Like A Dragon: Ishinhas finally graced the west with its presence. Undeniably, this is another excellent entry in the beloved Yakuza franchise. But all good things must come to an end and, eventually, you will see the credits roll for this Samurai-infused epic. What then? Well, friend, we have you covered with some fantastic game recommendations.
Related:Best Yakuza Games, RankedWe tried to look at Ishin’s appeal from a number of different angles. Whether you were drawn in by the world, a fan of the combat, or just loved the off-kilter sense of humor, we have tried to find at least one game that can deliver a similar appeal. We are confident that Ishin fans will be able to find something here that will be able to satiate their hunger. For now, at least.
9Any Yakuza Game
Okay, let’s just get the obvious one out of the way, shall we? Yes, if you are a fan of Like A Dragon: Ishin, then you will probably enjoy the other games in the franchise as well. Shocker! The game that resembles Ishin the most is Kenzan, which is anexcellentYakuzatitle set in the Edo Period of Japan, but playing that would require you to dust off your PS3 and play it alongside a fan translation (oneisfloating around, by the way).
However, if you haven’t played them, then all the Yakuza games will likely scratch that Ishin itch. Just start with Yakuza Zero and work your way up. You have literally hundreds of hours of melodramatic brawling just waiting for you. And it is all glorious.
8Devil May Cry 5
Okay, sure,Devil May Cry 5is not a period piece. Also, when it comes to setting and plots, the two titles couldn’t be more different. However, there is one thing that these two games share: an emphasis on stylish, visceral combat, and a combat system that allows you to swap between a variety of different styles.
Related:Games That Make You Feel Powerful
If while playing Like A Dragon: Ishin, you frequently found yourself switching between your different styles of combat, and if you felt that dopamine rush while finding unique ways to synergize said styles, then you are most certainly going to have a blast with Devil May Cry 5. Switching between styles, and expressing your creativity by finding unique ways to leverage each of your techniques is the name of the game in Devil May Cry 5. It is what it excels at. And quite honestly, no other game does it better.
7Samurai Warriors 5
The core gameplay loop ofSamurai Warriors 5is very, very different from Like A Dragon: Ishin. We are not trying to pretend that these games are the same. However, both titles provide an opportunity to play as historical Japanese figures, and, more importantly, both emphasize fighting groups of enemies.
While the scale is very different in the Samurai Warriors titles, they share that sense of power that Ishin is able to so deftly deliver. On some level, these games are about feeling like an unstoppable force, and there is a lot of crossover in that regard. Also, on a purely mechanical level, they do share similar mechanics for accessing moves and delivering combos. If you like crushing groups in Ishin, the Samurai Warriors series of games will help you take that joy to the next level.
6Shenmue
There is a reason why so many people view the Yakuza series as a spiritual successor toShenmue. Both feature similarly sized worlds packed with content, and filled with unique diversions. Shenmue isn’t a period piece, and it doesn’t feature samurai, but if a great deal of the fun you had while playing Ishin was found in meandering around town, killing time engaging in side activities, then Shenmue is most certainly a game worth checking out.
Related:Best Minigames In The Yakuza Series
This isn’t a recommendation for the Ishin fan that is looking to blitz around town getting into scraps, of course. While there is combat in Shenmue, and it is quite enjoyable, it isn’t the focus of the game. Shenmue’s pace is also quite a bit slower than Ishin’s, but for the meanderer, that is probably a positive. So,if you are all about chilling around town, and just stumbling from distraction to distraction, we can’t recommend Shenmue enough.
5The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
So,The Great Ace Attorney Chroniclesis obviously a bit of an oddball choice. We get that. But here is the thing, so much of this list is going to feature action-packed games. There are going to be a lot of titles that feature samurai and swords—which is a big part of the appeal of Like A Dragon: Ishin—but a huge part of the fun is also the mystery.
What would Ishin be without itsconvoluted, intrigue-filled plot? We argue it would be a substantially less interesting game. And that is where The Great Ace Attorney comes in. This is the period piece spin-off of the Phoenix Wright games, and it features some delightfully opaque mysteries that you need to unravel. And it does so while supporting a whole host of memorable characters. If you found yourself enthralled by the story of Ishin more than anything else, we encourage you to check out The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, as you will probably find that they deliver a similar appeal.
4The Legend Of The Mystical Ninja
This SNES classic is a beat-em-up set in feudal Japan. The Mystic Ninja games have a lot of the same appeal as Ishin. They have a bunch of side activities to engage in, they feature enjoyable brawler gameplay, and they arefilled with off-beat charm. Of these titles, The Legend of the Mystical Ninja is our favorite of the bunch, so we gave it the nod.
This game definitely lacks the soap opera-esque narrative, and it doesn’t really have a particularly memorable cast of supporting characters, but if you are a fan of the more lighthearted aspects in Ishin, and if scrapping is a big part of the appeal, then The Legend of the Mystical Ninja is a great fit.
3Sekiro
Okay, obviouslySekirohas a similar enough setting. But the way you navigate that setting, and the way the world is laid out in general, just feels completely at odds with the experience that Ishin offers. Moreover, Sekiro has a stripped-down story, while Ishin lays the melodrama onthick. So, why would we put Sekiro on this list then?
Related:Every Sekiro Boss Ranked From Easiest To Most Difficult
Well, you may have noticed that the combat in Ishin has, basically, three different types of parries. We would argue that Ishin’s combat engine is at its best when you are making good use of the parry mechanics. And hey,when it comes to the parry, no game has ever done it better than Sekiro.Not to mention Ishin features many boss fights that act as duals between Ryoma and other fearsome warriors. Once again, another element that Sekiro does better than any other. So, if you like deflecting attacks, and going tit-for-tat in intense showdowns, Sekiro is the game for you.
2Way Of The Samurai 4
Don’t get us wrong, the Way of the Samurai games are jank. But they aremagicaljank. Featuring a fully explorable, but relatively compact, world, the setting in The Way of the Samurai has a similar quasi-open world setting. It also features a cast of lively, memorable characters, and an entrancing, if not slightly silly, plot.
It isn’t as polished as Like A Dragon: Ishin, and it isconsiderablysillier, but people who had a lot of fun with Ishin will probably be able to find quite a bit of joy in Way of the Samurai 4.
1River City Saga: Three Kingdoms
News Flash: The traditional Yakuza games are, essentially, just polygonal versions ofRiver City Ransom. So then, could there be a more perfect parallel for Ishin than the River City Ransom game set in feudal Japan? Obviously not. And it exists too! It is calledDowntown Special: Kunio-kun’s Historical Period Drama!…and it was only ever released in Japan. So, we’re going to throw a curve ball and recommend the River City Saga: Three Kingdoms instead. What a journey we have gone on in the last couple of sentences, eh?
True, River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is set in the wrong country, in a different time, but it isstilla period piece, beat-em-up, RPG hybrid that emphasizes brawling. It also recasts its classic cast of characters as historical figures, so there are more than a few points of contact here. In general, Three Kingdoms is a fun romp that never takes itself too seriously. Ishin fans could do far worse.
