Every Yakuza Game Ranked From Worst To Best
7. Like A Dragon: Ishin! (2014 / 2023)
The second attempt at taking the series into a historical setting was 2014's Like A Dragon: Ishin!.
This time around, the game is set in the Late Edo period where Sakamato Ryomo sets out to find his master's killer. Ishin! features a fully explorable historical Japan and is also the first entry in the series to have different fighting styles which involves sword fighting and gunplay.
Despite being a spin-off, the title has one of the best stories in the franchise, as it takes a serious look at this historical setting. The developers use the political intrigue around the time and the clashing ideals between different factions. The result is a great look at real-life events and makes it accessible for those not too accustomed to Japan's history.
Ishin! was recently re-released in 2023, but unlike the Kiwami games, it feels more like a remaster rather than a remake. Less fluid battle transitions and loading times between buildings make the game feel closer to the Yakuza games of the early 2010s, rather than a true overhaul.
Still, longtime fans were pleased to finally have a localized version of Like A Dragon: Ishin!, for the whole world to experience.