Nintendo has always been keen on pushing their own IPs rather than relying on third-party titles. Although this strategy has provided Nintendo gamers with some of the industry's best-ever franchises like Mario and The Legend of Zelda, it also means that they've had to miss out on a significant amount of critically acclaimed series. One such series is Sega's Yakuza, a franchise that takes serious, emotionally charged narratives about the life of a Yakuza and throws in some of the most enjoyable and nonsensical mini-games and substories to ensure the game doesn't take itself too seriously.
There aren't many games like the Yakuza series, so players shouldn't go into this list expecting to find an almost identical experience to the franchise. Instead, the ten games on this list have been selected as they all excel in one or more of the genres that the Yakuza series has implemented over the years: RPG, beat 'em up, hack and slash, or action-adventure.
Updated June 29, 2022, by Jack Pursey: The cliché "it's unlike anything you've played before" is unfortunately overused, as it should really be reserved for utterly bizarre franchises like Sega's Yakuza. There's no doubt that the Yakuza series is one of a kind, though that doesn't mean that there aren't games that have distinct similarities when it comes to some of its core features and gameplay mechanics. Sadly, there's still no sign of Yakuza releasing on Switch in the near future, so this list has been updated to include a few more alternative options to Yakuza on Switch.
13 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is a difficult game to judge when recommending it to someone who has never played any of the three games before. On the one hand, they're three of the greatest open-world games of all time, so it should seem like a no-brainer to recommend them. On the other, the three early 2000s releases haven't aged particularly well, and the Definitive Edition remasters impressively managed to make them look worse in some cases.
Still, for those who haven't played the iconic trilogy, it's worth picking up Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition as - despite its faults - it still offers three classic open-world games in one value-for-money package. What's more, thanks to a series of post-launch updates, the games are a lot better than they were upon the trilogy's release.
12 Saints Row: The Third
Saints Row is one of the few AAA franchises that gives Yakuza a run for its money in regard to sheer absurdity. Interestingly, the Saints Row series didn't always have this reputation, as it initially presented itself as a gritty alternative to the Grand Theft Auto series.
Whereas most GTA clones fail, the Saints Row IP is still active today thanks to its decision to lean into the over-the-top action and humor that people love from the GTA games and crank it up through the roof. Saints Row: The Third dove headfirst into nonsense and absurdity but is widely regarded as the series' best entry.
11 L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire differentiates itself from Saints Row: The Third and Yakuza by being far more true-to-life and serious. The game was released by Rockstar Games - the team behind Grand Theft Auto - and stands out for its detective gameplay.
The game tasks players with finding clues, questioning witnesses, and interrogating suspects, in hopes of solving a range of crimes. It takes place in 1947 and lets players explore a small but wonderfully designed open world based on Los Angeles.
10 Streets of Rage 4
Streets of Rage 4 is a great choice for anyone who wants a combat experience like the one offered in the Yakuza series prior to the latest game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The game offers classic beat 'em-up gameplay that will remind players of the arcade era's golden age.
Dotemu's Streets of Rage 4 is the first entry into the series since Streets of Rage 3 hit stores all the way back in 1994 on the Sega Genesis. Coincidentally, the first three games were made by Yakuza's publisher, Sega.
9 Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
Contrastingly to Streets of Rage 4, Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age is recommended for those who want an experience similar to the latest Yakuza game, Like a Dragon. 2020's Like a Dragon certainly doesn't hide its Dragon Quest influences, as there are numerous references to the franchise throughout the adventure.
In fact, Like a Dragon goes as far as to outright tell the player that many of the new gameplay mechanics are like those in Dragon Quest, as the protagonist Ichiban frequently mentions the games.
8 Bayonetta 2
For many years, the God of War and Devil May Cry franchises have been the hack and slash genre's flagship titles. However, a new challenger to the throne made themselves known in 2009 when the first Bayonetta game was released. The game's sequel hit stores just under five years after the original and became one of the most critically acclaimed hacks and slash releases of all time, exemplified by its excellent Metascore of 92 on Nintendo Switch.
A third game is expected to release at some point this year, and if it continues the series' high quality, it would make the Bayonetta franchise a contender for best hack and slash IP.
7 Astral Chain
Astral Chain is another game developed by PlatinumGames that drew praise from fans and critics alike for having well-crafted and enjoyable hack and slash gameplay. PlatinumGames' consistency in the genre is clearly being recognized by mainstream audiences, as Astral Chain impressively reached over 1 million sales just a few months after the game was released in 2019.
Astral Chain takes players to a dystopian future and puts them in the shoes of a special police force tasked with defending humanity against an invasion.
6 Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age
Every main series Yakuza game has been unapologetic in its emphasis on providing a long, in-depth, and emotionally charged narrative - something that fans of the Final Fantasy franchise have been familiar with for decades. However, the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon has bought the Japanese series' even closer together.
Although Dragon Quest is the game mentioned throughout Like a Dragon, it's clear that the game's turn-based combat and story centered around friendship took a few pages out of Final Fantasy's book.
5 Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Xenoblade Chronicles was originally released on the Nintendo Wii in 2010. The game was a huge hit with critics, exemplified by its 92 score on Metacritic, which was enough to make it the Wii's joint seventh-highest title on the site.
The Nintendo Switch has been no stranger to receiving re-releases and remasters of old games, though most of them have come from the underwhelming Wii U rather than the smash-hit Nintendo Wii. Unlike some of the Switch's re-releases, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition implements numerous changes such as improved visuals and a remastered soundtrack.
4 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is another game on this list that seems to have inspired the latest Yakuza game. Similar to Like a Dragon, Fire Emblem: Three Houses has a turn-based combat system where players can fight in groups, which helps to solidify the bond between the playable character and their allies.
However, Fire Emblem: Three Houses differentiates itself from the other entries on this list with its tactical approach to combat, which requires players to use more strategic thought than in Like a Dragon.
3 Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise is the most recent entry into the iconic Monster Hunter franchise. The game continued the series' impressive consistency and received an 88 score from Metacritic, which was helped by a 4.5 out of 5 review from Game Rant's Greysun Morales.
Capcom didn't try to reinvent the wheel with Monster Hunter Rise and kept many of its core features similar to its predecessor Monster Hunter World, a move that makes perfect sense when taking the game's huge sales figures into account.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the Nintendo Switch's largest third-party titles, along with The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.
The Witcher 3 blasted both the Witcher franchise and CD Projekt into the forefront of the gaming industry's attention by providing one of the best role-playing experiences in recent memory. Along with the beautiful visuals and layered gameplay mechanics, the game received praise for its well-written and wonderfully voice-acted storylines, which players could significantly impact via their choices.
1 Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout was released by Koei Tecmo in 2019 on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. The Japanese role-playing game stands out from the crowded genre by focusing on one common element of the RPG genre in particular: alchemy.
Following a positive reception both critically and commercially, the game received a sequel in 2021 (worldwide release) titled Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy. The game received similarly high praise and is also worth checking out for fans of Yakuza: Like a Dragon's JRPG elements.