Planning to play Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth? Play its predecessor first

Beginning your gaming adventure with Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth? First and foremost, welcome on board. Get ready, because you're likely to have a blast. That said, I highly recommend kicking things off with its predecessor, Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Sure, you can enjoy Infinite Wealth without this initial introduction, but playing this prequel will prime you perfectly for the captivating characters and wild world the latest installment of one of the most engaging gaming franchises unfolds. Add to this the bonus of availability on Game Pass, and you're all set.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon well aligns with the tone of the previous games in the series, serving up a gripping yet intensely violent narrative of betrayal and pursuit of innocence, peppered with an eclectic mix of side quests. You'll come across familiar traits like arcade gaming filled with Sega minigames and rhythm games reminiscent of PaRappa the Rapper at karaoke nights. And there’s a business simulator you shouldn’t miss. The game is a veritable deluge of unique content, whether you’re a newcomer or a returning player. As you traverse the neon-lit streets of Yokohama and Kamurocho for nearly 76 hours, you’re not just questing for XP gains or merely ticking off side quests. What keeps you engaged are those serendipitous moments of drama and hilarity awaiting you around every bend – you never know when you’ll find yourself helping a desperate soul without toilet paper or barehand fighting a tiger.

Instead of the time-worn protagonist, the rugged Kazuma Kiryu, you're now in the shoes of the more charismatic Ichiban Kasuga. Abandoned as a baby, Ichiban is adopted by an influential member of the yakuza clan. Eventually, he is asked to shoulder the blame for a murder by his father figure and ends up serving an 18-year sentence. You come into play when Ichiban is released and thrown into the changed world of the new millennium, where time has not been kind to his father’s yakuza clan.

The Yakuza series took a slight detour with Like a Dragon. Replacing the previous games' incessant real-time combat is strategic turn-based fighting, alongside a diverse squad of members, each carrying their unique flaws. The combat system is reminiscent of Dragon Quest, which inspires Ichiban to embark on a hero’s journey. Elemental weaknesses, character-specific jobs/classes, and juggling roles on the battlefield ensure your fights stay fresh. Each class introduces new abilities as you advance, providing you many ways to decimate your opponents, combining animation and sound design for a visually and audibly satisfying experience.

Boasting its distinguishing feature, Like a Dragon presents you with “Poundmates”, a quirky reinterpretation of typical RPG summons. Instead of mythological beings, you call upon diverse allies such as a sumo wrestler, a soup kitchen worker or a giant crawfish.

Nonetheless, Like a Dragon isn’t without its flaws. For example, the gender-specific nature of the game's classes or the need to grind for levels in an underground dungeon. But these minor drawbacks are unlikely to dull your appetite for Infinite Wealth. Like a Dragon affirms that reinvention pays off, and with Infinite Wealth on the horizon, this once-underrated series may finally get the recognition it deserves.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon can be enjoyed on Game Pass for PC and Xbox, and is also available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.