1« The story made me cry, the gameplay made me fight, and the cabarets made me goon. Good game, only pick up on discount, dont regret the 100% would play again, agent funny gadget, dragon funny physics. 8/10. »👍 anonymous review · Dec 2025 · 57 h played1« side game .... sure buddy replace aizawa with shishido and Yakuza 5 is the best Yakuza game in the series »👍 anonymous review · Feb 2026 · 19 h played1« [strike]Kiryuuuuuuuuuu[/strike] Joryuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu !!! »👍 anonymous review · Aug 2024 · 30 h played« Excellent titre de la liscence surement le meilleur meme. »👍 anonymous review · Sep 2025 · 17 h played
« I can't. This feels like beating a dead horse. Kiryu doesn't even wanna be in it. »👎 anonymous review · Jun 2026 · 2 h played1« c est plus un dlc qu un yakuza complets a prendre si le prix est a peut près 4 euros lol comme moi sinon le game est sympas mais ultra court »👎 anonymous review · Apr 2026 · 31 h played« Encore une fois plein de cutscenes. En amélioration par rapport à Yakuza mais bon. Enchainer les deux ne me convient pas. Sans compter des enchainements un peu pénible à réaliser déjà sur un des 1er boss. Thx. Next. »👎 anonymous review · Mar 2026 · 1 h played« Utter rubbish. I don't know why this game has good ratings. You simply repeat a fight scene every 2 mins. Rubbish gameplay and control. »👎 anonymous review · Jun 2026 · 6 h played« How long are we going to play on the same maps, with the same systems and with a similar story, just with progressively worse combat systems? »👎 anonymous review · Jul 2026 · 1 h played« Le dernier Yakuza sans tour par tour ! Et quel beau jeu ! Certes il a une durée de vie moins importante que les autres mais il vaut clairement le coup. »👍 anonymous review · Mar 2024 · 35 h played
In players' words
« This spin off is very good, the combat feels great, the story is on point, a bit short, but i understand that it's supposed to fill the gap between 6 and 7, the side content as always is amazing ! »👍 anonymous review · Aug 2025 · 32 h played1« I can't. This feels like beating a dead horse. Kiryu doesn't even wanna be in it. »👎 anonymous review · Jun 2026 · 2 h played1« Amazing crime game, an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, a perfect short game to play between 7 and infinite wealth (after the judgement games of course) »👍 anonymous review · Nov 2025 · 126 h played1« c est plus un dlc qu un yakuza complets a prendre si le prix est a peut près 4 euros lol comme moi sinon le game est sympas mais ultra court »👎 anonymous review · Apr 2026 · 31 h played« The story made me cry, the gameplay made me fight, and the cabarets made me goon. Good game, only pick up on discount, dont regret the 100% would play again, agent funny gadget, dragon funny physics. 8/10. »👍 anonymous review · Dec 2025 · 57 h played1« Encore une fois plein de cutscenes. En amélioration par rapport à Yakuza mais bon. Enchainer les deux ne me convient pas. Sans compter des enchainements un peu pénible à réaliser déjà sur un des 1er boss. Thx. Next. »👎 anonymous review · Mar 2026 · 1 h played« side game .... sure buddy replace aizawa with shishido and Yakuza 5 is the best Yakuza game in the series »👍 anonymous review · Feb 2026 · 19 h played1« Utter rubbish. I don't know why this game has good ratings. You simply repeat a fight scene every 2 mins. Rubbish gameplay and control. »👎 anonymous review · Jun 2026 · 6 h played« [strike]Kiryuuuuuuuuuu[/strike] Joryuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu !!! »👍 anonymous review · Aug 2024 · 30 h played« How long are we going to play on the same maps, with the same systems and with a similar story, just with progressively worse combat systems? »👎 anonymous review · Jul 2026 · 1 h played« Excellent titre de la liscence surement le meilleur meme. »👍 anonymous review · Sep 2025 · 17 h played« Le dernier Yakuza sans tour par tour ! Et quel beau jeu ! Certes il a une durée de vie moins importante que les autres mais il vaut clairement le coup. »👍 anonymous review · Mar 2024 · 35 h played
Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.
What players say, by aspect
PositiveMixedNegative
Gameplay
83 % pos · n=109
Story / writing
84 % pos · n=100
Content / longevity
43 % pos · n=23
Graphics / art
73 % pos · n=11
Value for money
0 % pos · n=8
Performance
100 % pos · n=2
Audio / music
100 % pos · n=2
Detailed data (table)
Aspect
Mentions
Positive
Mixed
Negative
Gameplay
109
91
5
13
Story / writing
100
84
4
12
Content / longevity
23
10
0
13
Graphics / art
11
8
1
2
Value for money
8
0
0
8
Performance
2
2
0
0
Audio / music
2
2
0
0
Positive reviews by playtime
🎮 Players who like it have spent 27 h on median; those who dislike it: 17 h.
<2h
17 % (n=6)
2-10h
79 % (n=34)
10-25h
94 % (n=188)
>25h
97 % (n=263)
Fixed or still broken? Sentiment over time
➡️ Stable reception over time
% of positive reviews per month (months with ≥ 15 sample reviews).
💶 Price history
Steam price tracked automatically since Aug 14, 2026 · All-time low: €12.49 (Aug 14, 2026)
100% completion difficulty ("platinum")
10,5 %Moderate
of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 62 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 46,5 % of players.
LIVEJeysam13 viewers
· EN — ¯\( ¯ 3 ¯)/¯ Thursday Club Yakuza Gaiden (the 11th one) 🐉 !yakuzaLIVE20one_5 viewers
· EN — The Man Who Erased His Ding Dong™LIVETangoZulu853 viewers
· EN — Streaming day 460: Sidequests before main quests, much like real life
The combat shines: 91 positive mentions out of 109, praised for its fluidity and depth.
Story and emotions take center stage: 84 positive mentions out of 100, with players calling it moving and compelling.
A seamless return for Kiryu: 21 mentions confirm his presence as a major draw, resonating strongly with fans.
High replay value: Players averaging over 25 hours with 97% positive feedback suggest the game keeps them engaged long after the credits roll.
Weaknesses
Content leaves some wanting: 13 negative mentions out of 23 highlight frustrations over the campaign's length or missing elements.
Price garners criticism: All 8 mentions of the topic are negative, indicating players feel the cost doesn’t match the experience.
A handful of players call the experience 'short': 13 mentions use the word 'court' (short), though many still enjoyed it.
Who is it for?
Fans of the Yakuza series or action-adventure games with deep stories and punchy combat will find a satisfying, emotional ride. Those seeking a massive open-world experience may feel shortchanged.
Is Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name worth it in 2026?
Yes, without reservation for most players: 95% of 12,545 Steam reviews are positive (player score 93/100). Most-praised strength: The combat shines. Current price: 49,99€.
Verdict
Like a Dragon Gaiden delivers a punchy, emotional adventure that honors its roots while delivering tight gameplay. Minor gripes over content length and price don’t overshadow an overwhelmingly positive reception, especially from players who’ve embraced Kiryu’s return.
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