Key things
- Yakuza games feature memorable characters with deep story arcs and emotional moments for players to enjoy.
- Recent games aim to improve the representation of women by showcasing well-rounded and engaging female characters.
- The Yakuza series is praised for combining serious storytelling with goofy side content to create a unique and cohesive gaming experience.
Like a Dragon is a franchise that churns out hit after hit, with fans experiencing many games that boast turn-based or real-time combat. The stories of these titles are told with a lot of seriousness, which may seem at odds with the goofy nature of side content just for players to see how good both halves of the game are. Yakuza game network with each other.
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Each Yakuza the game offers its fair share of memorable characters that are a joy to interact with. The representation of women in the series hasn't been the greatest, but recent games have tried to turn things around in that department.
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
1 Reina
Serena's owner, trying to make up for her betrayal
Yakuza 0
- Released
- January 24, 2017
- Occurs in: Yakuza 0, Yakuza/Yakuza Kiwami
A woman who owned Serena and had close ties to both Kiryu and Nishiki, it's heartbreaking to see the trajectory Rei's character takes in the series. She sincerely tries to help Kiryu in the first game, but her feelings for Nishikiyama lead her down a dark path.
She betrays Kiryu by serving as an informant, only to change her mind when she tried to make amends. Unfortunately, she becomes the victim of a confrontation between the two friends, with the sight of her body causing Kiryu to channel his rage and beat her killer within inches of his life.
2 Yuki
The star hostess of the Sunshine Club
- Occurs in: Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami 2, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Cabaret Club Czar minigame Yakuza 0 is probably the biggest spin-off in the series that fans can invest in. Satisfying guests by assigning them suitable hostesses and making Club Sunshine the best cabaret club in Sotenbori is something magical.
The first platinum hostess players start with is Yuki, who may seem silly at first, only to grow up to become the best hostess in the club. Her naivety and understated charm make her one of the best characters Yakuza 0 which players will be happy to interact with, even if they can treat her somewhat dismissively at times.
3 Yumi Sawamura
A series of events involving this former hostess led to Kiryuu's imprisonment
- Occurs in: Yakuza/Yakuza Kiwami
Yumi and Kiryu could have been something if their stories had taken a different path. Unfortunately, Sohei Dojima's terrible actions caused a series of events that lead to Kiryu taking his friend's place and being imprisoned.
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Kiryu's search for Yumi after his release from prison was hopeless until he finally came into contact with a woman who had lost her memories. Before they could reconnect, Yumi sacrificed herself and took the bullet meant for Kiryu and Haruka. After saving the man he loved and his daughter, she breathed her last in an emotional finale.
4 Kaoru Sayama
A detective who crosses paths with Kiryu more than once
- Occurs in: Yakuza 2/Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza 3, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Kaoru is an interesting character who investigates a case that puts her at odds with Kiryu more often than not. However, as the two characters eventually settle their differences, it's clear that they both have feelings for each other, culminating in a kiss moments before the bomb is about to go off.
Luckily, the duo survives at the last second, as shown in the epilogue where the duo visit the graves of their fallen comrades. That's a shame Yakuza 3 decided not to pursue this romance and shelved the character until the fateful revelation Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
5 Makoto Makimura
The unwitting owner of a vacant lot that becomes a target for the Yakuza
- Occurs in: Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami 2
Makoto Makimura is one of the most interesting characters Yakuza 0who had been through hell and back before Majima ever met her. The gangster was passive for a long time, but he decided to play the hero for once in his life and save Makoto from the people who were hunting her.
It's hard not to feel for a character who can't catch a break in life and reach the point where she's risking her life gambling at the end of the year. Yakuza 0. Her character plays a huge role in the transformation of the humble Majima into Mad Dog Shimana, and fans were happy to see her in Yakuza Kiwami 2 when they got the chance to control Majima.
6 Seonhee
Leader Geomijul
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- Occurs in: Yakuza: Like a dragon, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth he's wasting no time turning Isezaki Ijincho into one of the best centers in the open world Yakuza series. The neighborhood is full of gang warfare, with the Geomijul playing a major role as behind-the-scenes information brokers.
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The leader of this group is Seonhee, a femme fatale who wastes no time establishing herself as one of the best characters in the world. Yakuza series. Players were delighted to discover that they could control this dynamic character Infinite wealth.
7 Saeko Mukoda
He makes a bombastic entrance as the franchise pushes genres
- Released
- November 10, 2020
- Occurs in: Yakuza: Like a dragon, As the Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Cleared His Name, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Saeko, Nanoha Mukoda's sister who shows up at Nonomiya's funeral, is a tough character who feels right at home in the mostly male cast. Yakuza: Like a dragon. He is a unique character with access to a variety of unique tasks that make him controllable.
It helps that Saeko is a well-written character, and fans will be happy to help her as she tries to help her sister without her efforts being too obvious. Experiencing the story of both Like a Dragon and Infinite wealth with his accompaniment, Ichiban helps the story stand out even more.
8 Haruka Sawamura
Kiryu's adopted daughter who goes through a remarkable character arc across several Yakuza games
- Released
- November 9, 2023
- Occurs in: Yakuza/Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza 2/Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, Yakuza: Dead Souls, Yakuza 5, Yakuza 6, As the Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Cleared His Name, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
One could not talk about the best female characters Like a Dragon not to mention the only one players can control. Haruka has had a tumultuous childhood, but Kiryu helps serve as a father figure in her life as she matures into a wise and self-sufficient person.
It's a testament to how engaging Yakuza 5 is that the segment where players control her ends up being one of the best parts of the series, despite its lack of any kind of combat. Instead, players engage in dance battles and help her become a successful idol.
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